Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Elyna had enjoyed the day. It had been balanced with her work as a Skyrider and her duties as a new mother. It had become normal to wake in Malcolm’s embrace. The mortalborn deep in slumber beside her. Usually she had time to feed Elsie before sunlight saw him stir. This morning had been no exception. The baby had been bathed as well and laid out on a towel on the bed as her Father lay sleeping. Elyna had dried the soft skin as quickly as she was able, before dressing her in a gown of soft yellow wool, a little hat that Faith had made and some leggings that would keep tiny toes warm. Pulling faces at the baby to keep her occupied. Little arms flew against the covers and legs kicked as she gurgled and made soft noises of enjoyment. Her eyes had finally settled on a paler green to match Malcolm’s and Elyna had spent the past two trials re-making all of her clothes, undoing hems and loosening stiches. By the Immortals at this rate their daughter was going to be tall, she was growing so rapidly. A glance at Malcolm’s bare foot sneaking out from the cover though, and it wasn’t a surprise.
After breakfast, Elyna had taken the time to pack up Elsie’s belongings. Clothes, blankets, toys and cradle. They were loaded onto the cart. The child would not be returning to the house until her parents had returned from the Burning Mountains. The weight of the belongings was more than Elyna had expected. A strange, burning sensation circled the pit of her stomach whenever she thought about something else that the child might need. The past few trials the Skyrider had ridden Ember into the city, with Elsie ensconced in Ava’s arms. However she opted to sit in the cart on this occasion, watching her daughter sleep sound in her arms. Godric and Ava were left at the training grounds before Malcolm bought the cart to the Burhan residence.
Soon it was just the Skyrider, directing furniture into her old room and reluctant to put the baby down. Even with the room where Elsie had been born, prepared for her extended stay, Elyna was unwilling to leave her daughter and returned to the training grounds with the baby. A stand had been reconstructed and she found herself a seat on the rough wooden bench. Dressed in warm, fawn coloured trousers, a shirt and tunic in hues of green and blues, and a pair of favourite well-worn boots she watched the Iron Hand at work. The new Warden caught her attention whenever he set foot on the practise courts, or circled the make-shift offices and buildings. As though he shouted her name whenever he was in sight, he was unmissable. If he ever glanced in her direction, the woman made sure to check that Elsie was warm enough and comfortable wrapped up in the layers of blankets. Green eyes staring at the clouds, fingers curled around any stray lock of Elyna’s hair when she could reach it. The pull of auburn strands was painful, but saw the Skyrider holding back laughter. It was as she was trying to tease her hair from the determined fist that Emily approached.
The new Major climbed the stand at a run and wrapped Mother and baby in a hug, “Ely!”
Her enthusiasm and delight were infectious and Elyna couldn’t help but laugh as she was freed. She pulled back Elsie’s blankets, “see Elsie, this is Emily, you need to watch her, carefully – and definitely grab her hair whenever you can,” she teased and looked to her friend.
Emily laughed, but kneeling beside her she cooed down at the baby “oh Elyna, she’s so beautiful,” she breathed. “Come now, you can’t keep her all to yourself,” she settled down on the bench and held her arms out, expectant. Unable to resist the genuine warmth, Elyna placed the baby into her friend’s arms. Fussing over the blankets to ensure she was wrapped up warm.
Absorbed in the baby, Emily looked up, nodding towards the training grounds, “go on,” she encouraged, “you didn’t come all the way down for nothing.”
Elyna followed her look and nodded. It was true, the Skyrider intended to train. What if she was awful though, what if her body didn’t remember anything? What it Malcolm was out there, somewhere and he saw her? She pulled her bottom lip in, beneath her teeth and worried at it.
“Elyna,” Emily warned, “we’re heading off in a few trials, better test yourself now than in the sky.”
The Captain nodded and forced herself to stand. She bowed to press a kiss to Elsie’s forehead before descending down the stand. Her knees refused to bend properly. Legs wooden and unyielding. Confident in her friend, she didn’t feel any desire to warn her about protecting Elsie or keeping her warm. Emily had a number of siblings, nieces, nephews of varying ages and was more than comfortable cuddling the baby.
