Spirits of the Earth

OOC: Tags @DragonSong

"So we have a deal?"

He chewed on his cigarette and gave a curt nod.

"Well, the moneys right. Wife might be none to happy... but you said it's just temporary? I'm sure we can all adjust for just a few months, eh?" He flicked his cigarette to the ground, stomping it out before producing the next. He was jittery. He was trying to kick his alcohol addiction after the last... incident, and cigarettes weren't much better. He was smoking like a chimney now.

"You sure this Chase guy will be alright with all this? That's.. a lot of money."

"The idea is no one will find him here. Your place.. no offense, is one of the last places his fans.. and well, these crazies, ought to look. The guards are looking into it but his entire home was destroyed. Man was lucky to be alive. No burns but the smoke did a number on him. Can't let him perform for a while as that voice needs to heal. We don't want him to damage those pricy vocal cords."

Smoke curled from his nostrils. He hated the burn, but was internally gnawing over his decision. But money was money..
And it was a lot of money. Maybe his wife would forgive him for it. She could buy a lot of new things for her bakery...

"I have to travel most of the day for my job.. now you're certain I don't have to be there to protect him too? Just offer up my home, a bed... and just ensure we keep our mouths shut?"

"That's the idea."

He nodded firmly. "Very well. I'll get horses. Just be sure he... You say he's very recognizable?"

"Apparently to everyone but you."

He made a face.

"I don't give a rats ass about musicians. Famous or not, I have better things to do than fawn over a pretty voice."

The man laughed. "I'd say you and me both but it makes me a pretty penny. So.. you're in?"

"Yeah, yeah." He turned to look at the tavern this famous singer was staying.

"Just.. be sure he's dressed none too fancy. And something to obscure his face. We'll be traveling at least an hour and even with the sun setting..."

"Don't worry. I'll be sure he's prepared."


The sun was low by the time they rolled down the dirt street labeled Hicock Lane. It was a small street with just a handful of plain houses, with little plots of land large enough for small gardens and yard. Most had their own barns. They weren't poor folk that lived here, but they were also not the richest. They lived mostly quietly here, the majority traveling to the city for their jobs.

Javen Rolx was no exception. He normally got up early and was home late. Today was no exception. He was  late, as usual, but this time not because he was at the bar. His wife was never pleased, and today.. hopefully she wouldn't be livid.

He paused to observe the man behind him. Bright blue eyes shined as he smiled, his grin, lopsided with cheeks dimpling. His hair was a bit of a mess. Javen didn't understand the appeal. I mean sure, he was good looking- but why all the fuss?

"Just remember, don't mind my wife." He paused, hand on the handle. "These arrangements were last minute."

Chase nodded and looked at the door, waiting quietly as Javen opened the door and stepped inside, Chase following soon after.

"Hey, Nyla.. where you at? I got someone for you to meet... and some news I need you not to scold me about."

Chase stood back, closing the door behind him and leaning against it. His hands were empty, Javen insisted on carrying his bags. He was never really used to that- people constantly wanting to treat him like near royalty. There was a lot of personal things in that bag... at least that what was left to him after the fire.

((Thread CW: domestic abuse))

---

She still wasn't used to the quiet.

Nyla had lived nearer to the city center of Reajh since she'd arrived in Connlaoth almost six years ago, and she had quickly grown accustomed to the rhythm of running her little bakery, and all the noise that entailed: up before dawn, the only time she could expect some quiet, then the doors open at sunrise, and then work work work until dusk when she could close up shop and retire to the one-room flat she'd lived in above her little bakehouse.

But that wouldn't do for a married woman. In fact, just being able to keep her business running at all was something of a luxury. She knew that. She was lucky Javen hadn't made a fuss when she'd requested the kitchen of his home be turned into something like her old bakehouse, lucky that a few of the "strays" (as some had dubbed themselves) that she used to feed for free from her bakery were willing to run deliveries into the city proper and to her storefront for a few coins--luckier still that the oldest set were happy to run the shop itself for a bit of extra coin.

Lucky.

Didn't mean she didn't miss her little flat.

She just wasn't used to the quiet.

The angle of sunlight coming in through the kitchen--bakehouse?--window seemed to be growing sharper with each passing breath, and eventually Nyla sighed and set aside the dough she'd need to leave to rise overnight and began work on dinner. Her husband was late. Again.

That was fine.

I'm lucky to be here, she reminded herself firmly as she worked. A married woman was respectable. Safe. Especially some place like Hickock Lane. It didn't matter that she couldn't live as she used to; the security was worth the sacrifice.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that the sound of the door opening actually made her jump. "Oh--!" She looked around at the half-made dinner and winced. He wasn't going to be pleased about that.

The kitchen was separated from the main room of the house by a narrow door, and she always had to jimmy the handle a bit before it would turn properly. "I'm here," she called distractedly as she slipped through, glancing down at herself. Damn. She hadn't had any time to clean up. "I'm here, I was just starting dinner--"

Nyla's voice trailed off sharply when she looked up and saw Javen standing in the doorway with a stranger and...a bag. Her eyes, a shade of green so dark it was almost black, widened considerably, and a faint blush painted itself across her fair cheeks. Immediately, she began fussing with her hair and clothes, trying to tuck the flyaway curls that had escaped throughout the day back into the scarf she wore around her head and bat away some of the flour that coated her modest, homespun dress and the apron she wore over it.

She didn't seem to notice the smudge of flour streaked across her left cheek.

Her eyes flickered toward Javen, wary. "You...didn't tell me we were having a...guest?" Her tone was soft, and she tried to keep accusation out of it, but wasn't sure she managed properly.

Haven sighed and knew he had to be firm and brief. He hadn't had liquor yet so first thing was first.

"Why don't you pour some drink for us and our guest."
A suggestion, but also a command.  And drink closely meant his alcohol.

He gestured towards Chase whom still stood by the door.
"There's a good story behind all of this so perhaps we ought to take a seat? I know our home isn't anything like you're used to-" Chase stopped him there as he moved past him to expect the home. He wore a small smile the entire time he took in all the minute details as he said
"I'm  no stranger to a modest home. Grew up in a small part of Reajh much smaller than this. " He paused to look at Javen to assure him, "I'm a guest so I would never complain. " He then turned his attention to the wife, taking her in and noticing the flour coating her- even her cheek. He scratched at his own cheek, hoping she'd get the hint as he cleared his throat to tell her, honestly, "You have a lovely home." Then he extended out his hand. "I'm Chase Vander. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Rolx. Hope I'm saying that right." He smiled, eyes bright but something about him had a quietness to it,  reserve.

Oh, drat.

Blush flaring hotter, Nyla quickly reached up to swipe at her cheek, flushing even more when a few wisps of flour puffed into the air with her movements.

"Oh, um—Nyla. Just Nyla is fine," she murmured as she reached out to take Chase's offered hand and shook politely. Mrs. Rolx. She hated that.

It took her a moment to realize she'd held the handshake a little too long, but once she did she quickly snatched her hand back. "Right! I'll—why don't you two make yourselves comfortable, I'll be right back with, um..."

She looked from her husband to Chase, then asked their guest softly, "There's a nicer wine in the cellar, if you'd like that?" She knew Javen would take ale as long as she brought it to him.

His smile grew when he watched her realize the flour smudge but at her suggestion of wine, he simply shrugged.
"Whatever he's drinking is fine. No need to inconvenience yourself, Nyla."

Javen cleared his throat.
"Come, sit. I'll take your bag to your room and then we can talk." And he tottled off towards the direction of their bedroom.

"Yes, sir." Nyla bobbed her head demurely before scurrying back into the kitchen.

She took a moment to try to collect herself, one hand pressed to her still flaming cheeks. Goodness. What was Javen thinking? Why had Chase had a bag? How long was he staying? Where was he staying?

Thoughts whirling, she went through the motions of gathering drinks--though nothing for herself, she didn't have the head for alcohol and so had never developed a taste for it--then quickly finished up with the dinner preparations she'd been in the middle of when she heard the door open.

"Um, here." She cautiously stepped out into the main room and placed the drinks on the mantel above the hearth before kneeling to stoke the flames slightly. "Dinner is--well, I didn't realize we'd be having a guest, so I, um...I hope meat pies are alright?" It was what she'd had enough of on hand that she could make quickly.

Javen made a face when his wife returned, as if he might back hand her for the idea. But before he could even project his disappointment onto his wife, Chase had already chimed in, happily,
"Oh, man. I haven't had a good home made meat pie in ages." His mouth was even watering as he took in the smells. "Is it your own recipe?" he asked, earnest in his curiosity. "My mother used to make the best meat pie." Well.. when his mother had the meat. Even when she had to make due with beans and other things... and even when there was no meat at all! It was still a nostalgic meal to him.

Javen shut his jaw and tried to swallow down his anger.

"Oh it is, is it?" By now he had moved to take his drink and offered the other to Chase. His voice was gruff, so he cleared his throat. "Well," he gestured towards the table. "Let's eat then and get to business."

Chase was okay with that and turned to Nyla.
"Need any help?"

Javen stiffened. He was just about to take a seat and enjoy his dinner and drink...
And him asking to assist his wife was the last thing he'd expect from some rich boy.

Nyla had already been crouching by the hearth, but Javen's expression had her shifting from "crouching" to outright "cowering".

Though they'd been married for some six months and he had yet to raise a hand to her, there was always the lingering fear that he would. He hadn't been like this when he was courting her—or whatever his overtures could be called. But...she still felt she should have been more cautious.

I'm lucky to be here, it's safer than a single woman living in the city center, she reminded herself once again as Chase enthused over the idea of pies and Javen seemed to subside. She offered a cautious smile to their guest and got to her feet.

"It is my recipe, actually," she told him quietly, hands clasped in front of her body. She'd left her apron back in the kitchen, and despite the long sleeves and modest neckline of her dress, she somehow missed having the extra layer. "It was one of my best sellers when I ran the shop by myself, still is, actually, but, um..."

Her husband's irritation was a tangible thing she could feel in the air. Dropping her eyes, she tucked a stubborn escapee curl back behind her ear and shook her head. "No, no, that's alright, you two can, um, sit. Get comfortable. Our table isn't big, but there's certainly room for three. I'll just...check on dinner."

But Chase was already by her side. Javen, though annoyed, simply let it be as he picked up his drink. He was late on his medicine.

"Your own recipe? Is it that famous? Wonder if I would have tried it before," he mused and leaned closer to the oven to take in the free smells. He was pretty close to her now that she might be able to almost smell the musk on him- something tangible that seemed to eminent from his mere presence. It was strangely intoxicating, but it seemed he just naturally exuded charm.

"So you're a  baker?" he went on. He already knew enough about her husband, so he ought to be polite to the wife to get to know his hostess a bit better- especially if she was going to be his (more or less) personal cook. "You got another shop face in town?"

"O-Oh! Um..." Nyla worried her lower lip as she leaned away from him a bit when he followed her into the kitchen. "It's not famous or anything, it was just one of my better sellers..." She knew her shop was well-known enough in certain circles, but those circles were mostly street urchins and the like. Hardly the kind of clientele that would have made her a name.

"I am," she answered quietly when he asked about her profession. Once the door between the main room and the kitchen was shut, she seemed to relax a bit. That damned curl fell in front of her face again and she brushed it back with a small, irritated huff. "And I do. Well...it's really my only shop, I just...since we married, it's not like--my flat was hardly big enough for two people. I'm lucky Javen lets me keep up with it as much as I can."

She opened the oven door a crack to check on the pies, nodded to herself, and closed it again. Looking back to Chase, she asked politely, "And, um...you? What is it you do? And, ah, if it's not too forward..." Her eyes darted to the door. Javen was probably well into his drink by now, he wouldn't be listening. "What exactly are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to host guests, of course, I just...didn't realize we'd be having any."

He leaned causally against the wall, smiling as she worked and listening to her speak and just observing her before casually replying, "Well, the plan was I'm to stay here."

...Double drat.

"Oh?" She cleared her throat, fidgeting with the ends of her sleeves in an effort to keep her eyes downturned. "For, um, for how long? Exactly?"

Gods. This could be a disaster. Javen was one thing, deeply unobservant and usually out of the house. This--this stranger would be another matter entirely. Why exactly were they even hosting him?!

He saw the look of worry on her face and placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. I don't plan to be an inconvenience for too long."

Nyla flinched under his touch, then blushed heavily. Silly chit, she chided herself internally.

"You're not an inconvenience," she hastened to assure him as she stepped around him toward the door to the kitchen again. "You're just...unexpected." She tried for a smile before gesturing vaguely toward the door.

"Really, you don't need to stay in here just to keep me company, I'm sure it's quite boring," she murmured with an only slightly forced chuckle.

"Well, I just spent an hour with your husband. Just trying to  be polite and fair. Although if you want me to leave..."

"Oh, I didn't mean—I don't—"

Nyla bit her lip, fighting a blush that she didn't fully understand. "I don't, um...Javen can be...impatient," she murmured after a moment of gathering her thoughts. "I wouldn't want to leave him waiting by himself."

She paused, then lifted her head to add with a small smile, "It's not that I don't enjoy your company, ser."

He simply smiled. Her reaction was amusing. It was evident she was flustered by his presence.

"How about I set the table? Take out utensils?" He suggested. He didn't need to earn his keep, he paid well for it...very well infact. But it still didnt mean he would disregard manners.

"That...would be a help, yes. Thank you." She offered him another smile before showing him where they kept plates and utensils, then gave a vague shooing motion toward the kitchen door. "Go on, then. I'll be out with the food soon."

He nodded and gave that casual smile, one he seemed to always wear. He gathered the items and soon disappeared into the other room.

Javen cleared his throat.
"So you had humble beginnings?"

Chase nodded.

"You could say that. I'm by no means noble, just lucky I got famous."

Javen looked at him directly.
"Lucky... right. Shoulda kept your music away from the mages... People are as sore today over the war as ten years ago." He was nearly finished with his drink.  "Well, we don't want trouble and you can stay as long as you pay. "

Chase shrugged and took his own drink after having a seat. That was the contract, wasn't it? Hopefully living here wouldn't be too awkward for them.

"I'll try to keep myself as an inconvenience."

Ducking through the door for a moment to make sure the hearth was still going, Nyla froze.

Kept his music away from the mages?

Oh gods.

Just who exactly had Javen invited into their home?

She tried to force her breathing to remain even and scurried back into the kitchen, though now she was actually trying to overhear what the men were saying in the other room. Magic that she hadn't used in years tingled at her fingertips, and she quickly curled them into her palms.

Breathe, just breathe.

After a minute or two, the instinctive defensiveness of her power faded, and she felt comfortable enough gathering up the tray of meat pies and slipping back out into the main room.

"Here." She set the tray on the table with what she hoped was a casual, polite smile. "Not much, but it's hot."

Javen nodded to his wife and gestured for to sit.
"Alright, let's eat. After dinner we can discuss things. Such as why this man's here."

He paused to observe his wife. Was she a fan of this musician? Maybe it would help soften the blow if she were. That... and well, money.

Nyla nodded and sat quickly, finding herself between the two men as they sat at either end of the small table. She nibbled her dinner politely, but nerves had turned her stomach and she found she suddenly had no appetite.

She kept cutting glances toward Chase, trying to get a read on him. Clearly, he was here to avoid..."politics". But was he a sympathizer? A zealot? Which would be worse, for her?

She felt Javen's eyes on her and tried to shoot him a quick, casual smile, like this was all perfectly normal and she wasn't at all panicking.

Chase easily picked up on her anxiety, and studied her for a time in silence. It was refreshing a woman wasn't throwing herself at him. Then again, she was married (which hadn't stopped women before).

Javen had poured himself his third cup of drink and broke the silence.

"So, you familiar with his music? Man claims he's famous." Atleast rich. His eyes went to Chase.

