Naveen

Talon:

I could tell she wasn't pleased, but I appreciated her willingness to go through with it. I had expected her to fight it. And yet she was willing to give it a try. It made my heart feel good to hear it. After we finished eating and the dishes had been gathered I stood and offered my hand. "Would you like a tour? I never had a chance to do that for you before."

Rina:

“Yes. I remember parts of it. The walk to your room particularly. But we weren’t encouraged to explore then,’ I said. Last time I had been here was very different. And at the time I had not been so friendly with Talon. In fact, I thought I hated him.

"That's true. Though I do believe my chambers was the one place you'd never want to go to." I chuckled dryly, "We didn't like each other. In fact I was certain we hated one another."

Rina:

“Well, I thought you were arrogant and stubborn,” I said.  Even after I took his hand to stand, I held onto it.  “I still do think that sometimes, but not with quite as much anger as I felt then.”  I grinned and kissed his cheek.  “I think part of the reason I hated you was that I was attracted to you and I resented that.

"Well I cant say you are wrong." I admitted. "I do have some arrogance and stubbornness. I have to. Have to stand strong sometimes." I started to lead her away chuckling at her words. "Attracted to me huh? What was it you liked hm?" I teased softly. "I can think of several things I noticed first about you."

Rina:

“Well I can’t deny I found you physically attractive. I still very much do,” I gave him a flirtatious smile but continued. “And the way you treated me, even though you were arrogant, you didn’t shy away from be because I was a woman doing things men do. You weren’t put off me because I was different and reclusive. You treated me with respect even when I was angry with you. You were like no one I had ever been around. And, well, once I spent the night with you here… that was more than enough reason to want to stick around you.”

"So if I wasn't all those other things, you'd have stuck around just for the sex?" I teased with a grin followed by leaning down for a brief kiss. Moving through my chambers I took her the long way through the castle, pointing out bits of art or locations as we passed them.

Rina:

I chuckled. “Perhaps,” I said and kissed him happily. It was nice to be complete alone with him and not have to worry that something might go wrong or happen to us. We were safe here. We could be happy here. I held onto his hand and the same arm with my other hand as we walked through the castle.

Moving into a hallway I gestured ahead of us and the thick doors banded with metal that lay ahead of us. "This is one of the two entrances to the Nursery. Where the children stay, learn, and grow. Our children are everything to us, so we take great care in their protection." I moved us to the doors and paused a moment to smile at her. "It will be alright, I promise."

Rina:

I held onto him a little more firmly. I couldn’t help some of the nerves returning. I didn’t know how to act with children, much less Elvin children. And I would be having one of my own soon. My stomach flipped at that in a new way. Before now it had all seemed like a dream. Something special I was sharing with Savien. But now it would be with farm more people than just the two of us

Talon:

I smiled gently at her and instead of pushing open the door I turned and gathered her into my arms.  Kissing the top of her head I murmured softly to her, "I love you Rina."  Kissing the top of her head I pulled back out of the hug, letting her reclaim my arm before pushing open the door.

It was quiet inside the main room.  Not a child in sight, but an elf looked up from a seat against the wall with a raised brow.  Upon seeing me she closed the book and laid it aside, standing to her full height that  exceeded my own and folded her hands in front of her.

Leading Rina inside I glanced about the warmly lit room, with chairs and cushions a plenty along with a scattering of boxes full of toys or books left atop seats and the floor.  Even in the minute chaos of it all it had an air of order.  I led her towards the woman, bowing my head respectfully to her once we were close.  "Matron Ashryn, it's a pleasure to see you again."

"To you as well Lord Talon.  This is her then."  It wasn't a question as she settled silver eyes upon Rina.  Ash was an old elf, old even when I was a boy.  She carried herself well however, the barest of lines starting to form on her face.  Her expression was cool but not unfriendly.  A face of power within her domain where even I almost dared not intervene.  "What is your name?"  She asked while taking a brief look over Rina, her eyes paused at her stomach before finishing it's once over.

Rina:

“Rina,” I said, looking her in the eyes. It was the only name I had ever acknowledged as my own, but it was not my given name. I glanced to Talon wondering how much his people knew about me other than me being the mother of his child. Did they know I had been royalty among humans and the saga that followed? “Pleased to meet you.”