Elyna approached the edge of the practise court and unfastened her jerkin. She folded it against her arm before finally setting it down on the ground. She swung her arms back and forth, warming the cold stiff muscles. It was Rafa who bounded towards her like an excited puppy. Dark hair had been plastered against his forehead but was lifted and tousled in the rising wind. His breathe came in burst of cloud as he skidded to a halt in front of her.
“Ser?” He lifted his hand in a salute, “you’re going to train with us?”
The Captain glanced back, once more at the stands before she nodded and started to roll up her sleeves, “let’s just get on with it.”
She had surprised herself. It had only taken a few sharp movements to land the young airman on his behind. The minor victory had been enough to boost her confidence. Her body hadn’t quite forgotten the decade of training and she was pleased. It was a good opportunity to train Rafa, and Kit who soon joined them. Passing on a few simpler moves and techniques. Their small group had been joined by other Skyriders and Knights. Colleagues that she’d known before the rebellion, and before Elsie. There were obvious gaps in the group of comrades, a few of their usual number who were missing. They were all eager though, keen to train and share skills. All too aware of the forthcoming departure the next day. Some of the Knights she knew would be in Malcolm’s command. Most of the Skyriders were keen to impress upon her, that they were ready and eager to join her much smaller command in the air. They wanted to repay the rebels. The fervent desire she saw in most of her friends, surprised her. She made a careful note and tried to distinguish those who wanted justice, and those who wanted revenge.
The Skyriders had a few more trials before setting out after the army. Volareon’s able to travel much faster than foot or hoof. The cold started to affect her ears, setting a pounding in the lobes and a sharp pain that spread down her jaw. It was time to retire and warm up. Having been dropped on her own behind, more than a few times, and sporting bruises across her arms, Elyna knew when to quit. The training had been successful though, and it was with a wide grin that she returned to Emily, and the gathered crowd of Skyriders that cooed and fussed over the tiny baby.
Elsie was collected, and after promising that she would join the others in the tavern later, Elyna was allowed to leave. She returned back to the Burhan estate. She fed Elise before laying the child down to sleep. It was then that she took the time to bathe herself. Languishing in hot water she examined the fresh bruises that mottled her forearms. There was still a faint red mark on her neck, but that hadn’t been given on the practise yard.
She lay back in steaming water and watched her hair fan out behind her head. All the dust, sweat and sand from the practise yard, scrubbed from her skin. She rubbed oil into her hair and luxuriated in the scent of it. Her body felt worn, and beaten from her time outside. Her cheeks glowing from exposure to the cold wind. Dried off, it was tempting to crawl into the clean linen sheets beside the cradle and sleep. However, she had given her word. Drinking with those who were about to depart was an ancient tradition. Not a superstitious person, Elyna was however all too aware of the power of the Immortals and the influence they could have one someone’s life. If she could raise a toast with the men and women setting out for the Burning Mountains, then she would.
Dressed in clean breaches, a fresh shirt of pale green and the dark corsetry, the Captain smothered her daughter in kisses before departing the house once more. When she arrived at the Blacksmith’s arms, the toasting had already gotten somewhat out of hand. Elyna slipped through the bustling crowd. It had been a long time since she’d been surrounded by so much alcohol and the smell of it burnt her nose. The floor was sticky as she made her way through. Assaulted by the noise of reverie and a wall of heat. Heat from the fireplace and from the simple fact that the tavern was filled to bursting.
There was a space cleared for dancing and a band of musicians in residence. A few rooms of tables, chairs and benches that spread out in a warren from the main bar. Lights were stung outside where a good number of the Iron Hand had spilled out onto the street. Drinks in hand and determined to enjoy their night of merriment, before an early start.