"A little famous," Chase went on, modestly. Then again, his fame went well past Connlaoth. Perhaps his next move was a Serendipity tour...

Snapped abruptly from her spiraling thoughts, Nyla blinked mutely at the two of them before the question properly processed. "Oh! Um..." She but her lip and glanced at Chase almost bashfully. "No, I'm sorry. I don't—I'm not actually from Connlaoth, and once I moved to Reajh I was really just busy running the bakery, I didn't have a lot of time for, ah, seeing shows and the like."

She ducked her eyes again, hoping that would be the end of it. Javen knew she wasn't a native—she never actually tried to hide that—but he'd never cared enough to really ask her about much of her past, either.

"I'd love to hear something, though, if you're feeling up for it one day," she added, almost as an afterthought. Then she smiled, quick and bright. "Since it seems you'll be here for a while?"

Chase smiled. Interesting.
"You must really love to bake. Where are you from originally?"

...Damnit.

"Serendipity," she answered softly, hoping he wouldn't ask for more details. She had a story she could use, and the most convincing lies were based heavily in the truth, but she didn't enjoy spinning the story.

She didn't like thinking about her past.

"But I've lived here nearly six years. This—this is home now."

"I guess you must like it here. Or really love your husband." The elephant in the room need not be addressed. There was a war going on.

Nyla jerked slightly, but forced herself to still. She made a noncommittal, vaguely affirmative noise and prayed that Javen was too far into his cups to notice that she hadn't given a real answer.

Desperate to move the subject away from herself, she asked quickly, "And you? Surely if you're so successful you needn't stay anywhere you don't wish to."

"Well my house did burn down last night," came his casual reply as he went about enjoying his slice of meat pie. "This is really good.  It might actually better than my mom's!"

Nyla blinked at him, wide eyed. "I'm...sorry."

She ducked her head again. "I only meant—wouldn't it be safer for you out of the country?"

His complement to her pies earned a soft blush, but she quickly pushed it aside. Didn't seem like the appropriate moment.

Javen was starting to get annoyed. Perhaps the drinks were catching up to him.
"Does it seem like we live near the fucking border, Nyla? Why ask stupid questions? Ansgar's Name!"

Chase hadn't expected the explosion from Javen and went quiet.

"Things are more complicated than fucking that." He sighed, breath hot as he picked up his drink. "You know, we were going to wait for this conversation after dinner."

Nyla flinched hard enough to rattle her plate, but stilled it quickly. She kept her eyes downturned, biting hard on her bottom lip. This is better than being a marked mage she reminded herself frantically—even as her magic, so close to the surface from her earlier nerves, surged beneath her skin.

She curled her fingers in until her nails bit into her palms, hands in her lap. "Of course. I'm sorry."

She took a moment to breathe, then stood slowly and gathered up her plate. It's not like she was really eating anyway. "I'll just start the washing up. You two take your time."

Javen growled.
"You just baked us dinner and you aim to waste it? We ain't made of money, Nyla! Ansgar's sakes! Just sit your ass down and we'll just go over the damn thing now. "

She sat down quickly, feeling utterly backed into a corner and with no idea how to get out of it. He'd been angry when she asked questions, he was angry when she tried to remove herself, what was she meant to do?

"I'm sorry," she whispered helplessly to the table, fingers twisting anxiously in her skirts, hidden in her lap under the table.

There was an extra flush of humiliation knowing someone else was witness to—to whatever this was. She wasn't even sure she had words for it: the Allorans had been easier to understand in their anger, and she'd learned how to tread lightly. With Javen...she had no idea when or how she might make a misstep.

Chase couldn't help but feel responsible for the tension in the room.
"Perhaps it would be best if I explain myself," he interjected. "Our travels have been long and I'm sure your husband is as tired as I." Which would explain his short temper. Never mind the booze. He tried not to think on that.

Turning his attention to Nyla, he offered her a genuine smile.
"But again, I apologize for intruding. It seems I've been making a terrible set of serial mistakes." He rubbed anxiously at the back of his head and Javen only nodded.

"Well, go ahead and explain yourself. I'm going to fetch another bottle."

Chase nodded to Javen who passed him and went on his search for more booze. Then he returned his attentions back to Nyla and his heart sunk. She looked... terrified. And in turn, he felt even worse.

"I've become pretty famous in Connlaoth, made a name for myself with my music. Being how rare the cities are allowed to have large entertainers, I suppose it's no surprise my skill was gobbled up by those hungry to escape from the war." He shrugged simply. "Needless to say, I support Connlaoth." It was true. "This nation is great and powerful, and we're a much better country together, not tearing one another apart. I suppose I went... a bit too far with my latest song I've been singing and well, it angered a few out there who thought it best to burn my house down with me in it."

By now, Javen had returned and had brought an entire new bottle with him, and was already done with half the glass.

"That's where we come in," Javen interjected and Chase nodded.

"Yeah... my er, manager of my music thought it was best to remain close while tensions cooled off. To stick it out somewhere low and not to draw attention to myself and come up with a public apology in the coming weeks to hopefully clear my name."
He shrugged.

Javen snorted.
"It was a foolish move," he grumbled, knowing full well the other man ought to have known better...

"But it's what brought me here," he went on to explain. "You'll be paid well, that I can guarantee. I just need to stick around here until things cool down."

There were so many questions she desperately wanted to but just couldn't ask. Not with Jacen sitting right there, at least.

And she was terrified. For a whole host of reasons, now, but certainly not least of which was that she still couldn't figure out just what side this bard was really on. He said he loved Connlaoth--but that seemed to just mean he hated the civil war. Did he really support one side or the other?

Nyla kept her eyes downturned the whole time he spoke, hoping to hide whatever of her thoughts might show in her expression. She cast around desperately for something she could say, innocuous enough not to rouse suspicion but hopefully still gleaning her even a hint of more information.

Well. To begin with...

"I'm sorry," she murmured, finally lifting her head to meet Chase's eyes briefly. "That sounds harrowing. I hope--I hope you'll be safe here, ser." She paused, then added in a breathless rush, as though expecting her husband to cut her off, "We'll do everything we can to keep you safe."

He gave her a smile. He liked her. Not only could she bake but it was a relief she seemed understanding.
"Thank you. But I shouldn't put you in any danger that I'm here. I just have to remain more or less hidden from the public until my manager comes and fetches me. " he shrugged. "Seems simple enough."

Javen cleared his throat.
"And we are getting paid well," he reminded.

Right. Of course. Money.

Nyla glanced down at her lap again, not sure if she should respond or how to do it. Especially with the mood Javen was in.

"So...I suppose that means you'll really be...around the house quite a bit then?" she ventured after a few moments.

"I.. suppose that's a fair assessment.  I mean, it wouldn't be wise to go out when a lot of people can recognize my face."
He was still a bit confused how this wedded pair never knew him and it was , in a way, refreshing.

"Right. Of course. Well." Nyla summoned up a smile and tried to hide the anxious twisting of her fingers in her skirts. "I suppose I'll have to find ways to keep you occupied around the house. I don't suppose you've any interest in baking?"

Her voice had lightened slightly, a hint of playfulness steeling into her eyes as she smiled at him.

Maybe... Maybe, if she was cautious, it could actually be nice to have some company about the place during the day. Maybe.

It took him a moment to realize what the feeling was-, but the little sharp pain was jealousy. Had he not considered this strange, extremely handsome man- would be left alone for several days on end with no supervision? He supposed it wasn't much of a thought- he hadn't known the singer and the more he looked at him... The more he was starting not to like him.

And was his wife ... smiling back at him?
No, no..
She was just being polite. Still, his blood was already simmering as he grunted and muttered out a , "I will be home the next few days. It would be entirely rude of me other wise. I took the weekend off," Javen revealed, which was true- He wouldn't need to do his deliveries with the sort of money they were getting...
Infact, he could take off probably the whole year...
Which was tempting. But he was trying to be good.

They did need to save, and he knew they'd need a new roof soon. Damn all the things. Owning a house was such a bother.

"He won't need to help you with your work, Nyla. I'm sure he can take this time as a vacation."

Even still, Chase smiled at them both, and realized why the husband was a bit prickly.

"It would do me some good to just relax," he admitted. "Although I never minded baking with my mother growing up."

"O-oh." Nyla shrank a bit at Javen's news; she hadn't realized he'd be home so often in the coming days.

But that was fine. She'd be left to her own devices in the kitchen, most likely. It wouldn't be as though things were really all that different.

Trying not to look deflated, she gave her head a little shake and smoothed her hands down over her skirts. "Well, you should enjoy your chance to rest then, I suppose. Both of you."

She hesitated, then cleared her throat and offered cautiously, hesitantly, "Maybe...maybe, with the both of you about the house for a few days keeping an eye on things, I might—I might head into the shop for a bit. It's been a while—" Since we got married— "and I'd like the chance to see how things have been over there. "

Javen gave a grunt of approval. That actually made him feel a bit better. He didn't like the idea of some stranger alone with his wife and for what seemed like too many months, he finally looked at her for the beauty that she was. He should count himself fortunate.

"That could work. Just don't go blathering about town as to why you're there. Just a routine check, nothing more nothing less. We can't risk letting people know where he is." It would be their hides too, not just their guests.

Wait—really?

He was okay with that?

Nyla seemed to bloom, a startled joy spreading over her face and lighting her dark green eyes up from the inside so they positively shone. Her shoulders straightened out and she lifted her head, beaming as she absently tucked back that stubborn curl that always seemed to fall into her face.

"I will!" She realized how bright and suddenly loud her own voice was and winced, almost instantly shrinking back into herself. "I mean—of course. I'll be careful, I promise."

Javen snorted again.
He was drunk, but not enough to miss the change of demeanor in his wife.

"Seems you've been gone too long from the bakery," he muttered.

Chase only smiled in quiet observance. It made him realize part of him missed having this in his life- just someone... else. A solid, love.. relationship.

Yes, and whose fault is that?

Nyla swallowed anything she wanted to say and just gave a little smile and nod, smoothing her hands down over her lap one last time before she started to stand.

"I'll just start clearing things up. You got in so late, I'm sure you're both tired," she murmured as she picked up her plate and started trying to slip back toward the kitchen.

"Yeah, I'll have to admit, I'm pretty beat."

Javen nodded to Chase. "Come. While my wife clears the table, I'll fix the room. Sorry we'll have to share and it's not as private as you're accustomed..."

Chase just nodded.
"I've shared rooms before. Don't worry about it."

Javen nodded and disappeared with Chase into the other room, where the two went into the only bedroom in the entire house and he began to set up a curtain to seperate the room.

"That's my wife's bed, but this curtain should give you some form of privacy," Javen went on, Chase appearing at his side to offer to help.

"Your wife's? Where will she sleep?"

Javen snorted. "She can spare a night with her husband." Or a few weeks... when was the last time they shared a bed? he couldn't recall.

"I see... anything else I can do to help?"

"No, no," Javen went on when the last bit of the curtain was hung and the room was divded loosely in half.

"Its not much but it's private enough," Javen went on.

"Thanks. You really didn't have to, but it's appreciated. " He was sure the married couple needed more privacy then he. He moved to sit on the bed, spotting his bags nearby before raking a hand through the curls of his dark hair.

"Need a drink before bed?" Javen offered.

At first, Chase protested but then nodded. "Sure."

Javen nodded in return and left, appearing in the kitchen to pour two glasses.

"Nyla.. before you get too upset," Javen began, not bothering to look at her. "I gave him your bed." He paused. "So we'll just share mine." As if it were no big deal.

Nyla smiled and nodded, then disappeared quickly into the kitchen with a handful of plates. She dumped them quickly in the sink, then gripped the edge of it and bowed forward, eyes clenched shut as she tried to settle her breathing and pounding heart.

Gods, why was she so nervous? She needed to calm down; there was nothing inherently suspicious about her, and she was only going to draw unwanted and unneeded attention if she acted like she had something to hide.

Just calm down, she told her magic firmly. She's never been particularly powerful, not without blood magic, but what little power she did have was swirling anxiously beneath her breast. She took another few breaths, until she was satisfied she had her iron control back, then continued cleaning up from dinner.

She was just finishing up with putting the freshly washed dishes away when Javen came into the kitchen. Pouring a drink, of course.

Then she learned they'd be sharing a bed—the first time since their wedding night—and she nearly dropped a plate. She fumbled for it quickly, ending up in her knees, and looked up at him with wide, startled eyes.

"Oh. Um. R-right. Yes. Okay. I'll—I'll be right there."

Javen went stiff but simply nodded.
"Need a drink too?" He asked, stepping away but pausing at the counter.

"Um, no." Nyla forced another smile as she stood, shaking her head. "No, you know o don't have the head for it. Thank you, though."

Well. Okay. This was happening.

But they were still sharing the room with Chase. Which meant this was fine. Everything was...fine.

"You go on ahead to bed," she murmured, sliding the last dish into a cupboard. "I'll just make sure the hearth's tamped down and be along in a minute."

He nodded. Drank his down quickly, got another drink and disappeared into the room where he took a seat in his chair and sipped on his last drink while Chase went to light a small candle nearest his bed as the main lights were blown out.

"Hope you don't mind if I read some before bed?"

Javen just made a noise.

Nyla was a few minutes behind her husband, and when she entered the room she paused, a sudden thought occurring to her.

"Um..." She licked her lips awkwardly, then looked from her husband's bed to the privacy curtain separating the room. Carefully, she stepped a little close to the fabric and cleared her throat. "Ah, Ser Chase. I...my—my nightdress is, um..."

She trailed off, flushing. Her night clothes were in the small bureau beside her bed, and she had no way of reaching them easily with the divider in place.

Chase stood up and peered around the curtain.
"Go ahead. I haven't gotten ready yet either. "

Her blush deepened. “Thank you.”

Quick as she could, she scurried behind the curtain and gathered up a nightdress before darting back to the other side—her husband’s side.

And she froze, staring at Javen in his chair, then down at the bundled fabric in her arms, then over to the curtain again.

Well. She didn’t have much choice.

Working to keep her breathing steady, she stepped around to the other side of Javen’s bed and quickly shucked off her dress, shimmying into the nightgown as quickly as she could, keeping her back to the rest of the room.

The nightdress was perhaps overly modest, but it hid most of her scars, and that was really what she cared about.

When she returned to her side of the curtain, he did the same and as he heard them settling in to bed (or rather just the wife), he moved to sit down to slide off his own shirt while asking ,"You mind if I open the window? It's a little stuffy in here and I enjoy listening to the night sounds ."

Nyla hesitated, but when Javen didn't seem about to answer she replied quietly, "I don't mind."

She paused a moment longer, then slid beneath the covers and turned onto her side, pulling her knees up to her chest, and murmured, "Sleep well, Chase."

Chase moved to open the window, the only one in the room being along the wall on the side he was staying (although the only door was on the couple's side). Then returning to bed he set about reading, Javen went about finishing his drink before both men went to bed.

Chase pulled off his shirt before blowing out the candle then he moved into bed for the night. It smelled of a woman and he realized it was a unique scent, unlike many of the other women's beds he may have shared. Strange it wasnt a lover's bed, the last thought he had before drifting off to sleep.

Nyla hardly slept. She was too nervous. It was strange to feel another person's presence in the bed, and though she still missed her own bed back in her little flat above the bakery she had at least grown used to the one Chase was using, and Javen's just felt...off.

She managed to keep tossing and turning to a minimum—not that she thought her husband would really have noticed. He was pretty much dead to the world after his drink.

Eventually, an hour or so before dawn, she admitted defeat and slipped quietly out of the bedroom. She made her way to the hearth in the main room and stoked the embers slightly before laying down in front of it, wrapped in a spare blanket she'd taken from the end of the bed.

It wasn't perfect, but at least she could sleep a little before she left for the shop at dawn.

