Ascending Legends

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled apologetically and got out of bed with a quiet sigh, walking into the main room. "We can't waste time if he's bleeding out. Once mother has her tools, we - " "Atria, lass! 'Tis good t' see ye!" "It's good to -erk- see you too, Norim." That was Norim pulling Arryn into a bear hug, surprisingly gentle, considering dwarven roughness. "I believe we should perhaps hurry, though? Salutations can be put off a bit, yes?" "O'course, M'dear, ye're right."





The path to the mines was long, a thin layer of snow on either side, the path mixed by the stomping of boots into a muddy mess. Arryn was already tired, but the moment she saw the wounded dwarf, she set to work. Her mother stitched the dwarf's arm, while Arryn set to healing the deep parts of the wound so it'd stop bleeding. This was after much fuss over her return. She requested that it stay on the quiet side, but she knew it wouldn't, not with dwarven chit-chat going about. Hel, they'd probably have liked to throw her a party (any excuse to drink and celebrate) but she explained that she was quite tired still. As they walked back, Lenza said, "He would have died if you weren't there - we've always told them to keep a medical kit there, but of course,t hey never do. You handled that well. I noticed you managed to dodge questions about what you're doing - you didn't mention Dayn." "I didn't want to risk word of him getting out before he was healthy enough... imagine if we were both gone as we are now, and Matthias and Theodas weren't watching the house like they are? I don't want to risk him."





Arryn returned with a tired sigh, her hands wet from washing the blood off. It was only an hour after dark, but darkness was about an hour early because of the mountains anyway.

 

[BookWyrm]

With Arryn and Lenza gone Dayn felt the urge to move around. "Mother hens are away, so lets give this a shot." Dayn was able to stand up again by propping himself up on the wall. Easy part down. Dayn took a slow step forward, letting himself feel out the movement before putting his weight on his foot. Thankfully he didn't collapse. Dayn sighed in relief, having held his breath for a few seconds during the trial. His confidence restored Dayn had managed to explore the room some, though he found little anything of interest.


"What I wouldn't give for a hot bath."





Well, a bath would have to wait until the women returned. It felt good for his body to move, the weariness seeming to work it's way out. Might as well work as much out as I can then. Dayn stood up straight before bending down, letting his hands touch his toes as he stretched out stiff, sore muscles. For the next several minutes Dayn stretched and did some rudimentary exercises to get his blood pumping and get his mind off his gloomy attitude. He was in the middle of a set of push ups when Arryn walked back into the room. "Fifty....oh.....uh....hi love."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn covered her face with her hand. Sigh "Dayn... you're absolutely incorrigible." Arryn took off her muddy boots and her weapons belt, setting them aside. "Not that it's not adorable sometimes, but still." She walked past him and flopped on the bed. "Gods, there was so much blood... I made them a medical kit years back so they could bind things like this, but they never bothered to replenish it. The mines are usually pretty safe, Norim makes sure of that, but... I'm so tired." Arryn looked up at him and smiled tiredly. "You seem to be in good enough condition to move to the other house tonight."

 

[BookWyrm]

"I couldn't take it any longer. I needed something to do." Dayn stood up slowly, making sure to keep his balance as he turned and walked back over to the bed, flopping down beside Arryn. "I'm glad that you were able to get there in time. You do know of the stubbornness of dwarves right?" Dayn smiled as he kissed her name. "It would be nice for a change of scenery, and a bath. I smell like a nasty dog."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded. "I'll get some hot water for you. There's a private room for bathing here, which is nice. While you do that, I'll make sure all of the equipment gets to the house." She kissed his cheek. "After a five minute nap." A little while later, Arryn led Dayn to a small room with a large metal tub filled with hot water. She set some of his clothes down on a table inside. "I'll be back in a bit. You'll probably find me passed out on the bed."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn eased down into the hot water. It stung at his skin, burning slightly before finally relaxing his stiff muscles. "Oh, this is the life." For a good while Dayn just laid back and let the water unwind his muscles, which had practically knotted up over the last several days. After scrubbing himself clean, twice actually, Dayn climbed out, dried off, and walked back into the bedroom after changing into his clean clothes. He found Arryn just where she said she would be. He smiled as he slowly laid down next to her in the bed, snuggling up to her as he wrapped an arm around her. He lightly pulled her hair back and kissed her cheek before laying down and relaxed. As he rested he slowly began to think about their plans, buying the property and building the house and all. He realized that he although he wanted his own space this project was a love letter to Arryn. He wanted her to be happy, above anything else in the world, and the thought of her smile was enough to bring out a smile of his own.