They were all going to be nursing a headache in the morning, that much was for certain. The band was playing a lively tune which made it dangerous to stand too close to the dancefloor. As she entered the main room, a cheer rose from a group of Skyriders who beckoned her closer. An embarrassed smile caught her features and held. Emily ushered her into a chair before regaling the group with stories of how gorgeous the Captain’s daughter was. Elyna found her cheeks growing hot as she rested against the wooden back. She’d pinned her hair up to keep it out of the way and to hopefully maintain an air of authority. Flagons were planted on either side of her, ales, ciders and even a flagon of wine which caused the woman to snort with laughter. She pushed them across the table to more willing imbibers. Finally, a warm drink of spiced cider in a mug was pushed into her hands. Looking up at her patron, Elyna found herself smiling at her friend. Emily merely winked at her before she was pulled by a handsome young man towards the dancefloor. Elyna lent back in her seat to watch the pair of them. Was this the young man that had captured her friend’s attention?
A knight she recognised stumbled towards the staircase, arm wrapped around a woman Elyna knew to work for the house of roses. This may have been the wrong location, but the ‘Roses certainly knew where they could find a lot of willing coin. The flush from the cold air returned to her features and she returned her attention to the Skyriders. Rafa and Kit had both indulged in too much ale. They had renewed their argument over who had the best chance with the baker’s daughter.
Drew was an old friend. Someone who had joined the Skyriders at the same time as she and Emily had been airwoman. He lent over his own glass of wine, pinching the bridge of his nose with disgust “I think…I think there’s mud in my drink?” He looked up, dark features wide with disbelief.
“Don’t let Rufus hear you,” Elyna warned. Looking over her shoulder, she could barely see the owner. Hidden as he was behind the press of bodies eager to spend their coin at the bar. A glimpse of his expression and she bit back a smile once more. He was not happy. Furious perhaps that his tavern had been overtaken by the Iron Hand. Surely though, the coin passing through his grubby fingers would be enough to sweeten the invasion. “He looks ready to throw us all out.”
“I’d like to see him try!” It was Kit’s cry of youthful exuberance, “there has to be about a hundred of us here!”
“Eighty or so,” Elyna attempted to give a more measured response. She took a sip of the cider, enjoying the warmth.
“You’re a hero though, Captain!” Kit stood up, lifting his tankered. Ale sloshed over the sides and splattered the table.
It was Drew who grabbed the younger man’s shirt and tugged him back to his seat.
The cider seemed to burn her throat, but she swallowed it. Her smile waned and she stood, “everyone has their part to play,” she tried to sound wise, or knowledgeable. Tried to pass on some piece of wisdom. However there was little she could share.
The conversation continued without her, returning again to the Baker’s daughter who apparently Drew already knew more intimately. His admission left Kit and Rafa bereft and forlorn. Elyna excused herself, fingers curled tight around her mug she started slipping back through the crowd towards the exit and the call of fresher air. The heat in the room was suddenly unbearable and the ties of her corset too tight.
There was nothing heroic about killing an unarmed man. The turn of conversation had pushed her thoughts back where she was unwilling to follow. As she ducked between arms and shoulders she found her gaze travelling over the crowd for the Warden. Surely they would have forced him to attend? It was tradition.
Warm fingers curled around her wrist and the Skyrider turned, hopeful, to see who begged her attention; Malcolm? It was a man a few years her senior, in his early thirties. A knight that she wouldn’t call either a friend or a stranger. Their paths had crossed a few times over the arcs, especially when her life had been entwined with Yoreth’s.
“Liam?” She delved into the recess of her memory, scrambling for his name. A hand taller her, the knight had warm dark eyes hidden for the most part behind a wayward fridge of muddy gold hair. A short beard and stubble lined his jaw and cheeks and he smiled at her in response.
“Lady Burhan,” he lifted her fingers and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
“C-Captain,” she corrected him. How long did she need to linger, before she stole her hand back? His fingers tightened their grip.
“Captain Burhan,” he straightened from his bow, “it suits you. I couldn’t help but notice, you’re leaving?”
“I was just going to get some air,” she admitted. She curled the mug of mulled cider against her chest. The warmth spread over her skin and she pulled her hand free in a gentle motion, “it’s good to see you. It feels like we’re missing too many faces these days.” She wondered if he’d stayed in touch with Yoreth. The pair of them had been friends once upon a time. Liam had been in awe of the older man, and Elyna had suspected that he’d known something about their love affair. It was curiosity that saw her remain rather than leaving.
“you owe me a dance,” his grin turned roguish.