Chase had a hard time falling to sleep. Perhaps it was the weather, the change of scenery or the fact he was in another's bed...

Or maybe it was the nightmare, the surreal reliving the moment when flames engulfed the entire place he had once called home.

Either way, he had awoken in a sweat, thankful that he was shirtless as he used the discarded shirt to wipe off some of his sweat. Perhaps he ought to get some fresh air, and though he rose to the window, his body was itching for more.

He kept his eyes towards the door to give the sleeping couple some privacy before stepping out of the room and into the hall, taking a moment to collect himself before he spotted a heap near the hearth. Curious, he approached. And it took him a moment to realize it was the wife.

Nyla had lived in relative safety for some six years, but she still slept like a hunted thing. All it took was Chase's footsteps reaching a certain proximity for her eyes to fly open.

She sat up quickly, hand flying for a dagger she no longer slept with before her brain caught up with her and she blinked at her new houseguest dumbly for a few moments.

"Oh!" She flushed, sitting up quickly and drawing the blanket tight around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, I—I didn't wake you, did I? I was trying to be quiet..."

He drew back at her reaction, hands raised to show he was harmless. He smiled when she realized it was just him.

"No. I'm sorry to have woken you up. I couldn't stay asleep," he admitted. "Ever since the fire, I've just felt... hot." Which he hoped she'd understand why he was shirtless.  Not that he had anything to hide, in fact it was even easier to see how women swooned for him with those baby blue eyes framed by long lashes and a mop of curly black hair, a well toned body and just the way he seemed to smile...

"I was actually just going to step outside for some fresh air," he explained apologetically.

"No no, don't apologize," she murmured quickly, getting slowly to her feet. "I'm...just a little jumpy, I suppose."

She glanced to the door when he mentioned fresh air—determinedly not looking at him—and but absently at her lower lip. In the faint light of the fire, she was a study in black and white: fair skin and dark hair, the green of her eyes entirely eaten by black on the low lighting. She didn't look quite real.

"Should you...be out there alone? I mean—is it safe?"

"Well, I wasn't intending to go far. I was told this side of Reajh was much quieter... safer than the inner city."

"I mean, yes, but still..." She hesitated, glanced back toward the bedroom door, then sighed and let the blanket she was clutching drop onto the nearby sitting chair before moving toward the kitchen.

"Come with me. We have a little garden--it's not much, but it should serve for fresh air. And there's a wall, it's safe."

Without the blanket around her shoulders, a few clean lines of scar tissue across her collar bones and along the backs of her wrists were thrown into firelit relief; there were even a few around her ankles, when the movement of her skirt and lack of shoes revealed them. The nightdress was modest, but it didn't cover quite as much skin as her daytime attire.

Chase nodded.
"Seems a safer option," he admitted. He followed quietly, giving her her proper space but when she crossed paths to lead him, he couldn't help but notice the marks on her legs. He quickly diverted his gaze.  It wouldn't do to stare.

Nyla led him easily through the dark kitchen and lifted the latch on the slim back door that led out into the house's little garden. She didn't have much of a green thumb, but she managed to keep a few patches of vegetables and a small apple tree alive.

"Here." Still barefoot and not much minding, she stepped out onto the soft grass and took in a deep breath, relishing the cool, not-quite-morning air. "Just mind the peppers. They've been struggling a bit since that cold snap, wouldn't do to crush the stems."

Stepping out into the cool moonlight, this little garden was a sanctuary in it's own right. The way the moon's light cupped the leaves and fruit of the tree, to the sparkling dew off the grass.  Even the way it hugged the form of Javen's wife- it was all so beautiful.

"This is an impressive little garden," he admitted, following her out onto a small stone path. At her mentioning of the peppers, he followed her gaze and bent over to admire them.

"Even the peppers look pretty awesome in this light." He peered back to the moon. "I suppose the moon's nearly full." He stood straight again and nodded at Nyla with a gentle smile.
"Don't you worry." He winked. "I won't ruin your peppers. "

She smiled at him gently and took a few more steps along the little path until she was under the branches of the apple tree.

"Thank you," she murmured absently, peering up at the new fruit. She glanced back at him and added with a quiet laugh, "For the compliment and the promise, I suppose."

She should be getting ready to leave soon. And she needed some excuse to actually head down to the shop, so she should probably make something to take with her. But...well, it was rather nice, to just stand out in the garden and enjoy the fresh air. She couldn't remember the last time she'd done it.

"So you tend to all of this?" He asked, gesturing as he moved in a small circle. "You don't only have a Baker's skill but a green thumb, too."

"Oh, well." She flushed and tucked a few stray curls back behind her ear, toeing the damp grass. "I'm really not an exceptional gardener or anything, just manage to keep these things growing."

She gestured around at the garden vaguely, then added with a small smile, "It's easier than going to a grocer for the produce I need for my recipes. Cheaper, too."

Chase moved around, careful where he stepped as he continued to take in the garden in the moonlight. He spotted something- an awkward group of thistles in the corner. He knew a weed when he saw one and moved to sit down on the ground and studied the rest of the place.

"Looks like it could use some weeding," he commented, not in an offensive way, just stating matter of factly. "Mind if I help? Gardening might help me sleep." Or weeding, as it were. He gave her an easy smile, genuinely wanting to help. It was a stark contrast to her husband - everything about him was. Not that Javen was a bad looking fellow, but Chase was much younger and had a boyish charm to him, with perpetual dimples on his cheeks and a foppish look to his hair that made most Connlaothian women swoon. Tie it all in with his intense blue eyes and voice (not that Nyla had even heard him since before...) , he probably appeared the perfect man- and the moonlight only emphasized that he also had the perfect body.

"I'm sure it does. I don't have as much time to work out here as I'd like," Nyla murmured as she watched him, bemused. In her experience, guests didn't often just offer to help with household chores.

She smiled in response when he glanced up at her and nodded. "Sure, if you like. I certainly won't turn away the help."

She glanced back toward the house and her expression fell slightly. She bit her lip. "I--I really should be leaving soon. I want to get there before the shop opens properly, and I can't stay too long or Javen--"

She cut herself off quickly, ducking her eyes and flushing. It was unseemly to complain about her husband to someone she hardly knew.

No matter how miserable she suddenly was just at the mention of him.

She sighed and raked a hand back through her hair, sending the mass of dark curls spilling loose over her back. "I don't want to leave you out here, though, that's hardly being a good hostess."

He watched her, curious. If he noticed anything off about her mention of her husband, he made no show of it. But when she mentioned not wanting to leave him alone, he smirked.

"Sometimes it's nice to be alone," he told her honestly. "Plus I feel.. oddly safe out here," he went on, drawing in a long breath and sighing dramatically. "You know.." he peered at her from the corner of his eyes. "It's not like someone's lighting my house on fire here."

A bad joke. Probably too soon to joke. It may have even been inappropriate, given that well- her house technically could be in that sort of danger, thanks to him. Assuming someone knew he was even there.

He slowly rose back to his feet.
"You should get to your bakery. Just act like I'm not even here," he went on, giving a shooing motion towards the back door. "It's not like I can get into too much trouble here," he added, to lighten the mood.

"Oh, but--I--"

She stared at him for a moment, clearly torn, then sighed and gave in with a nod and a small, grateful smile. "I suppose that's true. Just...take care, alright?"

Without thinking, she reached out as though to touch his shoulder, then caught herself at the last second and drew her hand back quickly to her chest. Her blush was back, and she turned sharply in an effort to hide it.

"I'll, um...if Javen asks after me, would you tell him I left early? It shouldn't matter too much, but, you know... I don't want to wake him to say goodbye. I'm sure he's...tired."

"Passed out drunk" was more accurate, but she didn't feel the need to articulate that.

Chase nodded. Her awkwardness was not lost on him but hey, they were still strangers, after all. Maybe she'd feel more at ease around him if he weeded her garden. Once could never be too sure.
"Oh.. before you go..."
He looked around then back at her.
"Got a pair of gloves I could use?" he asked, smirking. Weeds weren't exactly the nicest plants to yank from the ground.

Nyla laughed, bright and clear and silvery. "Of course." She nodded toward a small, worn wooden chest tucked just to the side of the door, to the left of the little stone path. "Though, well...they are more meant to fit me. Javen doesn't exactly do a lot of gardening. They might be a bit tight?"

Chase lifted up a hand and smirked as he wriggled his fingers and approached her.
"You saying I have big hands?"

He moved to grab her wrist, pressing his palm to her's and letting his hands fan out to measure theirs together.  His was easily larger, by atleast a mile!

He chuckled.
"Damn, guess I do have large hands."

Oh.

Oh dear.

Nyla had flinched away when he first took her wrist, but she quickly tried to hide it. She was so focused on trying not to seem unreasonably skittish that she didn't notice what he was doing until his palm was pressed firmly to hers, their fingers splayed against each other.

Heat flooded her cheeks and she found herself just staring at him with wide eyes, mute.

Oh dear.

"W-well, that...I mean...I've always had...little hands, I suppose..."

She was so thrown, unsure what exactly he was doing or why she was reacting to it so strongly, that she barely noticed the way her baker's callouses lined up like strange puzzle pieces with a musicians. Or that her sleeve had slid back along her arm, revealing the myriad of scars feathered up along the back of her wrist toward the rest of her arm.

It was there in the moonlight he spotted the scars and unable go control himself, his eyes searched hers, worried and afraid for her. Was this.. did.. had someone hurt her?

It was only when his expression changed that she realized. Nyla's befuddled, blushing smile slipped away and she quickly drew her hand back, tugging her sleeve down to once again hide the marks.

"I—I should go," she whispered, unable to look at him. More than the general nervousness she always felt when someone saw her scars, she realized she was...ashamed. She knew they weren't her fault, not really, but... They invited questions she didn't want to answer, and dragged up memories she'd rather forget. And, shallow a thought as it was, she knew they were hardly appealing.

Hoping to shut down any curiosity, she gave a small sigh and looked toward the apple tree—reminding herself she could create, could help things grow, not just destroy—then murmured, "It was a long time ago, Chase. I'm...I'm alright."

At that, he relaxed a little but still kept his eyes on her.
"I.. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
He couldn't help himself. But even though she assured him it was in the past... he still felt curious. But he had to let it drop. He shouldn't let himself become so much trouble on them.

Nyla managed to give him a shaky smile even as she took a step back.

And despite herself, she somehow found the words falling from her mouth: "There was a reason I left home. But I've been here a while now. I'm alright, really."

She hesitated a moment longer, then murmured, "Enjoy the garden, Chase," before she turned to slip back into the kitchen.

He felt he ought to say more, but she was gone. Would it have been rude? Perhaps, but it was not wise to dwell on it. He smiled and wondered what curious love story she and Javen must have shared. To start a life here of all places...

He watched her disappeared then set to work, smiling as he pulled on the ill fitting gloves and examined them in the moonlight. Then he recalled when they touched hands. Shame she was married. That was a clever way to flirt.

Nyla found herself wringing her hands as snuck back into the bedroom to change into a walking dress, then out to the kitchen again to gather up a basket of freshly baked bread. Her palm still tingled in a not at all unpleasant way that made her stomach flip and her throat go tight.

But that was stupid. In so many ways and on so many levels. So she tried to put it from her mind as she stepped out the front door just as the sun was starting to peek over the horizon and began to make her way in toward the city center.

Chase would have offered to help her carry her baked goods into the city proper... but too many people could recognize him and who knew if there were others out there after his hide. So he stayed put, working on the garden for a good portion of the day until the sun was higher and he disappeared back inside.

To say he was bored was an understatement, and somehow... he and Javen wound up drunk and laughing over shared stories by the timeNyla would be home.

For the first time in a very long time, Nyla found that she couldn't stop smiling.

The shop was doing well under her carefully hired help. It was good to see it, to be back in her own bakery, to see familiar old customers—most of whom congratulated her on her marriage, and lamented her absence from the shop. The only part of the day where her smile grew forced.

But by the time she arrived home again her smile was back. She swept in through the door with a swirl of her walking cloak and a soft tune hummed under her breath.

It took her a moment to realize that both her husband and their guest were unto the bottle. Oh dear.

Her smile fell a bit as wariness started to set in. She tried not to let it show. "Good evening, Javen. Chase."

The men's conversation shifted the moment Nyla returned.

"Back so soon?" Her husband asked with a belch. "Bakery busy?" Javen patted a seat at the table. "Come drink with us! Bet the day was long and hard."

"Oh! Um..." Nyla hesitated, but took a careful seat at the table. She didn't reach for a drink, but she smiled at them both and answered, "Busy enough. It was good to see." She gave Chase a small smile. "I am a little tired, actually. But...good tired."

She tilted her head at him, absently scraping her curls back from her face and twisting them into a loose knot at the base of her neck. A very faint sheen of sweat had coated her brow from working the bakery, and a few drops slid down the column of her throat beneath the neckline of her dress. She looked flushed and happy—almost a different person from the woman she'd been that morning.

"How was the garden?" she asked with another small smile for Chase. "I suppose you must have been quite bored today. I'm sorry."

Javen laughed at her remarks.
"Nothing a little drinking can't fix. You had a long day." Javen had already moved to pour his wife a cup.

Chase simply smiled at her and admired her form quietly,  but openly.
"You look like you had a good day." He felt a small pang of jealousy. After a good performance on stage,  he felt that way too. "And don't worry,  you can't be bored with beer, " he admitted with a laugh.

Her husband nearly shoved her drink in hand.
"Drink up!" He laughed and grabbed his own, downing a few big gulps.

"I did what I could on the gardens," Chase finally replied, staring at her expectantly.

"Pfft the gardens. Don't worry on that and just have a drink!" Javen interjected.

"Oh, really, Javen, I don't--"

She tried to protest, but the drink was already in her hand. Biting back a sigh, she resolved to sip at it and hopefully she'd be able to be rid of the thing at some point without either of the men noticing.

Another polite smile for Chase and she pretended to take a sip of her drink. "Well, I'm glad you've managed to amuse yourself. But really, don't worry about the garden--I know the situation isn't...ideal, but you're still a guest. You shouldn't be doing housework."

She looked between them both and frowned lightly. "Have you two eaten yet?" she asked, the question ostensibly directed to her husband, but somehow there was more concern in her face when she looked at Chase.

She'd seen Javen last just fine on bread and a bottle. She was less worried about his ability to feed himself.

The men exchanged glances.
"Fuck, I guess we haven't eaten! Unless beer counts!" Javen went on with a laugh.
Chase smiled and shrugged.
"I helped myself to... all of the bread earlier," Chase admitted sheepishly then turned to Javen. "Your wife bakes the best bread!"

"Why do you think I married her?" Javen replied with a laugh. "You aiming to finally feed your poor husband?" Javen asked, grinning at her drunkenly.

Nyla smiled tiredly and got to her feet. "Of course, I'll make a quick something." Her expression softened a bit when she added to Chase, "I'm glad you liked the bread."

She moved toward the kitchen. Her feet ached and her back was sore, but she could put something together quickly. Maybe Javen would be drunk enough that he wouldn't give her a hard time for heading to bed early.

Javen must have been some kinda drunk,  because he happily followed his wife into the kitchen.  He admired her form as he slipped in behind her.
"Need some help?" He asked, lips sloppily finding her neck.

Nyla stiffened, in the process of reaching for a platter to begin cutting a block of cheese.

“Javen,” she protested quietly, turning her face away from him and leaning into the counter to try to put some space between them. Her heart was hammering, stomach tight. “Chase is just in the next room—this isn’t very appropriate,” she tried, forcing a tiny laugh in the hope that might head off his temper.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind the show, " he muttered through kisses on her neck.  "When is the last time we shared a bed proper?"

Our wedding night.

And that was just fine by her.