 

[Dragongal]

After about an hour, Arryn awoke, smiling and putting her hand over Dayn's, gently running her thumb over his palm. They lay like that for a little bit, before she got up and got prepared to leave. She brought Dayn into the main room of her house. A large central fireplace was in the middle of the large room, and a number of large, comfortable chairs were placed about the room. There was a large, officious desk by one wall, and in one corner was a large table for dining. On the ledge of the fireplace, a picture of a man - Alistair - was drawn with almost perfect accuracy with charcoal, the eyes tinted with faint green ink, like someone had used chlorophyll from leaves very carefully. Lenza was sitting behind the desk, reading a book. "Getting going now?"


Arryn nodded. "Yes ma'am. I'll pop in in the morning, promise."


Arryn took Dayn's hand and led him outside, across the rather large distance between the two houses. The advantage of a house on the outskirts: large yards. Inside Kalie's old house was lit by many candles and a warm, bright, crackling fire in the hearth built into the far wall. There were two bedrooms branching off the main room, and another bathing room as well as a kitchen. Like Arryns's house, it was rather simply furnished with a desk, chairs, and dining table.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn looked about the old house and smiled. "I love the simplistic beauty of homes here. It is boiled down to what is required and nothing that isn't. So many nobles could learn from that, but they'd more than likely turn their nose up at such things." Dayn helped Arryn move their gear into one of the bedrooms before walking over and hugging her. "What's the plan now?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and said, "I am going to take a bath. Then sleeping or eating, I suppose. If you're up to it, maybe we could walk around the village markets a bit tomorrow. Kalie said the kitchen's stocked." Arryn made herself a hot bath, closing the door behind herself before undressing. After finishing up and drying off, she braided her hair and changed into a green dress with cream trim - something she'd taken from her old room. She walked back into the main romm, smiling slightly - it had been a long time since she'd worn a dress - it seemed ladylike.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected sight of Arryn in....a dress? "Wow....you are beautiful." Dayn walked up, a ridiculous smile on his face as he took her hands in his own. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?", he laughed teasingly. "What's the special occasion, M'Lady?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn laughed, and said, "Does there have to be an occasion for me to dress up for you once in a while?" Arryn kissed him slowly, then said with a smile, "Would you like to help me make dinner? You know I need help with that." Arryn was still adjusting to wearing a dress, but she wasn't uncomfortable. And Dayn's look of astonishment was quite flattering, making her blush slightly.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn caught sight of the slight little blush and smiled in his usual mischievous way. "Now that is downright adorable." Dayn kissed her before spinning her around in a short dance. "I think I could find a way to like seeing you dress up occasionally. Now, lets get to cooking before we end up getting distracted."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn kissed him, then took his hand and led him into the kitchen. "I asked Kalie what would be good to make - she knows that kind of stuff - she suggested calcanon or pork and leek pie. There's fresh salted pork in the cabinets and fresh leek too, she said. So, why not make both? Then we won't have to worry about making breakfast tomorrow, we can just put it in the icebox." The iceboxes in the North were metal and had one wall facing the outside - keeping it frigid almost year round. To ensure it, though, almost all were also enchanted to keep cold. The advantage of Norim's enchanter getting terribly bored one summer. Arryn laughed and added, "If you trust me enough to help you cook."

 

[BookWyrm]