Her brows lifted in surprise, “a what?”
“A dance. You lost a bet of cards…oh was it six years ago?”
Elyna laughed, “That’s a long time to remember a debt!”
“Not when it’s a debt worth remembering,” he lent forward, offering a hand for her drink.
“Well I’m still not much of a dancer,” she protested.
He grinned in response and took the mug from her fingers. He set it on the table beside Drew, Kit and Rafa before beckoning her towards the band. The crowd jostled around them and heat crept up her neck. She wanted nothing more than to turn on her heel and flee through the crowd. She wet dry lips with the tip of her tongue.
“Just one,” she agreed with increasing reluctance.
Liam led her out to the dancefloor, in time for the newest song to start. Rows of couples faced one another and Elyna was grateful to find herself next to Emily. It started with the rows moving back and forward towards each other, then back and forth again. Each set of four dances would then place their hands in a star and circle right, then left and part ways again. Finally, the top pair swung down the central aisle with increasing speed. Boots, hair, skirts and elbows flying before they skipped back to the top. The final movement was a slow spin back down to the far end of the aisle once more where they took up their new position and the dance began again.
“This is such a bad idea,” Elyna hissed to her friend as they clapped, the first couple whizzing past with a whoop of laughter. Emily flashed her a grin before elbowing her in the side.
“Just enjoy yourself Elyna. Have some fun!”
“I’ve not had nearly enough to drink, to enjoy this,” she retorted and ran her hand along the back of her neck. With only a few sips of cider and little intention to drink anymore, it was unlikely that any kind of dancing would become bearable.

Their last night together had passed all too quickly, and though Malcolm thought sleep might evade him, it's spell was swift and deep. He woke to find Elyna escaping his arms with care in order to tend to Elsie, and after the baby was fed, washed, and clothed, he took his turn, walking around the house with her in his arm while he enjoyed breakfast. His things had been packed the night before, belongings, weapons, and tent at the ready. They got on the road, and having sold Red to Benjamin, Malcolm opted to bring Mithril along for the journey. The knights had been in need of more horses after the civil war, and having one to spare, Malcolm knew it would be selfish to keep the animal, no matter his attachment. Come Ashan he could purchase two more for training, when stock was plentiful in the region again.
Once they had reached town, Malcolm had taken his horse and left Elyna with the wagon, knowing she planned to visit her parents after going into the training yards. He had pressed a kiss to Elsie’s forehead and whispered something sweet before squeezing Elyna’s right arm and departing.
The day was well spent, pushing his men to their absolutely limits. “If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you,” he encouraged, demanding the best of them, especially the new recruits, or those who had enjoyed far too many cushy street jobs, and watches on the wall. His captain's seemed to come onboard, running drills and lessons left and right, even Murphy was playing ball.
The odd glance stolen in Elyna direction was rarely if ever returned, and Malcolm found himself longing to climb the steps and sit with her, enjoying the last few breaks he would have with Elsie in their company. Duty bound, he knew he must push such thoughts to the back of his mind and give his troops the best he had to offer, so that when the time came they would do the same.
That evening in the showers, Benjamin had noticed the scar on Malcolm's leg, and against his better judgement, made mention of the mark. “Qe’dreki?” the captain asked.
Malcolm looked across at him. “What of them?”
“The scar,” Ben pointed out.
“Oh…”
“Oh?”
Malcolm didn't have an explanation and knew he would have to dream one up fast. “I guess there is a small resemblance,” he agreed. The scar had been reopened so many time that the image had become too warped to make out. “It's just an old burn, like my arms,” Malcolm assured him.
“I had never noticed it before,” Ben remarked.
“Well don't look too closely, I don't want you noticing anything else,” Malcolm smirked.
Benjamin laughed.

Most of them had enjoyed a feast that afternoon in the eating hall at the barracks, and the majority had decided to carry on the festivities in lowtown at the Blacksmith Arms. The owner, Rufus, had not been too impressed by the sight of seeing a lot of his regulars chased off, but the coin was enough to soften the hard line his mouth had drawn at the sight of them, and soon he was laughing too. Malcolm had enjoyed a glass of red wine with dinner and shook his head whenever he was offered mead or cider by one of the men. The captain's shared in a round of shots, whiskey by the smell of it, and though Malcolm had said no to partaking, he had gained enough respect for no one get bent out of shape about it.