She tried to twist out of his arms as subtly as she could, laughing again, though her voice had gone a little high and tight. "Come now, it hasn't been that long, surely. Just behave while we have a guest, hm?"

She didn't look at him, trying to busy herself with getting food together. "Besides, the kitchen is hardly conducive to a rendezvous. It's not exactly romantic in here."

Chase proved that as he walked in on them and promptly turned around.
"Don't mind me! I won't be a fly on the wall. I'll just help myself to another drink in the other room." And he exited, stage left.

“Oh!”

Nyla nearly slipped and cut herself with the knife as she practically jumped away from Javen when Chase suddenly entered the kitchen.

“N-no, it’s not—! Oh gods.” Her face felt hot enough to bake flatbread. She quickly settled an assortment of fruit, cheese, and bread on a serving platter and then scurried back out into the main room to put it on the table.

She tried not to look at Javen, hoping he would only think her flustered and not notice the relief on her face.

Food seemed to be the ticket as both men were gobbling it up and moaning as if it were better than sex. Truly,  the pair was so drunk they acted rather embarrassing with their loud laughing and drunken slurs. Eventually the pair ended up having a singing contest which....

"You know i can't lose!" Chase laughed as the two each took turns to sing their favorite 'old times songs. But even drunk.. Chase's voice was that of angel. And the emotions he put behind it? Enough to heat any woman beneath her skirts.

Nyla shook her head at them with a smile as she nibbled her own food and surreptitiously disposed of the drink Javen had poured her. Luckily her husband was easily distracted by their guest.

And she had to admit, he was very talented. She allowed herself a few minutes to listen to him sing—but she was exhausted from her long day, and soon enough the sounds began to blur from emotive words into a soothing ebb and flow of melody that dragged at her limbs and eyelids.

Without realizing what she was doing, she began to lean against Chase's shoulder—Javen had moved to his favorite sitting chair, so she was left beside the bard at the table. Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks and she struggled to keep her eyes open, until her head nodded into the crook of Chase's neck and shoulder and her breathing began to grow slow and even.

Chase wasn't a man to chase off the attentions of a lady, however,  it seemed all of them were too drunk (or in her case, tired ), to care. Javen seemed to have fallen asleep just after Nyla, and a still bubbly Chase found himself with a sweet woman in the crutch of his arm. Instincts had him running his fingers through her soft hair and taking in her soft smells. She smelled sweet and of bread.

If he were drunker,  he would have stolen a kiss, but her sleeping face sobered him enough that he got the grandest idea to take his hostess to bed.

So he stopped her up into his arms and made his way into their room. It was a romanticized gesture, partly on purpose, even if his lady was fast asleep.  He liked the idea of such chivalry.
Once her covers were pulled down, he rest the exhausted woman gently (even for a drunk) onto the bed and slipped the covers comfortably around her.

He admired her sleeping form as he tried to make sense of his thoughts,  still clouded from alcohol.  And before he knew better, he kissed her lips softly. And there was that scent again.  Of sweat, roses and bread.

"Goodnight lady of the house," came his husky voice, a hand moving to brush her hair away from her face.

Nyla shifted and murmured sleepily when his arms lifted her up; still asleep, she curled into his chest, tucking her head against his shoulder and nuzzling into the warmth of his neck instinctively.

She barely stirred as he laid her in bed, though she did frown a bit as the warmth of his body retreated and was replaced with her blankets.

And then he kissed her, just as her eyes began to flutter open. But she was so tired, and happier from a day out of this house than she had been in months—she kissed him back, just as he began to pull away.

"Don't go," she murmured fuzzily as his hand brushed over her cheek, tucking curls behind her ear. "This...this is the nicest dream I've had in a while." She blinked slowly, lazily, dark green eyes gone black with a sudden flash of heat. "Don't go..."

Chase tensed. Was she awake? What had he... had he just...
His lips twitched and heat pooled in his loins and tingled throughout his body.

He hadn't meant...
What had he done? His head was swimming.  He simply laughed.

"We are so drunk. " he stole a kiss to her cheek and smiled that boyish grin. He was still so close. "Mmmm.. you smell nice." He told her. "Like bread."

And then he went on to sing a silly song about her being sweet like bread and found himself kneeling beside the bed as he did.

Nyla smiled dreamily, her eyes still half closed, and curled onto her side so she could curve toward him as he knelt beside the bed.

"You smell like ale," she laughed softly, reaching out to clasp one of his hands in hers. She still thought she was dreaming. "But also...something like spice. It's nice."

Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks and she laid his hand on the bed beside her, covering it with her own. "You really do have a lovely voice," she murmured, words slurred with sleep. She shifted a bit under the blankets, a gentle heat spreading out from the center of her chest. She wanted to pull him closer. She wanted him to kiss her again.

...Had...that actually happened...?

Chase rested his head upon the bed, eyes heavy with sleep. He smirked at her compliment, closing his eyes.
"Well.. I am a professional," he muttered softly. And a few minutes later, he was actually dreaming, snoring softly from where he was perched beside the bed, his large hand in hers.

Her smile grew and she reached out with her other hand to pet his hair absently a few times as he drifted off. Barely more than half-asleep herself, it didn't take long for her to nod off again, her hand still linked with his.

Though it had been a long day, Nyla really wasn't used to going to bed so early anymore, and she woke after only a handful of hours, when the house had gone entirely dark and quiet. She first noticed that she was alone in bed—Javen must still be passed out in his chair—

Wait.

Not exactly alone.

She felt Chase's hand in hers and her eyes went wide as she quickly tried to sit up and disentangle her fingers from his without waking him. What had just... She'd been dreaming, hadn't she? He must have just brought her back to bed—and she tried to ignore how the thought made her stomach flip—and he must have just...fallen asleep?

Chase made a soft noise at her subtle removal of their linked fingers but didn't do much else outside of that. It was actually Javen who awoke, stumbling and grumbling in the next room.

Nyla's face, which had started to soften unconsciously at the sleepy sound Chase made, suddenly froze with fear.

Nothing had happened. Of course nothing had happened, but Javen...

"Chase." She shook his shoulder, hissing desperately in his ear in an effort to wake him without letting her husband overhear. "Chase, get up. You have to—you have to go to your own bed."

Chase made a noise, a guttural, husky, half-asleep groan. It may have even sounded sexy, while blue eyes opened to stare blearily at Nyla. His vision (and face.. for that matter) were framed in coils of coal black hair.

"My own.. bed?" He asked,  just coming around to being awake, when the stumbling form of an approaching Javen drew his eyes towards the door.

"Yes!" Nyla hissed, shaking his shoulder again as panic threatened to close her throat. She told herself the fluttering flip in her stomach was only from fear. "Now, go now."

She looked to the door. She had no idea what she would say to Javen if he caught them. She had a feeling that it wouldn't matter to him that nothing had actually happened.

Only then did things begin to click. And the oh shit need not be said as he pushed himself away from the bed, only to find his foot getting caught on the edge of the bed as he fell to the ground landing hard on his face.

By then, Javen had entered and heard the noise and moved to observe Chase on the ground.

"Fall outta bed?" Javen asked with a laugh, working at removing his shirt.

Sitting up in bed, Nyla squeaked and automatically started forward as Chase fell, instinctively wanting to help.

But then Javen was there and she found herself staring up at her husband, one hand clutching at the blankets with the other stretched vaguely in their guest’s direction in concern. Quickly, she tried to play it off like the sound of Chase falling had startled her awake.

“Oh! Are you alright?”

Chase groaned and rubbed at his face.
"Just a bruised ego," he assured her and looked to his bed. What had happened? He would have to ask Nyla later,  for now, he moved to part the privacy curtain as he returned to his bed.

Javen smiled then looked over at his wife admiringly.  And worked at removing his pants,.. and anything else he wore.

Nyla smiled at him, murmuring a goodnight, before she turned to lie back down—and caught sight of Javen.

Her stomach clenched and she rolled onto her side quickly, putting her back to him and quickly trying to even her breathing. "You're coming to bed late," she noted calmly, trying to play up the sleep in her voice. "Come lie down. Don't you have to be up early tomorrow?"

Just go to sleep, go to sleep, please go to sleep.

Once his clothes were discarded he slipped into bed behind her, arms finding their way around her form. He nibbled at her neck.
"You wanna get frisky tonight?" He asked. "I've been a bad husband. I think sharing a bed was long over due." And large warm hands groped up and down her body.

Nyla arched away from him, trying to put as much distance between them as she could on the narrow bed.

"Javen," she admonished quietly, hoping her voice didn't shake. "We're hardly alone in the room. It's—this isn't appropriate."

Javen's drunken antics were indeed, inappropriate.  If they were going to be sharing a room... Chase wasn't sure he wanted to stick around for that.

He got up suddenly. 

"Im.. going to get myself some water and fresh air  " And he moved to exit the room.

Chase's exit was sobering as Javen began to realize what he was doing.
"Er.. s-sorry, Nyla."

Heart in her throat, Nyla allowed herself a single breath of relief as Chase's sudden exit seemed to make Javen reconsider and retreat.

"It's...fine," she mumbled, turning her face a little further into the pillow. "Let's just—let's just get some sleep, okay?"

She was exhausted, and now a strange shame was curling in her stomach, and she didn't have the energy to deal with it in that moment. She just wanted to get some rest.

Javen cursed a grumble and turned away from her.
"I'm tired anyway, " he growled into his pillow, closing his eyes and seeming to fall asleep ten minutes later. Yes, he must have been drunk still.


Elsewhere, Chase wandered through the house and back put into the gardens, thinking over his poor choices in life.

Despite the weariness dragging at her limbs, Nyla found that she was suddenly too on edge to sleep. She waited until she felt Javen’s breathing even out beside her, then stood quietly from the bed and slipped out into the main room of the house, then through to the kitchen.

She was only in her sleeping shift, but she hardly noticed as she wandered out through the back door into the garden.

“Oh!”

She drew up short when she caught sight of Chase, color flooding her cheeks. “I—I’m sorry, I didn’t think—“

Stupid. He’d said he was getting fresh air, where else could he have gone?

Thankfully it was still dark and the night might shield their red cheeks.
"No need to apologize. I'm the guest here, remember?" He smiled,  but not one that showed his teeth. He still felt awkward and it was evident.. so did she.

But why? Was she embarrassed just because her drunk husband got handsy... or was there something more? He couldn't help himself but before intrigued , and well- Chase was always a sucker for a damsel in distress.

And... one in a cute night shift. He tried not to let his eyes settle on that.

Nyla wrapped her arms around her middle self-consciously, inadvertently making the shift cling to her frame all the more as she bit her lip and looked away from him, embarrassed.

"That...it still...he shouldn't have..." She closed her eyes and let out a low, slow breath. Her cheeks were positively on fire with a mix of guilt and shame that settled like lead in her belly.

And before she knew what she was doing, the words were leaping to her lips unbidden:

"We haven't. Not since--not since we wed. I didn't expect him to..." She trailed off, swallowing thickly. Gods, what was wrong with her?! He didn't need to know that!

Chase stiffened at her confession, and some sort of natural thrill rushed through his body and pooled low, with heat, in his belly. What was wrong with him? Sure, she was attractive... and maybe her marriage was arranged but well.. 
She was married.  And he wasn't about to be the one to break someone's vows.

Besides.... he was a guest. He needed to cool off. He didn't realize being pulled away from his source of attention. Of his fans would make him yearn so easily for a woman's attention.

No, he wouldn't let himself just act on base instinct. But her night dress surely wasn't helping.

"Don't worry about it. " What else could he say? He offered her a small smile and peered up at the stars. "I'm not here to judge."
I mean.. could he blame the man for being attracted to her? And she was his wife! Which... begged a lot of questions....
Because she was here now... with him...
Alone in the garden at night.

"I know." Nyla still wasn't looking at him. She couldn't make herself do it, too embarrassed and confused and--and she didn't know what. "I know you wouldn't...judge, but it...I..."

She trailed off yet again with a low sigh and dropped her head, rubbing at her temples. She could feel a headache coming on.

"It was still inappropriate," she finally whispered, forcing herself to glance in his direction. "I doubt Javen will care enough to apologize, so...I suppose I'm doing it on his behalf."

She went quiet again, tipping her head back to look up at the stars. Okay. Okay, that actually made this easier.

"...I should think it's fairly obvious," she murmured after a moment, as though she was talking to the sky, "that this is not precisely a love match." If he was going to be living with them for a while, she may as well get this part over with. It would just be worse if it all came out over the course of months.

Chase tensed at her profession.  He supposed he could have deduced it but... honestly,  that's not what he would have liked to suspect.

"I'm sorry," he found himself saying, before he could think better of it. "I know me being here probably isn't helping much either. " well... aside from the good money they'd be making hiding his sorry ass until things settled.

She shook her head. "No, no, it's not...having anyone new in...this situation is awkward. It's not you."

She tried for a reassuring smile, then shivered as a sharp night breeze cut clean through her shift. She hugged herself a little tighter and looked up to the stars again.

"You don't have to apologize," she continued quietly. "I highly doubt I'm the first woman you've met living in a marriage of convenience."

He wished that statement weren't true. But they didn't live in fantasy. That kind of situation seemed to blossom more and more with the continuation of the war.

"Well, I just hope I won't be much more of an inconvenience,  then," he told her with a smirk.  He noticed her shivering.  "You should head back inside.  Winds are picking up " and it smelled like rain.

That earned the barest twitch of a smile, and something in her eyes softened as she finally looked at him.

She shook her head almost automatically when he told her to go back in. "No, you shouldn't be out here by yourself. Especially if those clouds are any indication." She nodded toward the dark wisps that had begun steadily approaching the moon.

Glancing away again, she added softly, "Javen is a deep sleeper, but...I don't exactly mind the time away from him." Sleeping in separate beds, this hadn't been an issue. But now just the thought of returning to their room was stifling.

Chase smirked.
"I like the rain."
But he paused to consider,  as he sighed, dramatically,  "I suppose I could accompany a lonely lady on this wind chilled night. Maybe for some tea and crackers inside?"

Nyla smiled at him, soft and small. "I think I can manage that." She turned to head back into the kitchen, nodding her head for him to follow. "I'm not sure about crackers, but I know we have about half a batch of sugar cookies that didn't sell at the shop today."

Chase's eyes lit up.
"Oh.. I'd never say no to a cookie," he said, following her inside.

"I've met few people who would," Nyla laughed quietly as she slipped into the kitchen and made her way to one of the small cabinets. She stretched up onto her toes to open it, once again revealing the thin lines of scarring around her ankles as the hem of her night shift raised with her arms.

"Here." She rocked back onto her heels and turned to him with a small smile and a brown cloth bag clutched in her hand. She twisted to place the little sack on the small kitchen table and gestured toward it. "Help yourself. I'll get the tea started."

As quietly as she could, she filled the kettle and stoked a small fire in the cook oven to set it boiling.

His eyes went to her scars.  Of all the things the young man ought to obsess over,  a woman's scars shouldn't have been one of them. But now knowing her marriage was of convenience,  it got him wondering just what she had gotten out of this deal.

"Someone that doesn't like cookies?" He went on, skeptical.  "I disbelieve. "

Nyla laughed again, leaning her hip against the kitchen counter and tilting her head at him so loose black curls went spilling over her shoulder. "Oh, it's hardly common, but they do exist," she teased quietly. "You wouldn't believe some of the things I used to see in the shop."

She gestured toward the cookies on the table. "Go on, take some. If you liked the pies, I'm betting you'll like those more."

Chase found himself openly appreciating her form- and immediately regretting it. What was he an idiot? She was married.  Keep it together!

At her comment about the pies, he shook his head.
"That, I hardly doubt. Pies are kinda my weakness. " he went on, reaching for a cookie and thinking how if the pair of them had kids,  they'd both get that dark, curly hair.

Wait, why was he thinking that? He needed to get laid. And all of his side girls were.. well no one knew where he was at.