"If I can trust you enough to fight beside me I an trust you enough to cook with me." Dayn smiled before he looked at the ingredients. "How about we wing it and make something original? Yep, we're doing this." Dayn took the idea for both meals and somehow meshed them together, making something along the lines or potato soup and pork pot pie. After they had cleaned up the mess Dayn had grabbed a serving for each of them and sat down to try their alchemical brew. "Well, here goes nothing." Dayn took a bite out of the meal and chewed it slowly, letting the flavors work around as he contemplated the work of their hands. He swallowed before smiling. "That ain't half bad."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn hesitantly tried it, then smiled. "Not bad at all. I'm surprised, personally. Now we'll have to figure out how to make it even better." When they were done, Arryn helped to wash the dishes before taking his hands and leading him into the center of the main room. She smiled playfully. "Dance with me, love. Please?" She was still very happy to see that he was in better health, and smiling. She still was concerned for him, but this was much better, and she could feel her previous concern had melted into giddy joy.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn returned the smile before bowing in his most proper fashion. "As you wish my Lady." Dayn took her hand and led her into a comfortable starting dance to loosen their step before slowly changing the tempo to a faster pace for a couple of dances, smiling and laughing all the while as they danced to the music of life. Dayn slowly led Arryn, who was quite the exquisite dancer in her own right, into a slower dance, bringing her in close against him as the mood became more intimate. Dayn slowly leaned in and kissed Arryn as they swayed together. "I would dance the day and night away if it meant I could stay with you forever love."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled. "That doesn't sound like the worst fate.... I like that... being your Lady." She kissed him, then leaned her head against his chest, and said, "I'm sorry you got hurt. I'm sorry you can't tell your family about your lycanthropy. I'm sorry you have to hide it. I'm sorry for a lot of things that probably aren't even directly my fault. I only ever want to see you smile, and I feel bad when you don't. I don't know how to help you but to fret over you, and all I want to do is help you and keep you by my side. I just love you that much, I guess."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled as he held Arryn close too him. "You have the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met Arryn. I love that about you." Dayn leaned down and kissed the top of Arryn's head. "Arryn, you do more for me than I could ever explain. You were there for me when I contracted lycanthropy, you were there the night I first shifted and you stayed with me. If it wasn't for you I would have died in that mountain pass. Arryn, you have done so much and given of yourself for me. Truth be told, you are more than I deserve."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and said, "Let's not argue that point, beloved." Those things wouldn't have happened if she hadn't been involved, btu they weren't directly her fault. She kissed him, then stopped dancing, still holding his hands. "I'm very tired, you must be exhausted... we have a big day tomorrow, I might take you into the village square. If you're up to it." She kissed his cheek playfully, then said, "Just let me fret over you." Arryn led him to their bedroom, and didn't bother moving behind a screen to change into loose, comfortable shirt and pants. He'd seen her scars, why make it more trouble on herself? She crawled under the blankets, sitting up and waiting for him.

 

[BookWyrm]

The fact that Arryn hadn't bothered changing out of her dress behind a privacy curtain took him back for a moment. The sight of her unclothed back was not what he expected, but he wasn't opposed to it either. He took off his own shirt and crawled into bed with Arryn. He moved himself in front of her so he could kiss her, his hand on her cheek as their lips embraced. He didn't feel overtly rushed or like he needed to say anything, just some time to themselves before sleep. Dayn transitioned slowly from her lips to her neck. At the moment he forgot about his aching body and just enjoyed his beloved. After a few seconds he slowly raised up and playfully nibbled at her ear before whispering, "Sorry, I couldn't help myself."

 

[Dragongal]

After smiling to him, she put her hand behind his neck and pulled him into a long, gentle kiss. She let her hand run from behind his neck, to his throat, then against his chest, just barely touching his skin. She pulled back and smiled a bit, saying, "It's quite alright. But before either of us gets... carried away, you really do need sleep, and I do too." Arryn gently pushed him so he was laying down before curling up and nuzzling against his neck, pulling the covers up over her shoulders. Her lips still by his ear, she quietly said, "Maybe another night," before adjusting her position a bit, kissing him lightly, then laying against him with her head on his chest and closing her eyes.

 

[BookWyrm]

The next morning Dayn managed to sneak out of bed without waking Arryn up and prepare breakfast. He was better this morning, and it didn't take much effort to heat up leftovers anyway. Dayn looked around the kitchen, pouting at the lack of coffee. After brewing some tea, and spicing it up with a little ginger and honey, Dayn walked back into the bedroom and laid the food on the desk before getting an idea. He slowly took off his clothes and shifted quietly before carefully creeping onto the bed and licking Arryn's face. <Good morning love. I've got breakfast.>

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn woke up quite quickly, looking at him and smiling playfully. Still smiling, she rolled over and pulled the covers over her head. "D'you know, i was going to get up earlier than you and make a traditional Rorich breakfast. I don't think I'll put in the effort to get up now."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn jumped down off the bed, rooted his nose under the covers, and slid up the bed to come up next to Arryn before licking her again. <That actually sounds wonderful. I might have to sleep in tomorrow just for that reason.> Dayn playfully nipped and tickled Arryn before laying on top of her to hold her still and licking her face.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn laughed, then managed to get her arms free and wrapped them around his neck, hugging him close and burying her face in his fur. She was simply happy to see that he was as healed as he was. After a few moments, she let him go and gently pushed him off of herself, saying, "You're lucky I'm hungry." She got up and walked into the kitchen to the awaiting breakfast. She hadn't gotten more than two bites in when she heard a knock at the door. She looked to Dayn, saying, "Quick-like, change and get dressed!"