“He never drinks before the first morning of a mission,” Kathryn told Murphy, who had been ogling her all night. “I guess he just likes to go into these things with a clear head.”
Malcolm, however, had been paying mind to none other than Elyna from the moment she had stepped into the tavern. Soft hands took his own and he glanced down to see that Avari had taken them. “Come and dance,” she encouraged.
The knight snatched his hand away from hers and replied in a gruff tone of voice. “No.”
“You're not still upset about seeing me naked, are you? Please Malcolm, I know where I stand, we are just friends. I only want to dance with an old friend.” Avari held her hand out.
“No.” Malcolm walked past the woman into the crowd and put his hand on Liam’s shoulder. The man moved in protest, but paused once he realised who it was that was asking him to step aside. Liam returned to his table and Malcolm caught up with the steps of the dance, staring across at Elyna. Avari lingered off in the crowd, shooting daggers at the woman.

It was a fast and relentless dance and the best had left the young woman's heart sounding in her chest like thunder in the distance. Eyes bright and cheeks flushed with heat, some of her hair had escaped it's pins. She and Liam had finished their spin down to the end of the line. Laughing, Ely had twisted to watch Emily's descent. She and Drew seemed determined to injure themselves with the speed that they flew down. Turning back to Liam, she was stunned by Malcolm's sudden appearance. Her heart thumped harder in her chest. Hands joined with her row she stepped towards her husband and back again as the dance dictated. Her eyes caught his and held them.

Had they ever danced together? If they had, never in public. She supposed that the midnight tango or the frantic twist to releave each other of clothes didn't count either. The next pair came spinning down the centre and the music came to a close. Elyna was released by Emily who pounced toward her partner. A slower beat had started and couple stepped into each other's arms.

The Skyrider found her heart in her throat as she stared at the Warden. A nudge to the back of her legs forced her forward towards him. She swallowed the lump in her throat and set one hand on his shoulder and curled the other against calloused fingers. He was so tall, she had to bend against his arm to look up at him. His breath tickled the top of her ear. His legs bumped against hers and she looked down. Levelling her gaze with his shoulder.

"Where are you staying tonight?" She asked quietly "I thought... I might bring Elsie to you before dawn, you didn't get much time with her today..." Had they danced in a dream perhaps? Maybe she had imagined it.

The dance was over before long, and as fate would have it, a very cruel fate, the music slowed and couples moved in closer together to dance. Ben and Ronald whizzed past like a pair of idiots, and Malcolm was forced to smile, just the look on Ben’s face… He felt Elyna’s knee bump his and wondered which of them was at fault, thinking it more than likely himself. She asked where he was staying, and he quickly reminded her about the house he still owned in the city, the one she had never liked on account of it once being shared with his ex-wife Vanessa.
“The three of us will probably stay there tonight and leave quite early tomorrow, perhaps earlier than Elsie would like to rise,” he smiled, it had been a kind and thoughtful offer after all.
There wasn’t much room to move around as more and more people moved to the dance floor, and Malcolm found himself moving closer to Elyna, the hand that was on her hip snaking around to press against the small of her back. As they turned about slowly he glanced over her shoulder at Avari to find that the woman was now entertaining herself with the likes of Godric, who looked to be droning on about something, as he usually was. The blond topped up the pirate’s drink, leaned against him, and laughed. Malcolm was suspicious of this behaviour, only because he knew how fond of wine the two of them were.
“Have you sorted someone out to care for Elsie while we are away?” He asked, curious, it hadn’t really been something they had talked about. Malcolm couldn’t image Elyna was too thrilled with the idea of letting another woman feed and care for her baby, but if she wanted to join him on the road as she intended, it was a choice she would have to endure. “I’m going to miss her terribly,” the knight admitted.