"Aha! I have learned your weakness. My secret evil plan to lower your defenses with baked goods has come to fruition." Her dark eyes danced at him as she teased quietly.

Somehow, strangely, just admitting to the strange tension that had come to the house when he arrived—or that he had brought her attention to, at least—seemed to put her more at ease. She plucked the kettle from the fire when it started whistling and crossed to pour two cups of tea.

"Lavender and chamomile," she told him as she set one gently steaming cup in front of him with a small smile. "I used to grow the herbs in a window box back at my flat, but..." She shrugged. "I suppose the market herbs work fine too."

He gave her a lopsided smile. It somehow made him appear even more boyish and handsome.
"I didn't take you for a devious baker ." He smirked, took a bite of his cookie then glanced down at the tea.
"You couldn't grow some in your garden?" He found himself asking.  "And please, if you're going to seduce me baked goods, I'm a sucker for chocolate. " he told her with a wink.

Her cheeks colored prettily and she laughed again. “Noted.”

Sitting across the table from him, she sipped at her own tea and glanced out the window overlooking the garden with a small, wistful smile. “The soil here is a bit too harsh. Fine for the vegetables and a few hardy flowers, but for some reason I can never get the herbs to take properly. They always just sort of…wither away.”

Chase regarded her as she spook. She was cute. She had a fun personality, loved baking...
It was unfortunate she found herself in a loveless marriage. Although.. that wasn't uncommon in Connlaoth. It was also an unfortunate thing, too. You were either too good and rich to actually marry for love and need to use your marriage bonds as a means to secure power or... just stability...
and if you were on the poorer spectrum, a lot have been marrying to simply survive.

"Have you considered growing some in small pots?" he inquired. "An old woman, one who used to live near me when I was growing up, used to keep some potted herbs by her window." He shook his head and smiled toothily at the memory.

"She had no yard, not even a small garden, but insisted she had fresh herbs versus the dry ones. Claimed she had grown up on a farm and couldn't stand the 'dried out, crispy taste' of the not so fresh ones." Chase shrugged and continued to regard Nyla.

"We could always try that for you." He looked towards one of the front windows, then towards one closer towards them with thought. "Your kitchen window might be your best bet, if you kept a few indoors. Then they could grow in the winter."

Nyla perked up a bit at the idea, cupping her tea between her palms and blowing on it gently. "I certainly could try that. Honestly, that's what I did back at the flat. I suppose I just thought..." She trailed off, wincing a bit with a small, sheepish sort of smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'd have to ask Javen for the potting soil, or at least coin to get it. I didn't think he'd approve of spending the money when I have the garden already."

She glanced up at him, then added with a wry little laugh. "Though I suppose that might not be so much of an issue, now."

In the low light from the single kitchen lantern and the flickering oven, her eyes were nearly solid black, reflecting the firelight. She glanced away quickly, sipping at her tea again. She'd been told more than once that her eyes could be off-putting, and she certainly didn't want to make him uncomfortable more than she was sure she already had that evening. Even if that was mostly Javen's fault.

If he was off-put by her, it didn't show. In fact, he was still wearing that easy smile, blue eyes warm.
"I could help you with it," he said, then quickly realized his mistake. "Well.. maybe give you some money for it." Then again, they were getting paid to hide his ass already but...
He shrugged. "It's my idea anyway. Could be my pet project during my stay."

"Oh, no, you don't have to do that," she tried to dissuade him quickly. "Honestly, this--I already feel as though I've put you out this evening, you don't have to--"

She snapped her mouth shut again quickly, color rising in her cheeks as she looked away again. She hadn't meant to remind him of why neither of them was currently in the bedroom.

"If--if I can convince Javen to let me get some pots and soil, maybe install window boxes...I'd be more than happy to have some help. But I certainly couldn't ask you to do it all yourself."

Jace- did he laugh? It was hard to tell, if so, it was soft, barely under his breath. But his blue eyes were dancing.
"Did you forget I'm here like.. indefinitely? Let a man pick up a hobby and help you build some flower pots." He smiled toothily. "It'll keep me outta trouble."

"Oh, well..."

Nyla sighed, shoulders curving forward a bit, and gave him another of those small, sheepish smiles. "When you put it like that," she conceded with a laugh, "how could I tell you no?"

She took another sip of her tea, then had to cover a yawn with her hand. "Ah, forgive me. I suppose I'm still rather tired, it was a busy day..." She trailed off, blushing again, suddenly much more aware that it was creeping passed midnight, and she was still sitting up in the kitchen with a man who was not her husband.

And she didn't actually want to go back to bed.

Silly little fool.

Chase eyed her, then frowned a little when he recalled what prompted them here...
"Did you want me to return to my bed? Give you some peace and quiet out here?"
He was hopeful her husband had gone back to bed by now...
And also confident he wouldn't try to seduce him anyways. He couldn't pass for Nyla, even to a drunk, if he tried!

Seeing his offer for what it was, Nyla gave him a small, grateful smile and shook her head. "No, that's alright. I'm sure Javen's asleep by now, and he...sleeps heavy when he's been drinking."

She was fairly sure she didn't need to elaborate that that was most nights. Even only being in the house for a day, Chase had to have his suspicions on that front.

She rose from her chair with a small sigh and set about wrapping up what was left of the midnight snack. "You go on, I'll clean this up. I'm sure you're nearly as tired as I am," she laughed quietly, flashing another small smile in his direction.

He was tired, but he wasn't sure if he could sleep. But he didn't want to inconvenience her any further. The night had already been awkward enough.

"Here.. let me help." And he moved to give her a hand, stealing a small snack as he did. He realized he was still hungry and it couldn't hurt to have another bite.

"Oh, I see what your help is," Nyla teased quietly when he swiped another cookie. Eyes soft, she slipped him the little wrapped parcel instead of putting it back in a cupboard.

"Go on, take it. So long as you don't leave crumbs in the bed, it's yours." She smiled at him again, and probably let her fingertips linger against his just a moment too long as she passed over the parcel before drawing her hand back and taking a step away.

"Well, um..." She cleared her throat, twisting one curl absently around her finger. "Good night, Chase."

Oh.

Oh something tingled.

Oh.


Chase stood a moment, letting the tingling sensation fade as it moved up his limbs and pooled between his lips like an unseen heat. But his cheeks did color, if only a little.

Did he? No...
Well, she was very attractive and her personality...
Okay, so he really liked that to.
But she was married.

What was wrong with him? Why was he...
suddenly so very.. turned on?

Not the best time to get a hard on when he wanted to sleep, he tried to pretend nothing happened.
Really.. from a small touch.

He nodded his thanks for the cookies.

"Well, I should let you uh.." he cleared his throat and took a step back. "Get some rest."

He nodded and gave an awkward, lopsided grin.

"Goodnight, Nyla."
And he turned and disappeared into the room.

Nyla found herself a little baffled by the abrupt but subtle change in his manner. He seemed suddenly...not uncomfortable exactly, maybe anxious.

She didn't want to make whatever it was worse, so she let him get himself settled before she crept back into the bedroom and slipped into the empty space on the bed beside Javen, drawing the covers up practically over her head.

And she did not think of bright blue eyes until she fell asleep.

---

The next week was a strange combination of tedious and unexpected. With Chase now in the house all hours of the day, Nyla had to learn to adjust her routine around his presence. It wasn't at all a bad thing—having someone to talk to was certainly nice, and he was actually a help with many of her usual chores.

But still, things seemed to settle into a sort of equilibrium, and gradually began to even put into proper routine again.

And if she had to remind herself not to stand too close to him in the kitchen, or if she sometimes caught herself smiling at him when he wasn't looking, well...that may have been foolish, but it was nothing. Nothing. Really. Nothing.

He was a man- just a man.
And sometimes men could be foolish.
It didn't make him feel any less guilty. I mean, it wasn't like he was actually bedding her. But he was young, and forgot how much his hormones were sated by women who were easily wooed by his voice and pretty face...

Now he had to resort to fantasizing in whatever privacy could be afforded...
and that's where the guilt came in...
Because he couldn't help himself.
His little fantasies revolved around her.

They were innocent enough at first, a lot of 'no, we shouldn't.' 'you're married'- but then they would. And the ending always felt so good. Somehow... better than sex and any other time before.

Perhaps it was because he shouldn't want it, but in truth, really did. He would definitely be much better for it- enjoy this time away while hiding from his potential killers....

But she was married. It was wrong.
Even if she didn't love him.

But as the days passed and he found himself growing closer to her, laughing with her- helping her...
Little things would slip. Small, comments, compliments. A brush back of her hair with his fingers to keep her hair from her eyes. Taking something heavy out of her hands to help her out. And then that one time he was singing for her and-
That one time being now, where he was making up a silly song on the spot and finding himself just naturally scooping her up into a dance as he laughed, seeing the flour on her face when she was trying to roll out some bread.

"You're working to hard!" he paused his song, laughing as he twirled her. "Come on, take a break. You're looking stressed."

Had something happened? He didn't want to press but...
Maybe his singing and their dancing would distract her?

Was it the letter she recieved that her husband would be away another month- not week?
At least she wouldn't be lonely..
but even still....
He was certain her husband had to afford her some form of company she cherished- even if not in the romantic sense.

He twirled her again and pulled her close in a natural motion and didn't realize how he was holding her until their bodies were pressed.

He stared into her eyes for a good long moment before giving a sheepish smile.
"You have flour on your face."
And moved a hand to cup her cheek, a thumb moving to brush at the clump of flour so ungraciously covering her upper cheek.

"Chase!"

Nyla was already giggling from the impromptu performance--some silly ditty about flour and bread and dustpans--when suddenly his arms were around her and he was sweeping her into a dance around the kitchen. She laughed outright then, stumbling one step, two, and then she was gliding along with him easily.

Maybe it was a little odd that a nobody baker seemed to know how to dance like her little kitchen was a ballroom, but she was too caught up in the moment to be more careful, and a childhood full of dance and decorum lessons was difficult to shake.

And she didn't even care, a pealing laugh tumbling from her lips when he twirled her out and then back into his arms until she was almost collapsed against his chest, lips parted and eyes sparkling as she panted lightly.

"I don't need a break, you incorrigible menace, I need to finish this dough for tomorrow," she laughed, shoving lightly at his shoulder, but she clearly wasn't even really protesting. She was still smiling when she looked up into his face, color high in her cheeks. Then his thumb brushed away a clump of flour, and something in her chest seized tight.

It wasn't as though it was the first time he'd done something like that, but...but for some reason, this time, it made her heart skip into her throat dangerously. Her smile faded slowly, replaced with wide eyes and those still slightly parted lips, a rush of heat coloring her pale skin pink.

"...Thank you," she whispered, and her voice came out so breathy and clearly wanting that it made her blush flare hotter. She quickly ducked her head, but with how close he held her that just brushed her nose against his chest, and she shivered in the circle of his arms. "I...I should...get back to work..."

It wasn't until he saw the look in her eyes when he realized what his own must portray. He froze, his own heart seized before tiny little electrical fires tickled up his arms and legs.
And then her voice...
He felt that hungered need in it to the point he ached.



'Woah Chase, cool down.' He tried chiding himself, but found it difficult to tear his eyes away from her.
But he didn't have to. Her head dropped along with her gaze as he stiffened when he felt her face so close to his chest. She could probably feel the hammering of his chest with her body pressed so.



Work.
Right.
She was working.
He distracted her.


He grumbled out an apology, it taking too long for him to pull away. When he did, he eyed her up and afforded her a lopsided grin.

"You still have flour all over your face."
This time he picked up a towel and offered it to her, knowing full well if he touched her again....

No, that was his first mistake.

"Yes. Right." She took the offered towel woodenly, cursing herself for how badly she wanted him to touch her again. "Thank you."

She turned back toward the counter, the dough she'd been kneading, wiping absently at her cheek with the towel--and completely missing at least three streaks of flour.

If Javen had seen that...

But Javen wasn't here. And he wouldn't be for another month, at the earliest. She squeezed her eyes shut against that thought, shaking her head as though she could physically clear her mind.

Gods she was a fool.

"That night--" No no no, stop talking, stop talking! "That night...when I'd come home from the shop..."

She couldn't make herself stop. Why couldn't she make herself stop?!

"I had a dream that--that you kissed me," Nyla whispered to the dough beneath her hands. She forced a laugh, shaking her head again. "Silly, I know. I don't--I don't even know why I'm telling you this."

Except she did. And she was an idiot for it.

Chase stiffened as she begun, feeling strange and awkward as she continued...
Then when she revealed her 'dream'- he felt his face flush hotter than lava. It streamed clear to his ears and pooled as an unsated heat between his legs as he remembered ever since that day what he continually fantasized since that night and....

He held a breath, as if fearing to let it go. But he grew dizzy and released it slowly, hotly through his nostrils.

Then he smiled. He couldn't help himself. He smiled because of it.

Was she.. attracted to him to?
Ansgar's name.. what was he thinking?

But it made sense...
How they were both so naturally becoming 'charmed' by one another.

But she was married.
They were forced to be alone...

But it didn't stop the attraction that was as natural and strong as a magnet.

Part of him wished she hadn't told him that.Another part was somewhat relieved, intrigued...

But honestly and truly, he didn't know what to say. Instead, he saw the flour she missed and found himself reaching to brush it away, but finger tips tickled through her hair and he paused, staring at her face, at her lips, not realizing the honest feelings of hunger, of what, of need, simmering inside his eyes.

He'd moved so quietly--or she'd been so distracted--that Nyla actually gasped when she felt his touch on her cheek, startling away from the counter and looking up at him with wide eyes as his fingers slid into her hair and oh gods she wanted him to kiss her.

Despite her family's best efforts, Nyla had never actually been all that good at hiding what she felt. She could lie well enough, but that was different. Her every emotion was plain on her face, worry and guilt and desire and anxious, foolish hope.

"Chase..." She swallowed, licked her lips, tried to make her mind work properly as her tongue seemed to be refusing to do so. "You...I..."

No luck, it seemed.

He froze, her words tingling him- their closeness creating a thrill within that had been simmering for so long it was hard for him to ignore when so close, their eyes staring so deep.
Then he saw on her lips the faintest bit of flour. And he cupped her face and leaned in, eye lashes dark and hanging low before he moved in to steal his own lips against hers to silence any speak.

And his mind reeled as an uncontrollable moan released behind the kiss as it deepened.
Because she had wanted this.
He had wanted this.
And found he couldn't hold himself back any longer.


Another month.
They'd be alone another month and-
before he knew it the kisses grew deeper, more hunger, hands moving, roving over her body as she pushed her clean up against the kitchen sink.

Nyla's second soft gasp was swallowed into the kiss, and she wasn't surprised, not really, because this suddenly felt like an inevitability, like this had always been where they were heading, and it seemed silly to have ever pretended otherwise.

Her eyes fluttered closed and she draped her arms around his neck, holding him gently to her as he kissed her and kissed her and kissed her and--

Her back fetched up against the sink, startling a breathless laugh from her as she broke away just long enough to brace her hands on the counter for a moment, shifting them just far enough to the side that he wouldn't be bending her back into the pot filler when he kissed her again.

Which he was certainly going to do, because she wrapped her fingers in the collar of his shirt and pulled him down to her with a low, sighing moan of her own as their lips met again and she melted into it, shivering delightedly under his touch.

If there was any doubt if this was wrong or right, it went straight out the window the moment she pulled him near. And for the life of him, he couldn't stop kissing her, hands feeling up her body, daring to feel curves he shouldn't but keeping his touches heated and innocent.

But where her dreams was they simply shard a kiss, his dreams required so much more. And he couldn't help it- hormones were raging and had been for weeks. And without a proper escape...

