Naveen

"A leader has to know how to deal with their fear." I remarked softly, as gentle a rebuke as I could manage. Nothing however, could have prepared me for the apology she offered to me. I held my tongue then, searching her body language for any hint as to what was happening within her. For her to apologize was one of two things. Either she really felt that bad about, or something had happened and she was trying to save her own skin.

Rina:

I leaned my head back against the door. “I don’t know how to be a leader,” I said with a sigh. “I thought it would come to me once I was here, but I’ve spent too much time trying to keep my head above water that I haven’t had a chance to lead.” My hand balled up in the material of my dress. “You’re right, I haven’t done anything thing for my people, or yours, or anyone else. It seems like I get farther away from that goal every day. And then I thought you weren’t on my side. And without you I don’t know if I’ll ever reach it. I don’t know if I’ll survive long enough to.” It was hard to breath with my chest tight as it was. Weakness was not something I admitted to easily. Nor was I quick to rely on other people. But Talon was someone I didn’t think I could live without. The very thought sent shards through me.

"You have to take charge of your life first before you can take charge over others lives." It was the best advice I could give. The same advice my brother had offered me long ago. I let the words sit quietly, letting her get out the rest of it. The very idea that she was admitting all of this made me believe her apology all the more. But it was her last words that had me frown. "What do you mean you might not survive long enough too?"

Rina:

I sighed. “How many times have I had a close call here? It’s just a matter of time before someone gets close enough to do real damage.” My injuries from the previous day were not life threatening or debilitating, but it had been too close. Close enough for the attacker to get their hands around my neck, however briefly.

"I've never had a problem being on my own, taking care of myself. But I've also never had so many enemies out to get me," I said and turned my eyes to his again.

Her life had always been a dangerous one. Even before she'd joined in with the rebels. But coming here to the castle was it's own dangerous world all together. Politics, assassinations, and unease permeated the city as everyone vied for a position closer to the top. It was especially dangerous for Rina, someone who held little power within the castle, but was of a position where many viewed her having a lot of power. It made her vulnerable, and it made her a target.

"You knew that coming to the castle. That everyone you'd meet would be trying to use you, and if they couldn't use you then you were just an obstacle." Folding my arms I tucked my chin, looking away from her gaze. Slowly I raised my gaze back up to her, I had an idea of what she was getting at. Why she'd come searching for me. But she was edging around it.

Rina:

“I know. which makes it harder when I only have a handful of friends.” I closed my eyes and knocked my head on the door again. I was going to have to voice what I wanted, he wouldn’t offer. And he would likely not agree anyway. “Talon, you’re the only one I feel close to. The only one I can really trust, which is why I got so angry when I thought I couldn’t trust you… I know I have no right to ask you to stay here with me. You have a duty to your people and I have done nothing for them.” My shoulders fell an inch. “I don’t know how to help anyone. With you here, I at least have someone who has done this before. But I’m lost without you. I-” my voice cracked. “I only really feel safe when I’m with you.”

I let her get it all out, my suspicions confirmed the further she spoke. I didn't give her an answer right away either. I held my tongue and thought it through. She had let her emotions get the better of her, had shoved me aside over a supposed wrong. But I was proud of her for admitting her mistake. Finally I looked up at her and with a faint smile I gave a nod. "I would be glad to return to your side Rina."

Rina:

My eyes widened when he spoke again. “Really?” I asked, taking a step closer to him, moving away from the door. Somehow that made my chest hurt more than it did before, even with the relief I felt at his agreement. “Talon, you don’t know what that means to me. Thank you,” I said softly, my eyes locked on his.

"Yes. Really." I confirmed with a soft smile. I didn't know if I was making the right choice or not, staying by her side. It might actually end up poorly for my people. But still, the prophecy flashed through my mind, and that was enough for me to feel a bit more comfortable with my choice.

Rina:

I returned his smile with a small one of my own. I took another step. “Thank you,” I said. My chest still hurt, it felt like the only thing that would make it better was to be closer to him. I couldn’t help it, I was magnetized. I stepped up and put my lips to his softly.

When she took another step closer, I searched her eyes trying to read what was going on underneath. Something was there, but I couldn't even begin to decipher it. And then when she stepped closer one more time I knew what she was going to do. As her lips met mine I hesitated slightly, before returning the kiss.

Rina:

When he kissed me back and I was sure he wouldn’t pull away, I put my hands behind his neck holding myself to him. It wasn’t my intention when I kissed him but as was usual when I was close to him my body started tingling and burning with desire. I wanted more. Needed it. My hands moved to the straps of his armor to undo them.

Hugging someone in armor was never a comfortable experience. Humans encased themselves in hard metal. Dwarves too. Even my own people had never made armor that was comfortable to be touched. But that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. As it was when she began to undo the straps I didn't stop her, in fact I helped her out of a few pieces before I drew away from the kiss. Setting one hand at the small of her back, the other cupped her face as I tried to calm my racing body. This wasn't the time or place for such things.

Rina:

When he stopped kissing me I assumed it was to undress further, but he didn’t move. He leaned back when I tried to kiss him again. I looked as him in hazy confusion. “Savien,” I murmured the name I only used, with one exception, when we were intimate like this. “Do you not…?” I felt a twinge of uneasiness. Perhaps he had not quite forgiven me. Perhaps he wasn’t as friendly toward me as I thought.