The press of the crowd was enough to see them close the distance. Her hip pressed against his leg and soon there wasn’t enough space to pass a sheet of parchment between them. Her fingertips tingled as she held his arm and fingers gently. Heat coloured her throat. It was suddenly very warm in the room, and she was reminded of why she had intended to get some air in the first place. So Malcolm, Avari and Godric would be staying at the townhouse. She nodded, head bowed a little against his shoulder. If anyone was paying her and the Warden and attention, she either failed to notice or didn’t care.
She could feel the unnatural heat radiating beneath his shirt and her fingers closed their grip on his arm, tighter. Reluctant to let him withdraw as the song came to its own eventual close. “I could still bring her,” she replied and looked up once more. Making no move to withdraw she remained close. The pulse flickered in her neck as she searched his expression “and…not yet. My mother has found a few young women who might be appropriate. I’ll meet with them tomorrow,” she grimaced. It wasn’t a task she was looking forward to. However, after all she would know if they told her any lies. Surely that was a good thing?
“She’s getting so big already,” Elyna pressed the conversation, as though talking could mean that they remained in a quiet bubble, despite all the world moving around them and laughter breaking out across the bar as Ronald and Ben waltzed past once more. Elyna looked back over her shoulder. The dance floor was filling again and the band preparing for a livelier number. The Skyrider kept her grip on the Knights hand as she stepped back from the floor towards a marginally quieter part of the tavern. The cool night air beckoned and she nodded towards it, “we could get some air.”

“See how you feel,” he nodded, it would be nice to see Elsie one more time before the road took him west to the Burning Mountains, but Malcolm didn't want Elyna to go to any trouble for him.
As the song drew to a close he felt the crowd thin around him for a spell before people started drifting back to take up new positions and get ready for the next dance. Elyna led him towards a quiet spot and mentioned stepping outside. Malcolm agreed with a nod that he would follow her out, but was pulled aside at the last second by one of the captains. “I'll be right out,” he waved to Elyna and bowed his head to look at the papers some of the scouts had returned with.
A good five or ten minutes had passed before Malcolm stepped out through the tavern door in search of Elyna. When he founder her, he put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her back against him so that he could fold his arms across her front and help warm her up. The sky was littered with thousands of tiny stars, and as he looked up, he thought he noticed the tail end of one shoot across the sky.
“Some of the scouts have come back with some news regarding the region of Warrick. Apparently there has been a lot more bandit activity there lately, not so much the rebels, but faction VII this time. At a guess I would say their numbers are about the same as the Qe’dreki, which our experts place at about three and a half to four thousand troops. I suspect they will lose some of their numbers to hunger, it's hard to feed an army up in the mountains where the snow is already falling, and they have to share their territory with real bad guys,” Malcolm explained.
The mortalborn bowed his head so that his lips touched the top of Elyna’s right ear. “I don't know if it's going to be easier having you on the road with me, or make things even more difficult,” he admitted. “I'll miss waking up next to you,” he straightened up before he was overcome with the urge to kiss her. Instead he brushed the edge of her jaw with his thumb and pecked a kiss to the back of her head.

Duty stole him from her grasp before they could make out of the door. Unable to change course without looking like a complete fool, and not invited to join the briefing the Skyrider slipped out of the side door and onto the street. Cold air wrapped around her shoulders and her breath dissolved into mist. Along the main street, she could hear the banter of her colleagues. Laughter broke out in giggles, higher pitched voices along with gruff gaffaws. If there was joy to be had then this was the night to seize it. To hold it and never let it go.
Her boots scuffed along the cobblestones as she waited. She wrapped her arms around her chest in an attempt to keep heat in. Clinging to the residual warmth that had seen sweat building on the back of her neck. The guard hairs were raised, pricked and standing to attention. She wandered down the side street, examining doors as she went and checking they were secure. The good citizen. Malcolm took longer than she had expected and she retraced her steps back to the door. The rise of a flute drifted through a gap in the door. The sound was earie as it ghosted down the otherwise silent street. All the light and enthusiasm seemed to be at the front of the building or contained within. In the rooms above, lamps guttered and shone at the windows. Shadows moved in their own private dance and reflected on the blank wall of the building opposite.