He found himself growing ever closer to her, pulling her closer to him, whimpering and moaning as he slid himself between her open legs from where he had her seated upon the sink. he paused a moment, eyes drunk on lust as he looked up into her eyes before moving against her as if trying to make love to her through their clothes.

“Ohh…” Nyla swallowed thickly, shuddering now under his touch as one hand grazed the edge of her breast and she suddenly wished her day dress was a thinner fabric. “Oh, oh—“

She bit down hard on her lower lip to muffle the sound that wanted to escape her when he moved between her legs, resisting the urge to wrap them around his waist. She was panting lightly, gripping his shoulders for an anchor as heat surged through her.

She’d never felt like this, never. Her only previous experience had been Javen—who had certainly tried to make her comfortable, but hadn’t done this, hadn’t lit her skin on fire with a kiss—and that had been months ago. Before that…the closest she’d come was the boy her family had decided she’d marry, and that could never have felt like this, like she was drowning and glad of it.

“Chase,” she whispered against his mouth, her hand clenching in the fabric of his shirt. “Chase, I—please…”

There was so much tangible need between them that they need not speak. His hands moved to fumble over her dress and it's holdings, blindly moving to release her from the dress she had so desperately wished was thinner, where as he simply did not want it there.

Fumbling hands eventually found warm flesh, her fabric slacking once he got the fastens loose and he shuddered against her lips hotly as they kissed.

The first layer of her dress was easy enough to loosen and push down off her shoulders where it pooled around her elbows. She wriggled the rest of the way out of it, gasping against his mouth as the movement brought her up against him for a moment.

Then his hands were under her shift and she tore around from the kiss to press her face into his shoulder, panting.

"This...we..." she managed to get out, voice rasping in her throat. She instinctively rocked against him and whimpered, turning her face into the crook of his neck to muffle the sound. "I shouldn't be doing this," she practically moaned, but it was clear she was trying to convince herself, and failing miserably. "I shouldn't...be..."

She tipped her head up to meet him in another kiss, eyes tight shut as her hands tangled in his hair and she pressed forward against him.

She smelled and tasted lovely, like warm bread on a summer night. It was hard for him to stop, kisses advancing, hands roaming,  peeling off what clothing was left between the pair. He went down to undo his belt and tensed at her words, breathing hotly with hungry, half lidded eyes.

And then she kissed him. And he kissed back, moaning.
"We shouldn't, " he assured her, voice aching and he paused. Just once to open his eyes, blue ones searching hers.

He hesitated. Then asked.
"I won't if you don't want me." Lips met soft to hers before he withdrew,  staring back into her eyes.

Nyla whimpered as he pulled away, then blushed when she realized what she'd done. "That..." She took a breath, trying to center herself, but he was still so close against her and she could smell him, herbs and fresh earth from the garden and the spices of the kitchen and something else that was just him; she groaned, clenching her eyes shut for a moment.

"That—I do want to, Chase," she admitted in a whisper, pressing her brow to his. "Gods, I want to so badly I'm aching with it. But I—you—"

She swallowed, licked her lips, tried to think. She'd had an objection to this, before, what had it been...?

"This...isn't fair to you," she said slowly. "I—I know he won't be back for a month, but...but when he is, you...we..."

She whimpered again and turned her face into his chest, clutching at his shoulders. "I don't know if I can—if I can have you now, and not want you again..."

She knew she couldn't, actually. She was afraid if she gave into this now, it would be all too easy to do it again, when it was...less safe.

"But gods I want to," she whispered against his skin. She'd told so many lies, she was so tired of them. And this...whatever else this was, it was honest. It was what she wanted.

He paused, stiffening at her words.  But didn't dare advance. Instead,  warm, large hands smoothed down the sides of her body, staying chaste but still hungry. He stopped at her hips before he looked back into her eyes.
"We should stop. " His voice croaked. Was he really saying that?

But he was.  Although he didn't pull away.

"If we do this, " he went on softly, eyes searching hers. He swallowed thickly, throat dry. "I won't ever be able to stop."

Nyla automatically found herself shaking her head when he said they should stop, because she knew he was right but by all the gods she didn't want to stop.

"I..." She swallowed in turn, her eyes locked on his. She didn't think she could have looked away if she tried. "I don't want you to stop," she breathed, nails catching at the nape of his neck as her hand in his hair clenched. "Gods, please, Chase, I don't want you to stop..."

Something flashed. Something deep, feral, striking within the depths of his eyes. That was all the words he needed, and a moment later, his pants dropped to the ground and his shirt was long since shrugged off and lips captured her mouth again as he leaned forward, grabbing her legs and pulling them around his waist, a single, quick action that saddled them together and jabbed his sex against hers.

He let out a gasp, a groan at the very sensation of her softness,  the warmth, her musk,  the heat....

His eye lids hung low as he looked directly , deeply into her gaze before diving into her body as he began to sin.

Another gasp tore from her chest as he pulled her in and they ground together. Then they were together, and she couldn't stop herself from crying out as he moved against her and her body positively lit up with sensation.

"Oh gods, Chase..." Her nails dragged down his back as she clutched him to her, kissing the curve of his throat and murmuring faint, breathless praise and pleas. Her other hand braced against the counter behind her and she arched her back, tilting her hips slightly for a deeper angle that made her gasp and whine as her legs tightened around his waist.

She kept saying his name, whispering it like a prayer, or a ward against everything she knew was wrong about what they were doing, because gods it was the first thing that had felt so right in a long, long time.

It had been to long since Chase had a rut.  But this was something else entirely.  It sent a striking course of purpose, of power,  of true connection,  want and need.

And she kept calling his name.  It was all the confirmation he needed to keep moving, striking, fucking the right spot. His body trembled in response to taking her, feeling her as he moaned and panted and kissed with need from her neck to breasts before giving a rooar of need and picking her up and carrying her to the kitchen table,  her legs still clinging around him before dropping her onto the table as he continued to kiss and buck with unbridled need.

"Gods above." He shivered.
This sex felt better than he could have imagined and drove him into a frenzy,  his body moving in quick, sharp thrusts that made the table shake and tableware fall.

Nyla had never realized she had the capacity to be so reckless—both in what they were doing, and how they were doing it. She whimpered and moaned with every thrust, gasping his name when his mouth moved to her breasts and she practically clawed at his back, desperate and downright wanton.

Then he lifted her up, spinning to lay her out over the table, and she cried out again as he moved over her. She heard plates and utensils clattering to the floor and she didn’t give a damn, arching her back into a deep bow that tilted her hips sharply against his so he struck deeper with every move.

She called his name again, panting against his throat as every move tipped her closer to the edge. “Oh don’t stop, please, please don’t stop,” she begged hoarsely, tightening her legs around him and pulling him harder against her.

"Don't worry. " he panted. He wasn't planning on stopping anytime soon. "You feel too damn good for me to ever want to stop." He squeezed his eyes shut tightly as he thrust into her over and over,moaning,  "Gods I could do this forever "

"Gods, please." She laughed, breathless and wild, and turned her head to catch his lips with hers. "You feel amazing," she murmured into his mouth. "Gods, Chase, this—I've never felt like this..."

Her voice trailed off into a low groan and she suddenly started to shiver under him, quickly approaching her peak as her breathing picked up into ragged pants and her hands claws red lines down his back.

She never felt this. And he was the one to give her this, this passion, this relief. He rode out her high and waited for her to peak before he too, couldn't contain it, and couldn't stop himself and came deep inside her with need.

He shivered still inside her near to the hilt and felt himself cum longer and more than he felt he ever had before 
Then , dropping down to pant against her shoulder, he winced a little as he realized he came so much he was already leaking out if her.

And then as his breathing slowed he began to sober over what he'd just done.

"Oh no.."

Nyla caught her crest on a wave that threatened to drown her, and when she finally started to come back to herself Chase was resting heavily against her shoulder, panting, and her arms were tight around him, one leg still hooked over his hip where they were connected.

Slowly, her eyes widened.

...What had they just done?

She turned her head to rest her brow against his, panting still from the rush and the exertion. "Oh no..." she agreed quietly.

But she didn't let go of him. She didn't think she could, not yet. Just another moment of this. Another moment of just...being happy.

She just wanted to be happy. Just for a while.

He shivered inside her. He was too afraid to end the moment as well. So he lay there, sighing contently against her.

Nyla let her fingers twist into his black curls, stroking her other hand absently over his back as they both simply lay there in silence for a few moments.

Then she sighed, tilting her head to kiss his temple gently. "...Chase."

She kissed him again, quick and soft and aching. "We...we need to get up..."

Chase whimpered in protest.
"Five more minutes?" He pouted , nuzzling against her soft warm skin.

She laughed breathily despite herself and nuzzled back, brushing her nose over his cheek before planting a quick kiss just beneath his jaw.

“Alright,” she murmured, wrapping both arms and legs around him and holding tight. “Five more minutes…”

It didn’t occur to her until then that she hadn’t once in that frenzied rush given so much as a passing thought to her scars.

He smirked then sighed contentedly.
"You know.. a guy could get used to this "

That started to sober her, though she didn't want it to.

"...A girl could too," she murmured, then sighed and let her head lull back on the table. "But I'm...not sure if we should. We..."

She paused, then let her hand drift up to cup his cheek in her palm and tilt his head toward her to meet his eyes.

"...I've never wanted anything as much as I want you," she murmured, almost lamenting. And she thought it might be true—even when she'd wanted to escape her family, it had been less a want and more a sort of dream, something so preposterous she couldn't even entertain having it until it was hers.

Her attraction to Chase had been like that too, at least before...this. When it was just a dream, not a want, it could be tucked safely in a little box in her heart and hidden away. But now...

"...This was a spectacular mistake, wasn't it?" she whispered, smiling sadly at him.

Chase closed his eyes at her words and felt a knot tighten in his belly. He thought back to what they had done and all the reasons they shouldn't.

He smiled,  even a little sadly.

"If it was a mistake,  that had to have been the best." He tried not to meet her gaze as he peeled himself off her and stumbled to clean himself off at the sink.

The water was sobering and the guilt continued to layer.
What hadthey done?
And he even went so far as to release himself inside her.

Idiot.

[CW: reference to torture/self harm]

---

Nyla winced as he pulled away from her and sat up slowly, wrapping her arms loosely around herself. She shivered, suddenly chilled without his body pressed to hers and that overwhelming heat of desire fading in the face of the reality of what had just happened.

She looked down, and was suddenly reminded—vividly—of every scar that traced her skin. The ones that feathered her wrists and forearms, those he'd already seen, even the handful around her ankles, but... There were more. Most thin and short—the Allorans had practiced their art for a long time, and had this down to a near perfect science—and her skin was so pale that from a distance they were barely noticeable. But they were still there, scattered over her collar and a few inches down her chest, some longer ones along the line of her ribs, spreading up her calves to her thighs, trailing off somewhere near  inner mid-thigh but continuing doggedly up over her hips along the outside.

She supposed she could only be grateful he hadn't seen her back. Maybe, in the frenzy of it, he hadn't even really noticed at all.

She reached for her shift, then winced as the movement reminded her just how...enthusiastic they'd been. She pressed her legs together, flushing, and hugged herself a little tighter as she watched his back where he stood cleaning himself off at that sink.

"...Thank you," she found herself whispering, throat tight. She gave a short, choked laugh at herself and reached up to brush her hand over her suddenly wet eyes. "For...I-I know this was a mistake, but I...I haven't been that happy in a really long time," she admitted quietly, voice a little shaky. She stood, carefully, and reached for her shift again, trying to cover herself as quickly as he could, before he turned and really saw her, saw her without the blinding fog of desire, and regretted even more what they'd done.

But he has already saw it.  Saw the scars. Saw the story he created inside his head and before he could stop himself, he grabbed onto her arm and turned her to face him.

"Did he.. he do this... to ... to you?" his voice was shaking, it was hard to contain the anger that boiled. "Nyla..."

Gods..God's... that.. that monster.

“Wha—oh!” Nyla’s eyes went wide as she shook her head quickly, automatically reaching up to cup her palm against his cheek in an instinctive attempt to soothe. “No, no, it wasn’t…it was a long time ago. He’s never…he’s never struck me.”

She had been a lot to say “never hurt me”, but couldn’t force the words passed her lips. They tasted like a lie. Her husband had never physically harmed her, but a part of her knew that this marriage, this life, was slowly eating away at her from the inside out.

She didn’t want to think about it.

Shaking her head again, she reached out to draw Chase against her. “I’m alright,” she murmured into his hair. That lie was easier; she repeated it often enough. “It was…it was before this. Before Connlaoth. Back—back home.”

Her voice shuddered around the word “home”, but she didn’t know what else to call it. The Allorans were monsters, that house was a prison—but it had also been the only home she’d known for so much of her life.

His eyes danced, brilliantly flashing with troves of emotions. Not him? Not her husband but... his anger still boiled in his belly. Home.. a story he sure as hell didn't know the half of.

Instinctively,  he held onto her, pulling her close and fierce. No one should ever have to suffer through such things.. be it then nor now.

When he realized he still clung to her, Chase loosened the hug and lifted his gaze so their eyes met. He could tell she was struggling. He cupped her face to look at her,into her eyes and implored for more.

But he didn't ask, just let a warm hand smooth down the length of her back, ignoring how his anger roused him again.

He made her happy... how long had she lived in misery?

All it took was that gentle touch, his hand warm against her back, against her scars, and all her carefully constructed armor came undone.

Biting down hard on her lower lip to stifle a sob, she turned her face into the curve of his neck and clung to him, trembling. “I thought—this was supposed to be safer,” she gasped quietly. The words came in a flood and she was powerless to stop them. “My family—my parents, they…it was a nightmare. But this, here, this was supposed to be safer, but th-then the war and…and I…”

She was crying in earnest, and quickly turned her face away in an effort to wipe the tears. “I didn’t want to marry him,” she whispered thickly. “But it… I was on my own, running the shop, and tensions just kept getting worse, the city center wasn’t safe, he—he made himself seem like my only option. I thought I could do this, it’s so much easier than what home was like, but I…I can’t…”

Her voice petered out and she covered her face with her hands, guilt and shame and fear tightening her throat. Finally, she managed to choke out, “B-but still, this, you…this is the happiest I’ve been in—in as long as I can remember. I know that makes me awful and selfish but I…I can’t help how I feel.”

Chase just held her close and kissed her hair. He was quiet as he held her, letting her cry. Letting her speak. He didn't even know what to say... she had come to this land for respite, and she seemed to have found more of the same things she had been running from.

So he didn't speak when he had no words and simply held her, tighter now to him in hopes she could feel his raw emotions along with hers as they both stood there, naked in her truths.

After what might have been a few minutes or just a few breaths, Nyla managed to calm her sons into shuddering pants, then a few careful breaths, before she moved to pull away.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, eyes fixed on their feet. "I shouldn't have—None of this is your problem. I'm sorry..."

She brushed her hands beneath her eyes and glanced up at him with the shaky echo of a smile. "Thank you. Really. For—for listening. And...for everything else." Her cheeks flushed at the memory of that "everything else", highlighted by the fact that they both still stood there with not a stitch of clothing between them.

For a goof few moments,  Chase watched  her lament. He let her have her time. But he needed his. And once there was silence, he stepped between them and stole a kiss, one he knew she would need as well as himself.
He didn't know what to say, so he said nothing, letting a hand run through her hair as he just let his mind roll over all that had been..
And that could be.

She knew she should have rejected the kiss—what they had already done was bad enough—but she just couldn't make herself do it. She liked kissing him. It had been so long since she'd just...done something that made her happy.

With a low, tired sigh, she let her head come to rest against his shoulder and cautiously wound her arms around his waist.

"...What do we do now?"

He simply held her, just letting her rest into him. And at her words,  he gave a small smile. He turned to look at her, brushing hair away from her face as he studied her. Then his lips curled playfully and he said, "Try another go?"

