• Closed • The Return Flight

[Elyna]

Despite Faiths persistent attention, Elyna had only sipped at the water provided. Grateful though that it gave her something to concentrate on and a way to steady her hands. “I’m sure Faith is indeed the best cook in the whole of Rynmere,” she smiled and looked up, “however, I’m afraid I must be so rude and I think…if you don’t mind I would just like to sleep. I don’t…I don’t tend to have the energy that I usually would, and it’s been a long day,” she stood up carefully, balancing herself with a hand on the back of the chair. Suddenly she felt very pregnant. With all of the adrenaline burnt away she was left deflated.
There was a clear and genuine bond between the Slave and Master and Elyna couldn’t help but wonder, again, if it didn’t go deeper than that. If they shared a bed though, was it because Faith wanted to, or because she had no choice? The words were halted behind her teeth. It wasn’t he place to argue this, not tonight. She didn’t suspect that Tristan would be cruel or force Faith into anything she didn’t want to do…but still. How could there be love if there wasn’t equality? She rubbed a weary hand over her face. Another question for another night. She offered a hand to the cat to sniff, wary of a surprise attack.
“A pleasure to meet you, Mistral,” her voice was softened by exhaustion and she bent to press a kiss to Tristan’s cheek, “thank you for your kindness,” she straightened and reached out to grasp Faith’s shoulder, “and for all of your care. I will be eternally grateful to you both.
The Skyrider hesitated a few moments before retreating to the offered room. She pulled off the dirty outer layers of her clothing and fell into the bed, curled up in soft sheets and blankets and fell asleep near instantly. She owed them her life, and that of her child.

[Faith Augustin]

An expert on bath tubs? Faith wondered if such a thing actually existed but, she had to admit that, in light of this household, she certainly did qualify for that. Glancing around the room and then looking back at Tristan with a very slightly raised eyebrow. She really, genuinely wasn't sure how he had managed to stay alive, fed and clean before he bought her in truth. Not that she would ever dream of saying such a thing but she thought it before and, seeing just how much he had reverted to type in her twelve trial absence, she continued to think it now. It was not a criticism, he was a free man and a noble alongside that; it was right that he did not bother himself with the menial things that were hers to concern herself with. But she could not help but smile fondly and then nod to Lady Elyna. But her focus was on Tristan when he spoke and she smiled, pleasure lighting her eyes. "I would not want you to ever need to replace me, Master" she replied, and let the rest of that speak for itself.

But Lady Elyna needed to get to bed so Faith rushed to fuss over the crumpled mess that inevitably was Tristan's bedroom. She did the best she could in the time that she had, although she had to admit defeat and just help Lady Elyna the best that she could, and to the extent that Lady Elyna was comfortable with her helping. As she closed the door, leaving the Lady alone in the room, Faith smiled at her "Rest well, Lady Elyna." she whispered, looking the noble Lady in the eyes and smiling. What they had shared, the experience that they had just lived through could not be unlived and it meant a lot to the young slave. Lady Elyna's care for her meant more than Faith had words for. Except, of course, the two that she spoke "Thank you"

Then, she closed the door and moved into the living room. She looked, and felt, utterly exhausted although she did her best to hide it, it was almost overwhelming. She had to persevere, though, because there was food to prepare. "I'll get you something to eat, Master. I can only apologise that it will be of necessity probably fairly basic." she explained. Moving to where she cooked she stopped and stood in front of him. There were inches separating them and the young woman looked up at him with earnest grey eyes. "I am glad you know that I would never run away. I missed you" she explained. The emotions which had kept her going for so many trials no longer held her and Faith looked like she might burst into tears, faint or, the thing that was most likely was that she did both in truth. But she breathed in through her nose and bit the inside of her cheek. The pain was sharp and she smiled a shaking smile to Tristan, then turned to go and cook.

"You should have my bed, Master. It isn't right that you sleep anywhere else. I am very comfortable on a floor" she said and she was quite sure that she was going to make a meal but she stopped and shook her head, trying to clear it. Exhaustion was overwhelming her and all that she wanted in that moment was for someone to look after her for a change, but her determination to be the best slave on Idalos won out. She stepped fowrd and set about getting him a meal, doing her best to make the best she could out of the limited things there. "I'm afraid it will not be to the standard it should, Master, I'm sorry." she turned back to him and looked regretful and genuine in her apology "There is not a lot here. I will do some shopping tomorrow, restock the cupboards".

Working on determination and habit, she cooked what she could, a simple but tasty rice dish with vegetables and a quickly mixed flatbread of flour, salt and butter, mixed together and then proved in the oven as the rice cooked. She did the measuring carefully, because it was vital that she got the butter to flour ratio just perfect in order to ensure that the no-proof bread worked. Then, having rolled it out roughly, she mixed up some herbs and garlic in butter and rubbed that over the top of the bread. She made sure that she made enough for Lady Elyna should she wake up later. A few momnts before it was due to be ready, she opened the oven and sprinkled some salt on the bread so that it would add a taste to the crust.

Once he had eaten (she couldn't, simply could not even if she tried, although she would give it her best if he ordered her to), she smiled at him and spoke in her usual tone "My bed was made when I left. It should be comfortable for you" frankly, at this point, curling on the floor sounded like heaven because more than anything she needed to sleep, but she waited to see what he said. Especially when she asked "And where would you like me to sleep?"