Maybe he wouldn’t follow her out? Perhaps Avari would ask him to dance and he would agree, or another messenger would arrive. The Skyrider held her hands out and spun slowly on her toes, like a much younger woman or a girl really, spinning to the sound of a song that only she could hear. The secret drumming of her own thoughts. Finally she edged back down through the darkness, the starry night tuning slowly overhead. She pushed cold hands into the pockets of her breaches and lifted her gaze to the sky. Just a few bits more and she would consider that the mortalborn had more important things to do than join her.
The door opened behind her. She looked back over her shoulder and found herself smiling. Warm arms wrapped around her torso and she leant back. Somewhere, a cat yowled in the darkness before it was chased off by a dog. Head tucked against his shoulder she listened to the report. It didn’t sound promising. So many Qe’dreki and so many VII with their deadly poison. Immortals forbid that they joined forces. She shivered.
The mortalborn bowed his head so that his lips touched the top of Elyna’s right ear. “I don't know if it's going to be easier having you on the road with me, or make things even more difficult,” he admitted.
“I was a good Sargeant,” she protested, quiet. Choosing to believe he meant in terms of their professional relationship instead of anything else implied, “I’ll do my best to be a good Captain. You need people in the air or you’ll be blind, especially with snow and fog…”
“I'll miss waking up next to you,” he straightened up. He brushed the edge of her jaw with his thumb and pecked a kiss to the back of her head.
The young woman shivered again. She had grown accustomed to his warmth in particular and the way that he curled around her as they slept. It was comfortable or perhaps comforting? She wet dry lips before she turned in the circle of his arms. The Skyrider slid her hand over his features and the stubble of his jaw. Her thumb caught on his cheek and she lifted herself onto her toes and pressed a kiss to his mouth. Lips moving in cautious exploration and her free hand curled in the neck of his shirt. Reluctant once more for him to withdraw. If the kiss was returned or he remained her mouth would press with growing hunger against his. Determined and reckless, demanding. Her mind raced, wondering why on earth she’d chosen to do this, before she silenced the thought. Did it matter?

The kiss, unexpected, saw Malcolm fumble for balance against the woman, his hand reaching out to close over her shoulder before it was swept down the length of her arm and placed against the small of her back. The return of Elyna’s affectionate gesture was torturously slow, igniting a fire tempered now for far too long. As Elyna deepened the kiss, Malcolm felt his blood sing in his veins and race, unwelcomed, to points such longing would see it directed. His heart gave a few excited pumps, and he curled his fingertips against the fabric of her shirt before a high-pitched whistle from an individual in a group leaving the tavern saw their actions cease.
Malcolm returned his hands to Elyna’s shoulders and brushed her hair back with the fingers of his right hand, paying little mind to those passing them. After they had gone, Malcolm touched his nose to the noble woman’s and pressed another kiss to her mouth, this one only brief, sucking on her lower lip as he pulled away. When he released the plump pillow of flesh, he smiled. “Can I take that one with me?” Malcolm mouthed, only teasing.
The tavern door opened again and the street was filled with music for a short time. “I suppose I should try and break up the party soon, or I'll be marching a group of drunks across country,” he tried not to smile, but knew it was more than likely to be the case if some of the less sensible knights weren't sent home or back to the barracks soon. “We will be on the road by the fourth break, I wouldn't wake Elsie,” the mortalborn encouraged, as sad as it was to think he might not see her one more time before he left. “You don't want her forming any bad habits right before you have to leave her with someone else, she's such a good sleeper.” A questionable trait, the baby slept well most of the time, but she like everyone, had her moments.
Malcolm stole one more kiss for the road, and before he knew it their lips were locked again, his duty too quickly forgotten with temptation set in its path. “Forget it, I'll take this one,” he smirked, bowed, and lifted Elyna up over his shoulder, taking a few steps away from the rowdy tavern before he set her down again with a laugh. “Mm,” a contented little sound followed his playfulness. “I'm going to miss you, but I'll send a bird and let you know how the road it.”