As soon as her expression might show he laughed and stole another kiss.
"Don't worry. I'm joking. I would never force you into doing more.." he raked hair back from his face. " 'Fun ' things with me."

"Chase," Nyla reprimanded quietly, with no real bite to her voice. "I'm serious. This—this changed things. It changes everything. When my—my husband comes back..."

But he wasn't coming back for weeks. And that was the one thought she couldn't get out of her mind.

She exhaled quietly and let her head drip back onto Chase's shoulder. "I don't know if I'll be able to give you up," she admitted in a whisper against his collar.

He couldn't erase the smile from his lips, simply holding her close. He understood perfectly what she meant.. and had to wonder...
"..but. would you have to?" He asked, voice barely above a whisper as a hand stroked through her hair.

Nyla froze. Then, slowly, she lifted her head to meet his eyes again. "You...you don't mean..."

But he did. Of course he did, how could he not? She had been thinking it too.

She licked her lips, stomach fluttering between nerves and something dangerously like anticipation. "We—we would have to be so careful," she whispered, holding his gaze with hers. "I know he travels, but when he's here— God, you've seen how he is, if he even suspected..."

She swallowed and brought her hands up to cup his face between her palms. "I couldn't stand it if something happened to you, Chase. Especially if it was because of me."

He studied her gaze, a hand brushing more hair from her face.
"He wouldn't have to know. Even when he's home.. is he really... home? I don't see him being.. husbandly." Thank God. He knew the relationship was new but...
Jealousy was a bitter pill.

"Besides,  you needn't worry about me " he told her, a finger tipping up her chin. "I'm confident in the consequences.  " They would just have to be cateful...
Granted, he.. kinda wasn't the last time thectwo... yiu know. But what were the odds one time she'd be knocked up? And he didn't have to fully release next time. But man had it felt so good.

He stole a kiss suddenly, smirking. "Besides,  we'll just be careful every night. " Maybe. Probably.

But no promises about daytime fun... right? Because he.. kinda didn't want to be safe and.. it was kind of a turn off they weren't being careful .

Way to go, Chase.  Keeo up this mindset and she'll get knocked up for sure.

She sighed into the kiss, then turned her face into his hand where he'd brushed back her hair and kissed his palm.

A tiny shiver ran down her spine—careful, careful—and she cut her eyes up at him sidelong. "Y'know...my garden. There's, um....there's some herbs...I can make us a tea, and it'll—it will help with...being careful. If you want."

Of course, herbal contraceptives weren't foolproof, but she figured their chances were good. Blood mages tended to have a difficult time with conception anyway, something about the toll of their style of magic.

Not that she could share that particular but of information, of course.

"Are you really alright with that?" she whispered, eyes slightly downcast. "With...being together in secret?"

It was quite a lot to take in. But before he knew any better, he blurted out, "I wouldn't be opposed to taking responsibility if teas didn't work and secrets were no longer secrets. "

Oh.. he needed to calm down. He always did this when he first fell in love. He always ran head first into it, actions now- thinking later.

"I mean.. if it came down to it."

But damn it if this whole situation wasn't like a terrible aphrodisiac. An insane part of him wildly wanted to be as dangerous and deliciously sinful with her as he could.

Easy, Chase. Easy. Youve only known her a short time.. and she's married. What if she didnt even want kids?

Nyla actually took a step back, startled. She blinked at him, mouth slightly open but no words coming. Then, eventually, she managed a soft, "You...you would?"

For a brief moment, she allowed herself to imagine it. Imagine being reckless and carefree with him. Imagine running off together. Imagine a house, a shop, him playing and singing while she worked in the kitchen, belly rounded under her apron.

Her eyes welled up and she turned away quickly, pressing a hand to her lips.

"We can't—" Her voice was thick, and she had to clear her throat before she tried again. "We can't think like that. It's too dangerous, they would never let—"

Her slip made her own eyes widen and she corrected quickly, "He would never let that happen."

That didn't mean the thought wouldn't haunt her.

Chase clenched his fists at his side, tense but not moving, letting her turn away as he tried to let those thoughts sober his brain.

She was probably right. The world would shun lovers like they. He stared down at the ground in silence before finally approaching her form. A hand rested on her arm as he coaxed her to look at him.

"We can't because they won't let us.. or you?" He asked. A hand moving to a stray hair against her cheek.

"Don't ask me that," she begged, resisting the urge to turn into his arms with everything she had. "Chase, you—you have to know if it was just me, it...I..."

She gave in, lifting her head to meet his eyes as tears threatened to overflow once again. "I don't want you to get hurt," she whispered, not sure if she was more worried the danger to him may come from her husband, her family...or from herself. She would never, never be the monster the Allorans had tried to mold her into, but just by being with her he was putting himself at risk.

Carefully, she reached up to lay her palm against his cheek. "You've already lost so much," she whispered. "I—I can't bear to be the reason you lose more." She took a breath, then looked down, lashes shading her gaze. "But you must know how I feel by now. I wouldn't have made love to you if I didn't want you so desperately."

He let her have her moment, let her have her tears.
He would not force words over hers, nor his will. But at her last confession he broke, body moving before his mind could even protest and he kissed her, good and hard and deep,  both hands large and cupping her face.

"Nyla you.. you can't do this to me " he pulled away, panting. "The madness I feel now will become worse, pure torture if you shut me out now.  You.. I.. these past few weeks have been some of the happiest in my life. I.. I never knew love like this until.." he swallowed thickly, eyes blazing with raw emotions. "Until I met you. I may have thought I loved but never so deeply as now."  He took her hand, stroking it, eyes imploring.

A broken, wanting whimper caught in her throat and she grabbed at his arms as he kissed her, desperate for the comfort of contact.

Love. The word felt almost foreign to her, but it rang with a truth that was close to terrifying.

"Chase..." She leaned her cheek into his hand, raising her own to wrap her fingers around his and press his palms more firmly against her face. "I didn't...I didn't know I could feel like this," she whispered, closing her eyes. When he stroked her hand she gripped his tightly, as though afraid if she let go he would disappear.

"Oh gods, Chase, I—" A sob caught in her throat, and she swallowed it back with a kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging tightly. "I want this," she whispered into his mouth. "I want you. Whatever that means, for however long we can. I—"

She kissed him again, dragging her lips lightly down to the edge of his jaw, and pressed as close as she could, shivering as the closeness reminded her of their state of undress. "I love you, too..."

This time when they made love it was slow, sensual and he enjoyed each slow motion of his hips, shivering each time he would be buried to the hilt in her and then sliding back out. His voice, breath.. his moans.. everything trembled as he took her in such a way it was a true union of souls, bright blue eyes glued passionately unto hers as their sweat and sex mingled into the night...
Until he eventually gave in with a whimpering sigh of completion and lay with her... out in the garden.. for that is where he had carried her and that is where they bloomed.

It was beyond scandalous, sleeping with a man who wasn’t her husband out in the open, under the stars. Nyla surrendered herself to the pleasure of the moment completely, wrapped around her lover—lover, lover, why did that sit so much more comfortably in her chest than it should?—and sighing his name as she came undone.

After, as they lay tangled together on the grass, she turned in his arms and reached up to trace her fingertips lightly over the line of his cheek, the bridge of his nose.

“You are lovely,” she told him quietly, still a little breathless from what had happened between them. “I mean… Of course you’re beautiful, but more than that. You…you bring light and laughter where there was none. Even to me. Even like this.”

She smiled and shook her head slightly. “I don’t know how you do it.”

"Well.." he began, eyes dancing with a laugh. "I am famous."

It was true. So many people loved Chase Vander, a bard sought after throughout the whole kingdom. Although he preferred performing in the capital, he'd gone to other places and right now? He'd take this moment over that fame any day. Hell, he had more than enough money to retire...

Too bad that lovely face and disposition was iconic.. recognizable... and because of a few choices lyrics he performed...

Some men wanted his head. Staring down at the naked woman beside him made him smile. Maybe this was a sign. Maybe he ought to retire.. settle down.. meet a nice girl. 

His own fingers traced down her cheek as he studied her.
"You know you're quite lovely yourself."

A blush dusted her cheeks and she ducked her eyes, not quite able to fully hide her bashful smile. "I--thank you."

There was an instinctive denial on her lips--she knew she was pretty enough, but hearing other people compliment her appearance had always put her on edge. It was usually a precursor to some sort of manipulation on her family's part. And with Javen--his compliments were rare, and usually reserved to her food. And blunt.

But with Chase, it...it felt like he...meant it.

She glanced up at him through her lashes and leaned her cheek into his hand. "I've never done anything like this before," she whispered, waving one hand at the stars above them and then gesturing widely at the two of them curled naked on the grass. "I mean...in several ways, but--" She chuckled a bit and snuggled into his chest, relishing the warmth. "I never thought I could be like this with someone..."

A hand idly stroked against her soft body,  tracing lightly over her scars, silent curiosity at their story. She had suffered much, and a gentle kiss to the deep scar on her shoulder let him trail a few then up to her throat.

"Well, now you can say you have," he told her matter of fact lying, their hands entwining as he drew her"s to his lips to give her fingers a delicate kiss.

Nyla smiled as he kissed her fingertips, but there was something just a little sad in her eyes that had settled there when he kissed the scar on her shoulder.

"...You can ask, you know," she told him softly. "I--I don't know how much I'll be able to tell you. That part of my life is...difficult to think about. But you can ask."

As much as she dreaded speaking of her family, a part of her wanted him to ask, wanted him to know her. All of her. As much as she could share.

Oh gods.

She loved him.

...She was going to have to tell him. Eventually.

She shoved that thought away. It was too much, one too many impossible risks to take in a single night. I'll tell him, she assured herself, even though the thought terrified her. When the time is right, I'll tell him...

He stole a soft kiss to her cheek.
"Let's just enjoy the moment. "
She could tell him in time. He snuggled in more closely to her with a sigh, closing his eyes as a hand found hers and they threaded together.
"I could fall asleep right here," he went on with a contented sigh.

She sighed and curled herself in a little tighter against his chest, unable to stop the small smile that stole across her lips as he kissed her cheek.

She laughed quietly and nodded. "I know what you mean. But we really shouldn't—quite apart from how embarrassing it would be to wake up naked in the garden with half our neighbors gawking at us, it probably wouldn't be too comfortable."

She gave his fingers a gentle squeeze and pressed a quick, soft kiss against the curve of his shoulder. "If we go back in, I could light the hearth? We could take the blankets from the beds, sleep by the fire..."

Chase sighed contentedly.
"I dunno about that.  I'm pretty comfortable," he went on, snuggling I'm closer to her, eyes closed.
"But I suppose if we have to . We could go inside. "

"I don't know if we have to, but we certainly should," Nyla chuckled. "If nothing else, we'll eventually get cold."

As if to emphasize her point, a slight breeze traced along their bodies, making her shiver and press in closer to his chest.

He shivered too but laughed and pulled her closer.
"I guess I feel your point. "
But he didn't move, and infact,  took a moment to tuck her hair back from her eyes before stealing a kiss to her cheek. He then rose and offered her a hand.
"Come on, before you catch a cold."

Nyla sighed happily and leaned into the kiss, then smiled when she took his offered hand. "It's not me I'm worried about so much as you," she teased lightly. "You seem to have, ah...worked up quite a sweat."

She glanced down at herself, then crinkled her nose and added, "We probably both need to wash. I could...draw us a bath? Maybe make some tea while I'm at it?"

"Are you saying I stink? I take offense to that, I'll have you know," he teased, giving her the most charming grin as he hooked arms with her.
"And a bath sounds lovely my lady. Show me to and I shall draw you a bath."

Nyla giggled and pecked his nose, then pushed herself away to get to her feet. "I believe we can arrange that. You draw a bath and I'll make some tea?" She held her hand down to him in an offer to help him up, eyes glinting happily in the dark.

It felt good to do normal things. Chase's life style had changed dramatically when he got caught up in his fame, he had all but forgotten the simpler things in life. Now a days, he had hired hands to draw his bath. It was refreshing to have to fetch his own water and heat it himself, too. Although on his way back from the well, he was only loosely wearing something to hide his features. It was the least of his worries to hide his identity at that time of day- but as luck would have it, as he was leaving the well, the winds were picking up and removed his hood. He fought to throw it back on, and just as he got it secured and the winds became more tame, a stranger passed him on the street and he lowered his head and nodded politely.
He swore the person gave him a second look, but Chase didn't think too much into it. No one could have recognized him here. So he didn't think much to hide his walk back to Nyla's, either.

Once back inside, he set about heating the waters and seeking out another kiss from Nyla.

"Is that tea I smell?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind and looking down at her glass. "Couldn't wait for me to return to have yourself a cup?" he teased.

She laughed quietly and twisted her head to peck his cheek when his arms came around her. "Well, this one is for...feminine things," she said pointedly, quirking an eyebrow and nodding down at the teacup. Then she gestured toward the kettle sitting on the lip of the oven.

"That one's for both of us."

She turned in his arms and let her own drape gently around his neck. "I should probably make you something to prevent fertility too," she mused quietly to herself, eyes a little distant. "You know, just...to be safe. Going forward."

Gods. Going forward. There was a thrill to admitting that, equal parts elation and nerves.

Chase tensed at the realization of what the tea was and represented. And despite knowing it was the smartest way to handle their affair, his stomach still twisted into a sickening knot.

He gave her a softer kiss on the cheek before accepting his own cup of tea.

"Thank you."But he frowned at her suggestion.
"Teas can really.. do that?" He knew there were things for women but he had no idea men could have their own tea.

"Well, I mean, they can help," Nyla said with a shrug, missing any tell of his sudden trepidation around the idea. "But there's really no foolproof method, aside from—"

She snapped her mouth closed, but the word hung in the air, unsaid but all too present.

Magic.

She gave herself a little shake and offered him a quick smile. "The only kind I really know how to brew just...essentially it makes a person temporarily sterile. You need to dose it every few days to keep the potency." She shrugged, turning back to the oven so she could fiddle with the kettle, and added carelessly, "Though I probably needn't even bother. It's unlikely I'd be able to conceive after everything, not without blood magic."

She forced herself to keep her tone light, almost joking, but her eyes were tight. She'd needed to say it. To remind herself, almost. Carefully, she glanced back at Chase.

"Does that...bother you?"

She didn't know how else to ask. Because yes, her low likelihood of bearing a child would certainly make keeping this secret easier, but... She'd never given it too much thought before, not even when she'd married, but now it bothered her.

Chase grew silent. Honestly, he wasn't sure what to say. The idea of having children... starting a family... they were a pipe dream, someone in his position hardly had the time to consider, let alone find a girl worthy of it.

But now with Nyla....

Prospects being grim were bad enough, and he placed a hand over her cup and murmured, "Then do you really need to take it? I mean... if you did conceive... wouldn't it seem meant to be? That you ought to become a mother.. against the odds?"

Never mind the huge scandal and consequences...

"...Chase."

She took a breath, forcing herself to ignore the way her heart flipped and something in her stomach went tight with yearning at the idea. Children had always been...an inevitably to her. A duty to her family. Then when she'd left the Allorans behind, the idea was nothing more than a novelty. Even after she'd married well--she couldn't exactly imagine raising a family with her husband.

But with Chase...

She shook her head, eyes squeezed shut against a sudden threat of tears. "It's too risky. I haven't--I haven't been with Javen since we were married. If I was suddenly pregnant..."

Chase's stomach dropped, his veins going ice cold.

How could he forget? She... belonged to another. And he was a famous figure in the country.  The scandal it would cause would more than ruin them both.

He had to stop being so selfish.

But to see her hesitate... and fight back her tears....

Before he thought any better of it, his arms wrapped around her, tight.

"Oh..."