Ash:

"The pleasure will be mine I'm sure. Have you decided on a name? And how long have you been aware?" The questions held a touch of joy. The birth of a child was momentous news, celebrations would be planned. Gifts made. Though as I gazed at the human before me I couldn't help but wonder...what would this child come to be? Names were important, the first steps in shaping ones life. A child who walked among the children of the moon and humans was a rare gift to the world.

Rina:

“A couple months,” I said but explained that Maleen had told us before there were symptoms. She had also told us when we could expect the child within a reasonable window. As for the name… “I thought it should have an Elvin name but I’m not experienced enough…” I trailed off and looked up at Talon.

Talon:

I smiled softly down at Rina, "There is still time for us to discuss it." Squeezing her hand gently I wanted nothing more than to kiss her. I wasn't used to seeing Rina nervous and uncertain and all I could think of was the desire to comfort her and help her.

Ash nodded approvingly, "I will see if I can't find books on names for you. But for now come, I will show you to your room. You missed the rest of the children, they went to the temple today and wont be back for some time."

Rina:

I thought it was probably a good thing that the children weren’t there when I was first shown around. It was a lot to take in as it was. I liked the Elvin woman Ash, but she had the same distant feeling I was used to getting from the elves. I assumed that was just how they were.

Talon:

I peered around as we followed along. Noting changes here and there from when I was a boy. Ash and I had never gotten along. I was a hellion, and was often at odds with her. But I'd come to respect her during those long years. She was a force to be reckoned with and had no shame or fear in disciplining naughty children or booting out overbearing adults.

Tucked along a back hallway was the birthing suites, large bedrooms with their own bathrooms. It was here that any pregnant woman would stay until it was time. Cushions and chairs and couches were spread around along with shelves and dressers to store anything they might desire or need. The only door however was the one to go into the room.

"Here we are, if you need anything you have but to ask. Later tomorrow I believe our tailor will be in to measure the children for new sets of clothes. I'll have them come see you after to get you set up in more comfortable attire." Ash stepped aside and ran her eyes over the room for a brief critical moment, making sure all was as it should be before focusing on myself and Rina once more.

Rina:

I looked around the room without much enthusiasm.  I would have preferred to stay in Talon’s rooms, not because they were more grand, but because I wanted to be with him.  When she mentioned the tailor, my heart sank a little.  I wore a tunic and form fitting pants.  Men’s clothes.  I had been made to wear dresses at the castle, it seemed I would have to wear them now too.  I had not seen any Elvin women in pants apart from the warriors.  I had once had an Elvin dress given to me the last time I was here.  It was far more comfortable than the dresses I was made to wear at the castle, but still.  

I stood still in the room now, still holding onto Talon’s arm.  Now that we had stopped and Ash was no longer speaking, I didn’t know what to do.

Talon:

Laying a hand atop Rina's on my arm I smiled faintly. "Is there anything else we need to see or do Ashryn?" I had my eyes on Rina but looked up to the elven woman after my question.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, a look I knew to be faint displeasure. "If you must take her out of my care, then do be careful. There is little else that needs to be done that you can help with. Bring her back promptly Lord Talon. I don't have any interest in hunting for her."

"Yes ma'am." Leaving Ash behind in the room I sighed softly, giving myself a small shake. "It's been hundreds of years and I still feel like a small child in front of her."

Rina:

I smiled slightly but didn’t say anything. From the sound of it Ash wanted me kept there all the time. Under her watch. Not with Talon. I didn’t know how I would stand it if I was without him night and day with only short visits.

Talon:

"I know somewhere I could take you. I imagine you might visit there a lot, if nothing else but for something to do. Would you want to see our Library? I know we have some books in your tongue as well." Leading her out of the Nursery I set us down the path of hallways to reach the library.

Rina:

"I have been here before," I said when we reached the library. "Maleen and Wren were often here. Dorian too, but I think only because they were here." I looked around. I enjoyed reading, but I had not had much time for it over the years.

Talon:

I hummed softly, "They were a rather inseparable trio. Maleen leading the way with a shining smile, Dorian keeping more level headed, and Wren following along almost like a little puppy." I thought of what else I could show to her.