His response was delicious. Slow, antagonising and left her hungry for more. Thought was quick to flee as the kiss deepened. The whistle sounded far off to a mind distracted by the heat of his body and touch of his tongue against her own. Breathless, the Skyrider was reluctant to release her hold of his shirt. The fabric bunched beneath her fingers as his own hands trailed over her shoulders and saw her sigh. His return was welcomed before finally she rested back on her heels. Elyna bowed her head towards his chest, hearing the steady rhythm of his heart as it thumped. Her hand dropped from his neck to his shoulder and trailed to rest on his chest. With her fingers pressed against the dark fabric he wore she could feel the faint outline of a tree. She couldn’t see the embroidery she’d stitched into the shirt a few seasons before, but she could feel it there. Frayed perhaps, and damaged but no less real.
“That’s why you have Captains and Majors, Ser,” she reminded him with a smile, “ours is the dirty work of telling the Knights that the party is over…yours is to turn up looking pretty tomorrow without any sourness directed your way. You’re their leader…our leader,” her thumb traced the trunk of the tree before it drifted lower. Fingers moved in careful exploration over the fabric, as though with her touch she could see the skin beneath and make out the scars she was usually so keen to press kisses to.
Caught up again the woman was all too happy to indulge his kisses. She wanted to tell him not to leave but for the first time since the curse had locked away her deeper emotions and sense of feeling, the woman held her tongue. “Don’t get hurt,” she warned him, her voice dropped low, “it’s only a few trials till I’ll be joining you out there…but don’t get hurt. Don’t do something horribly heroic and sacrifice yourself for the good of a kitten,” she searched his expression before she lifted herself onto her toes once more. He wasn’t getting away so easily.
Swollen lips pressed against his again, insistent and hands returned to the front of his shirt. Her palms slid down, over his abdomen until her fingers could curl into the front of his belt. In the end she hooked her thumbs over the leather strap on either side of his waist.
“Stay with me Mal,” she had no idea where or how…and it was a stupid idea. The worst ever probably. Everything was still tangled up and messy and there was so much pain lurking there with the goodness…and yet…none of it mattered more than the man before her. The thought of his absence for even another trial was enough to shatter another small piece of her heart and she knew more than anything else that the time she had was precious. Wasted in loss and the agony of betrayal. Countless trials cast away in anger and yet Elyna knew that she would rather spend arcs fighting with the Mortalborn then not seeing him at all. She walked on dangerous ground, reaching out with one hand all those things that had been sealed away and the other to the man before her. Her heart beat a frantic rhythm against her chest.

Don't get hurt, she had told him, like he planned these things. Malcolm smiled, Elyna's concern was endearing, but they both knew this mission was one of the most dangerous they had been on yet. There was no telling how many of the Qe’dreki troops remained exactly, but Malcolm knew his men were outnumbered at least forty to one. Anyone else would call it a suicide mission, but Malcolm was optimistic, he knew their training and tactics would take them further than a bunch of leaderless boys in blue cloaks.
Elyna had threaded her thumbs through the loop of his belt and asked him to stay. Stay, he wondered to himself, in the city or just with her tonight? She looked at him with those dark, seductive eyes, and his heart felt as if it had leapt forwards out of his chest to accept the proposal, but his features remained unmoved. They had spent the last couple of weeks together sharing the same bed, and nothing had changed. Malcolm was no longer sure that they needed to reconnect physically in order to fix their problems, though he had often wondered if it might help.
If only he could remind her of the way it felt to be kissed until her lips burned and her tongue grew tired, or the sensation of their bodies pressed, skin to skin, how they made each other's toes curl, and muscles ache for more. No, what they really needed was to trust each other, to forgive and move beyond the dutiful love that bound them through Elsie, back into the realm of effortless, easy, exciting love. Too much blame, and all of their resentment and arguments had tainted what could and should have been a wonderful reunion.
Elyna had always been spontaneous, it was one of the things he loved about her. “Come here,” he said, closing his arms around the woman so that she was forced to step closer. “I don't think your mother will make me very welcome,” Malcolm smiled, “and we both have an early start. You're more than welcome to come back to the house, but I suspect you'll miss Elsie even more than I do before long.” Malcolm kissed Elyna’s brow. “I have to go and round up the others,” he told her, but lingered all the same, content just to stand in her arms.