[Tristan Venora]

“You don’t have to eat anything“, Tristan let Elyna know as she told him that she just wanted to sleep and smiled at her. He really found the young noblewoman quite likeable. “It was just an offer, in case flying on a dragon and fighting a bunch of zombies made you hungry. If you get a sudden craving during the night though, you are allowed to get whatever you want from the kitchen without asking me for permission first.“

Upon noticing that she was trying to stand up, he abruptly jumped up from his chair so that he would be able to help her if it was necessary. She looked as if her balance might be slightly off. Fortunately nothing happened which was good because he had no idea what he was supposed to do when a pregnant woman was lying on his kitchen floor.

Unlike his owner, Mistral was not particularly helpful, although he did sniff her hand and then sniffed it some more because he apparently liked the way she smelled. He didn‘t try to bite her, he didn’t try to scratch her, on the contrary, he seemed completely enamored with her.

“Oh.“ A small sound of surprise escaped Tristan’s lips as Elyna kissed his cheek. It wasn’t his first kiss, it wasn’t even his fiftieth or hundredth kiss (probably), but he still could not help but blush very slightly.

“Faith“, he said and cleared his throat because Elyna’s sign of gratitude had left him a little speechless even though he had thought he would be used to being kissed by now. “Can you help Lady Burhan get ready for bed? I’ll be waiting for you here patiently.“

---

“I’m so hungry that I don’t care“, he informed Faith as she told him that the meal would be fairly basic. “I’m just glad that you are willing to feed me at all.“ He broke off as he noticed the look on her face and furrowed his brow a little. “Please don’t cry. There is no reason for you to. We are all alive and unhurt. You should be smiling instead!“ He demonstrated how she smiling worked by stretching the corners of his mouth as far as possible in case she had forgotten how to do it. Afterwards his mouth hurt a little.

While Faith prepared his meal, he drank some more wine, and then he practically devoured the rice dish she had cooked. “What did you say?“ he asked her between bites. “Fairly basic? I don’t think you would be able to make a basic dish if you tried. This is fantastic. More please!“

It took some time before he was full. After he had finished his meal, he just sat there and rubbed his belly for a moment. Soon it was time to talk about sleeping arrangements however. He considered Faith’s offer to sleep in her bed while she slept on the floor for a moment before he shook his head. “You’ll sleep in the bed with me. And if you are worried about Elyna finding out, we’ll just put a chair in front of the door so that she can’t just walk in unannounced!“

“It will be great.“ He grinned as he found the prospect of sleeping next to Faith (or possibly with her) while somebody who was not allowed to find out was in the house quite exciting even though the consequences of being found out could be disastrous. “And – if that doesn’t convince you, it will also be much more comfortable!“

[Malcolm]

Faith

Knowledge:
Mount: Jacadon landing
Animal Husbandry: Housing animals correctly
Slavery: A slave must always know their place
Elyna's marriage to Malcolm is void
Storytelling: The Masks of the Sacred Seven
Storytelling: Elaborate
Storytelling: Stick to the facts
Melee Combat: Frying pan
Tristan: Thinks Zvezdana is a bitch
Tristan: Is proud of your actions during Saun 716
Tristan: Believes you to be the best cook in Rynmere
Tristan: Happy to share a bed with you
Baking: Proofing bread

Loot: n.a
Injuries: n.a
Fame: +1: Helping Elyna down from the Jacadon
+1: Cooked a meal for Tristan
Magic: n.a

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Elyna

Knowledge:
Faith: A slave, not a squire
Faith: Tristan's lover?
Location: Tristan Venora's Home
Storytelling: Stick to the facts
Tristan: Thinks Zvezdana is a bitch
Tristan: Offered you a place to hide
Tristan: Proclaims Faith to be the best cook in Rynmere
Mistral: Tristan's Cat

Loot: n.a
Injuries: n.a
Fame: +1: Returned Faith to Tristan safely
Magic: n.a

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Tristan

Knowledge:
Mistral: A failed necromancy experiment?
Faith: Rode a dragon (Jacadon)
Faith: Fought the undead with a frying pan
Faith: Met the King of Rynmere
Faith: Saw Emerson Sands, the Empress of Rynmere
Faith: Held the king's hand
Faith: Stole a dragon
Zvezdana: Was rude to the king
Alistair: Posed as the king to trick Zvezdana
Cassander Renault: Posed as a slave
Elyna: Dragon Rider
Elyna's marriage to Malcolm is void
Elyna: Killed Veljorn Burhan
Elyna: Stole a dragon
Marcus Krome: Held Elyna against her will

Loot: n.a
Injuries: n.a
Fame: +1: Offered Elyna a safe place to stay
Magic: n.a

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Comment: Lots of inner dialog that can be difficult to award knowledge for, so I do apologise for struggling to find much in the first two or three posts. I've noticed some real improvements in the standard of writing and didn't see many mistakes at all which is very positive! I enjoyed this story, which took me just over an hour to review, and remained glued to it from beginning to end. If you have any questions or concerns, shove them up your backsides, I don't care for complaints! Enjoy the rewards!