It wasn't hard to figure out where her mind was as she gazed up at me. It always was it's own pleasure to hear her say my true name, it made it stand out with her emotions all the more. "Do I not...want you?" I tried completing her sentence with a soft smile. "You'd have that answer if I wasn't wearing armor." Tracing her cheek with my thumb I shook my head, "Is this what you want? Now? Here of all places?"

Rina:

“I don’t care where we are,” I whispered. It would take to long to get to my quarters from here, and there was the high chance of being spotted on the way. I wasn’t in a position to conceal my feelings at the moment. “I just want to… I don’t… well…” I took a breath for a moment to clarify my thoughts. “I… I only truly feel like myself when I’m with you… I just want to forget everything else for a moment. I don’t want to be scared, or worried, or tense… I just want to be here with you,” I said it all quietly, dropping my gaze down to his chest, unable to meet his eyes.

We'd been together in many different places and settings. A room in the servants building, a place where she wasn't actually supposed to be was the last place I'd have thought to do it. I opened my mouth to refuse, to get us to head to a better location.

As she continued I stopped myself. I hadn't considered all of that, and her personal feelings besides. My gaze never left her, even though she was now looking at my chest. It took the span of three full breaths for me to reach a decision. Gently I raised her chin so I could take one last look into her eyes. That look was all I needed before I leaned down and brought my lips to hers again. It started out soft, but the desire I'd pushed down came right back up and before long the kiss became ravenous.

Rina:

I made a breathless sound, clinging to him more as we kissed. I pressed my body to his as much as his attire would allow and soon I was undoing the rest of his armor, belt and below, so I could be even closer to him. Being with him certainly did the trick of forgetting. My uncertainties were all lost now.

Even as she clung to me, I pulled her closer. And while she worked at my armor I was picking at the ties of her dress. Easing it until it could slip freely from her shoulders at any time. All the while I never once stopped kissing her, or letting my hands wander freely.

Rina:

In the week that followed, Talon and I seemed to be closer than we were before our argument.  We were also somewhat more reckless.  He spent nights in my room rather than returning to his to sleep.  Thus far we had not faced repercussions from it.  

Tonight, I had to attend a feast to welcome home members of the royal navy.  Some had been stationed across the sea in Lavic for two years.  We were through the banquet and the floor had been cleared for dancing.  Many young ladies from the city had been invited so there would be partners for the men.

I stood off to the side, close enough to Rina to keep her safe, but far enough away to be out of the way of anyone who wanted to approach her. This was part of the reason I had such poor relations with humans. Other races loved to invite and show off for other races. It had been years since I'd been able to attend anything. But humans were different. They weren't the only race to view themselves as superior, but they certainly were the only ones who treated other races so poorly.

A ripple within the crowd had me looking towards the doors and surprise raised my eyebrows a bit. Walking close enough to brush his shoulder with her own was a male human, and a female elf. She looked like a river elf. Willowy, small, and vivid eyes. She didn't look like a maid, and while a few disapproving glances were sent their way none of the other members of the navy were overly upset by it all. But the more I looked a puzzled frown curved my lips. She looked so young. Older than any of the humans here but young by elf standards.

Rina:

I noticed Talon frowning at the dancefloor and followed his gaze to a pair who had just come into the banquet hall. They had caught the attention of more than just Talon. I heard gossipy murmurings of “elf” and “embarrassment” and at first my face burned, thinking they were speaking of me, but the eyes were still on the new pair. Suddenly my eyes winded as I took a closer look at the girl and the defining features that set her apart from the humans around her. Her elven looks were softer than others I had met, but she was clearly not human.

What was worse she was clinging to the arm of one of the soldiers. She looked around nervously. She was dressed in fine attire, clearly not a guard or maid. My heart sank and I looked to Talon again.

I didn't know how to feel at that moment. A part of me was elated to see another elf. While not of my race, an elf was still a rare sight for me. It also made me crave home, crave being around my people again. And yet still another part felt envy.

Meeting Rina's gaze I shrugged, confusion the defining expression on my face. This wasn't what I'd expected. I knew for my people at least, it wasn't against any laws to date outside of our people. You'd get a few looks, a few disapproving stares. But the important belief was that you had to be happy and that your children would need to be strong if at all possible. But elves didn't breed well with non-elves. At the very least it was that way for my people. Other races might be different. To fall for someone that you could not have children with was what was some found issue with.

Rina:

I couldn’t read him so I turned my gaze back to the odd pair. They were dancing now. She clearly didn’t know the dances and yet she moved more gracefully than any of the human girls. The ladies all looked on her with disgust. It was sad.

The man she came in with had a lot of guts to bring his mistress to the banquet. Surely he knew it would not grant him any favors. Elves were only allowed to be in the palace as slaves. Everyone knew what kind of slave she must be. It was horrible.

A man came up to my seat and asked me for the next dance. If I remembered right, he was some sort of duke. I refused, more harshly than I normally would. I stood up afterward and moved close to Talon to whisper, “perhaps we should go.” We wouldn’t be able to talk here without drawing suspicion.

I watched the elf move, the grace and steps that she started were all things that called out to me. The longing of being with my own kind only grew. I was so distracted that I didn't notice Rina approach me. Looking down at her I nodded and extended an arm for her to lead the way. "After you my Lady."