"If you'd like I could show you the Temple, or the Hall of Kings." Pausing I led the way into the library and then began to lead her through the stacks of shelves. "I'm afraid our books in Common are held in the back corner." The library had a few elves here and there, but the deeper we went the less we saw and in the section she'd be able to read there were none.

Glancing down at her I opened my mouth to say something but instead I pulled her into a gentle hug and pressed my lips to hers.

Rina:

I kissed him readily. It was nice to be alone and intimate with him for a few minutes. I had half the mind to suggest going back to his room when he pulled away. We continued the tour somewhat reluctantly.

Eventually, he took me back to the nursery. I met the elf children then. They didn’t act like the human children I had seen playing on occasion. They weren’t as exuberant. And they looked more adult-like than human children did. I could tell they were children because they were small and their features were slightly softer, but they didn’t have the same kind of baby fat that humans did at that age. The youngest was the only exception, but even so, she still wasn’t as round as I would have expected.

I didn’t spend much time with them, instead, I sat off to the side watching them with their caretakers. Talon didn’t stay long, whether because he had other matters to attend to or because Ash shooed him out, I didn’t know.

I had a quiet dinner and then washed up before bed. At first, they attempted to assist me in bathing but backed off when I insisted I would do it myself. They gave me a long, soft nightgown and showed me to my bed. And then they stayed in the room with me. I asked if they would be going and Ash told me it was customary to stay in case something happened to me or my child that needed immediate attention. I didn’t like it but I didn’t want to come off as difficult. I didn’t sleep much that night or the next.

The next day I barely got to see Talon the next day. The Elvin women wanted me to stay in the nursery. They were always hovering around me or trying to get me to do things. They wanted to show me exercises I should be doing, they had me meditate, they made me drink a bitter tea twice a day. It was exhausting and yet most of my day involved ‘relaxing’.

My second whole day went the same way. I was given a couple of dresses to wear while the tailor made me my own clothes. The women were never outright rude to me, but they were condescending and discouraged me from questioning them about their practices. When I asked why I had to do certain things, or what benefit the tea was, they would explain in the shortest answers needed.

It was lonely. And I missed being with Talon. When he did come to visit me, we weren’t alone and it didn’t last long. After the second night, I questioned Ash as to why I couldn’t stay with Talon. She said it was customary for pregnant women to stay in the nursery, that it was safer because I could be watched over, and that there was no need for me to be with him because we shouldn’t be intimate anyway.

The third day my loneliness manifested as annoyance. I tried to be compliant and agreeable, but they didn’t. They were constantly with me yet they didn’t try to interact with me other than to tell me things I needed to do. They spoke mostly in elvish when they weren’t addressing me. When Talon came to see me that day I asked him if I could go with him for a little while to get away from the women.

Talon:

My first night away from Rina was a long one, there was always something missing while I tossed and turned in my bed. A warmth tucked into my side. A softness against my skin. The presence and sounds of someone sleeping or beginning to doze off. I missed them. I missed her. And it took me a long time to fall asleep.

With morning came the return to duties long since put aside and delegated to advisers. Matters of state, meetings, and various other court proceedings took up my time. I half expected Rina to come find me through out the entire day, a welcome balm to the tedium. In the end I had to search her out, spending the evening meal. It was the highlight of my day.

The next day my responsibilities as Lord continued but without matters of State. I met with merchants, the priestesses, and prominent members of the community. I listened to their problems, accepted their welcomes, and bore through all of the protocol and etiquette that was required each and every time.

While I had missed my people, I had grown used to the way things were done elsewhere. Greetings that were short and simple, articulating their words rather than dancing about long stories before a point was even made, and just the vibrant energy. What had once been jarring in the quickness of emotion and deed humans and other races of short lifespans, I had eventually grown used too. My people weren't as such, far from it. Slow and deliberate, every move an act across a chess board.

The third day I had less to attend to, and I went to Rina early, wanting to spend time with her to make up for my busy schedule. I met her with a smile and a gentle kiss, before she asked to go away for a bit. With a curious look I agreed and after a small conversation with Ash I led Rina away, taking her to my garden again where we could be alone and comfortable.

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to be around more often. I have been away from my people for far too long and many wish to catch up as well as tend to matters that have been put off." I helped ease her onto a soft cushion within a gazebo before settling in beside her.