She sniffled, fighting to keep some semblance of composure, and reached up to return the embrace tightly. "I wish it had been you," she whispered into his chest without thinking. "I wish we had—that we could have—"

She couldn't finish the thought. It was to painful, that "almost", that "if only". So instead of allowing it to fill her mind, she tipped her head back to offer him a slightly watery smile and asked quietly, "Kiss me?"

And he did.

Lips warmly captured her own, then he held that kiss before pressing into her with a growing need. When it seemed like he was about to pull away, he kissed her softly again, then again, before pulling her in tighter to him and holding her in a fierce hug.

"I'm sorry.." he Whispered into her hair.

"Don't."

She held him tightly, turning her face into his shoulder. "Please, don't. Don't apologize, this...none of it is your fault. "

She let the hug last a few moments longer, then pulled back with a low sigh. "We should...probably get that bath, huh?"

He looked at her, defeated, and sighed.
"I suppose before we get..er.. distracted again."

Once the pair were cleaned up, Chase felt a little more human. Guilt still weighed over him,gnawing on him from the inside... but what could he do? It seemed all he was doing lately was getting himself into deeper trouble.

His career was on the line,  his reputation...
Now his virtue even... and well..his heart.  He would never had gotten himself into such a bind with Nyla if his feelings for her weren't so intense. He had such a natural attraction to her that he had no self control.

What would he do when her husband was back? How could he face the man after all of this? Part of him now hated him for what he learned about him from Nyla but even still...

The man risked his own reputation to help Jace out. Granted he was getting paid for it...but the man still opened up his house. And Chase went and banged his wife.

There was a knock at the door which drew Chase from his thoughts. He had been alone on the couch just reflecting on things when he rose, hesitated and peered out the window.   He then moved away to find Nyla.

"There's some young woman at the door? I.. didn't answer it but checked through the window. Were..you expecting company?"

Nyla had mostly kept to the kitchen since they'd cleaned up, her own thoughts spiraling in a strange mix of guilt, frustration, and heady euphoria. Like Chase, she was worried about Javen—about how they were supposed to handle all this once her husband was back.

But more than that, she found herself thinking of her family. Something she hadn't done in a long time. Perhaps it was explaining her scars—as much as she could, at least—or perhaps it was simply because it had been so long since she just connected with someone...if she ever had...

Regardless, memories of her old home, her old life, scratched at the back of her mind. She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't actually hear the knock at the door—it was only Chase calling her attention to it that made her realize there was company.

"Oh! Um, no, I wasn't..." she said slowly, frowning. Worry coloring her tone, she lowered her voice a bit as she stepped passed him toward the door and murmured, "Maybe you should...stay in the bedroom, for a moment?"

If it was somehow that someone was looking for him, it certainly wouldn't hurt to be cautious.

Chase frowned but nodded. He was only mildly relieved it wasn't Javen... or did Javen send someone over to check on his wife? But he was too far away for that and this seemed unexpected.  So he disappeared into the back room as the woman waited anxiously at the front door, fussing over her hair as she waited.

She waited until he was safely out of sight before approaching the door and opening it warily, just wide enough to peer out onto the street.

It wasn't a suspicious reaction, thank gods. It was an odd time of day for anyone to visit—and honestly, Nyla hadn't had any neighbors bother to interact with her since she first moved into Javen's home. Most of them seemed keen to avoid her husband, and so she was isolated by extension.

"Um, hello?"

The small woman's face brightened as the door open. She had curly blonde hair, a face full of freckles,  and was nervously wringing her hands.

"I'm so sorry to bother you, but I.. had thought I'd.. seen a guest of yours return to the house the other day and well..:
The woman turned away, blushing and now fidgeting over her dress, a dress which was very low cut and showed off what cleavage it could, while somehow remaining modest because of its length. And the cornflower color complimented her features beautifully.

"I know it might seem a tad, er, strange for me to ask such a question but if you forgive me I couldn't help notice him. He..." she licked her lips and averted her gaze, contemplating her words so she didn't garbled her selection too much. "Well, to be blunt, he.. this man, that I saw... he.. reminded me of the singer. That bard... Chase Vander? And i.I.. well, I was hoping I could at least take a look at this aquantaince of yours to just you know.. see how closely resembles him. I.. am a big fan of his and saw him perform in person and..." the blush on her face was absolutely red now. "Its..It's..quite the experience."

"O-oh, um..." Nyla blinked, utterly taken aback. "That's...well, that's ah..."

Think of something, think of something! She couldn't very well tell the truth—not only would it put Chase's life in danger, but she had the sudden realization that if one woman had seen enough of him to bother knocking in her door, letting slip anything remotely like the truth would being more in a hurry.

"I'm...sorry, ma'am, but it's just me. Alone. Here. My h-husband is traveling for work...I'm sorry for...wasting your time—would you like some tea?"

Damnit. Why did she say that? Stupid decorum lessons popping up when they were least useful!

The woman blinked, not expecting the response as she frowned.
"But I saw a man.." she pressed, posture a bit urgent as she tried to seek out Nyla's eyes for some sort of response.

Then.. something seemed to click.. something she shouldn't have dare blurted...
But did.

"Wait.. a man.. I saw.him... but your... husband isn't home?"
She lifted her brows very high upon her head, and remained hiding her ground. She knew what she saw.

If it wasn't Chase Vander...

What was this woman hiding?

Oh gods.

Was there a way out of this? None that was making itself immediately obvious to her.

Damnit damnit damnit.

"N-no, I mean—no my husband isn't here, but my—my friend—my friend who helps worth the bakery! In the city! Yes, that, he's...visiting. But he's, ah, quite shy, really, I wouldn't want to make him uncomfortable, you understand, don't you?"

The woman eyed her, considering what she said.

"Oh.. so at the bakery.. I see.." she stood there for a few minutes before asking. "You should tell your friend not to be so shy." She winked. "There's many eligible woman in this town who would be more than happy to help share his shell."

Then she bowed her head and turned to leave but paused to turn back, "So.. you say the bakery? By chance.. is he there everyday to.. help?" She asked, tucking back a pretty lock of hair behind an ear.

“W-well, that…you see…” Nyla scrambled. She was normally quite good under pressure but this—this whole situation had blindsided her. “He…helps with my accounts, mostly. I’m afraid he’s not…in the front of the shop very often?”

She hesitated a moment, then forced a smile and started to swing the door shut, hoping it didn’t seem too abrupt. “Anyway, thank you for stopping by! Sorry I couldn’t be of more help, you know, but take care!”

She shut and locked the door, then slumped back against it, wide eyed.

What the hell had just happened?

Chase cringed as he loomed in the shadows.
"That..isn't what I thought it was..was it?"
He turned away, nearly ripping at his hair.
"Shit!"
How could he have already made such a mess of things!? How could he be so careless!

He lingered back some before inching towards her.
"Shit.. look.. I... I must not have been careful enough. I'm sorry.. should.. I plan to go?"

Nyla immediately moved toward him when he stepped from the shadows, hands already raised placatingly—out of habit more than anything else. But when he spoke of leaving...

"Don't." She couldn't stop the word from tumbling from her lips. "Don't. Please. It—we'll figure something out. We just have to be a little more careful, that's all."

She started to reach for him, then snatched her hands back to wring them in front of her body. "I...please don't leave..."

Chase studied her before he moved to take her arm gently. He looked, eyes seeking hers.

"Nyla.." he said in a quiet voice.  "Look, I don't want to leave but.. but if thar woman saw sonething.. this.. this arrangement is already compromised. "

She bit her lip, casting her eyes down toward the floor. "I..."

She squeezed her eyes shut. She was being selfish. She couldn't seem to stop being selfish when it came to him.

"You're right," she whispered. "I know you're right, I—I don't want..." She took a breath and tried to steel her voice. "If you need to leave to stay safe, I understand. Of course I do. I—I'd never want to be the reason you were in danger..."

It then clicked and chase suddenly took her hand.
"Nyla... No... no, no. It's not that. You.. I... don't you realize what it could mean.. for you? Fuck my reputation, Nyla. Do you even know what they would do to you? Without even any intimate knowledge of us? Your life is in just as much danger... and I... I don't want to be the man that ruined your whole life.. Gods.."

"Chase."

She held him—or, rather, she collapsed into him, throwing her arms around him and clinging on like a drowning woman clinging to sage harbor.

"I—my life is already in danger," she whispered into his chest. "I've lived my entire life in Connlaoth as a hunted thing. This is just...one more hunter." She had to tell him eventually, right?

She tipped her head back to smile at him shakily. "You're the first good thing that's happened to me in...in a long time. If that means I have to face a bit more danger, a bit more uncertainty...I'll do it gladly."

Chase just held her, and held her tight. He wasn't even sure he wanted to let her go. This.. what they had, it was special,  a once in a life time bond.

And if he'd gone and messed that up....

"Nyla.." he groaned and kissed her hair. "You're a fool, you know that? A fool ." But all he could do was kiss her again.

She smiled sadly into the kiss. "I know..."

One kiss bled into the next, then the next. She held onto him as though worried he would vanish if she let go.

"I...I want you to be safe, Chase," she whispered when they broke apart. "If that means you need to—to leave, I understand. But if that means you should stay, even if it puts me more at risk, I—"

She sighed and let her head fall against his shoulder. "I've risked far worse for far less in my life. I'm...I think...I'm willing to fight for this. For us. If you are."

Her husband...

Gods. Her husband.

That would just have to be a bridge they crossed when they came to it.

Chase kept his arms wrapped around her, simply holding her. He let the moment just be, before soft hands cupped her face and lips stole kisses from her's again.

"You have to be crazy," he told her, voice bubbling suddenly into a laugh. His blue eyes sparkled, genuine love and appreciation could be seen as he took her hand and kissed at her finger tips.

"I know I'm all sexy and famous but am I really that sexy and famous?" He teased, stealing a kiss before she could reply,  then another, and another.

Nyla gave a watery laugh, shaking her head at him with a smile. "I do mean this in the kindest way possible, but you do recall that I was unaware of your fame until you started living here?"

Some of the teasing left her tone and her eyes softened as she reached up to lay her palm against his cheek. "I care for you. Not the worth your name holds." She smiled again. "I love to hear you sing, Chase—I would love it just as much if not a single soul in this city knew your face."

Chase placed a hand to his chest as if wounded.
"Oh.. oh.. what's this? Such words... many wounds..!" He mocked a wail, draping away as if dying.

"I don't know if I can survive such travesty. "

Giggling through her threat of tears, Nyla gave his shoulder a light, playful shove. "Oh don't be so dramatic. That was meant to be a compliment."

She shook her head at him, marveling silently that he could do that—make her laugh when she felt like crying.

He kept up with the dramatics,  the playful shove becoming a tidal wave that bowled him over, as he toppled onto the floor exageratedly, and pulled her down with him in a laugh.

"These wounds..these mortal wounds!" He croaked as a joke, wrapping his arms around her tightly so she couldn't simply wriggle free.

"Chase," she laughed again, wriggling playfully in his grip but not truly trying to break away. "You'll bring the house down on us, and I've only just got rid of the last curious neighbor!"

At that, Chase couldn't help but laugh.
"Bring down a whole house? That'd be a first. Didn't know I had the skill!"

She laughed again and shoved at his shoulder, getting enough space that she could roll to lay beside him. "You have something alright," she quipped back, crinkling her nose at him and poking one finger lightly into his chest.

Then, with a sigh, she started to sit up. "C'mon. We should probably eat something, it's getting late." They had been fairly distracted most of the day.

A wide smile bloomed across his face
"Distracted?" His smile turned coy.  "Whatever could distract me from hunger?" And how his eyes danced at the words, eyes roving down her body.  Then he stole a kiss, scooped her up and went in for another. 
"So.." he kissed again.  "What shall we be eating?"

"Chase."

She smiled, pushing him away playfully as she moved to get to her feet again. "We won't be eating anything if you don't let me get to the kitchen!" she laughed.

"I don't know? But do we honestly need to eat more goodnl food?" He lifted his shirt to reveal his abs, defined and hardened but yet he gave the muscles a pat and persisted, "I think I'm getting fat from all your good cooking!"

"You are not," she laughed, crinkling her nose at him. "Besides, if you were really worried about it, I wouldn't catch you sneaking bites of the cookie batter while I make it."

She poked his stomach with one finger, grinning at him playfully.

"Maybe we need to get you some spectacles. Or a monocle," he jested. "There's clearly tons of fat sitting here-" he went on, as if to 'squeeze' the fat of his belly, of which there truly was none, and persisted, "And it needs more good food to keep it satisfied or-"
It suddenly growled and he paused, then laughed. "See? Do you dare anger the belly?"

"Ridiculous man," Nyla laughed, rolling her eyes at him, but she turned to head into the kitchen. "Come on, then, I'd suppose we'd best sate you before something truly dire happens."

"Sate?" He playfully pounced upon her, stealing a kiss. "What kind of.." he kissed at her neck then throat. "..sate?"

She squeaked, then laughed into the kiss as his lips caught hers. "Oh, come now, aren't you sick of me yet--" she started playfully, then had to cut off with a sharp inhale as his mouth brushed over her throat.

She swallowed, positive he could feel her pulse tick up rapidly.

Chase was hardly sick of her and the latest risk they were nearly exposed roused his emotions as they made love for near two hours. In the end, he was in a heap with her- they both having uniquely made their way into her room, and he kissed her forehead softly, holding her close as his sweat slick body began to have a moment to finally cool.

Thoroughly exhausted after their last round, Nyla hummed quietly in the back of her throat as he kissed her brow. Despite the sweat still clinging to them, she pressed herself closer, reveling in the gentle feel of his body against hers. More than the pleasure, it was the simple connection of it that was a comfort to her.

"We're really going to miss dinner if we keep this up," she laughed quietly before kissing his shoulder.

"Well...true," he went on casually, finally moving away.
"But I could stand to miss a meal or two. Being here with you..." he looked down and patted his belly. "You're gonna make me fat."

She rolled her eyes at him with a small laugh. "And again, I say you're being ridiculous," she accused, crinkling her nose at him.

She sat up in bed, pulling the blankets in around her shoulders to provide some modesty--pointless though the gesture might be.

"Maybe..." She paused, then mused, "I could go into the shop tomorrow. Just for an hour or two. Check in on things. I could bring us back something, if you like?"

"I knew it! You are trying to make me fat!"
And with that, he simply charged her, scooping her up in the tangle of blankets with a mighty growl. 

"Chase!" Laughing, Nyla wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held on as he scooped her up, blankets tangling around them both. "You're going to get us stuck," she accused with a chuckle. "I know people joke about never leaving their lover's bed, but really."

A sudden, loud thump at the door had Chase nearly jumping out of his skin. The door.. someone opened the door...
Paling, he soon realized what it meant as the pair heard a heavy form lumbering as they entered, closing the door heavily behind them.

Javen...

He spared one apologetic look at Nyla before cursing and dropping her back onto her bed.

"What should we do?" he asked, voice so low she might not have heard it.

But then the foot steps were heading their way...
Chase didn't waste any more time, and turned- leaping out the side window and disappearing into the gardens. Hopefully it wouldn't be suspicious for Javen to come home and find his wife... kinda naked in the bed.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

He remained crouched down beside the window, listening in to see what Javen might say... but he could hear his voice, but not the words. He frowned. He hoped Javen wouldn't catch on...
and at least the window and door had been open...

He had gotten caught with a lover before because they made the entire room smell of their sex. Chase could only pray Javen had a bad nose and the window kept the place well aired.

Nyla didn't have time to answer him, could only shoot a wide-eyed, terrified look as he vaulted from the bed and out the window.

Shit shit shit.

She was moving before her thoughts caught up, racing to snatch her shift off the floor and throwing it on just as the door to the bedroom started to creek open.

"Oh!"

She grabbed for the nearest "weapon"—her hairbrush on the bedside table—and brandished it frantically. "Stop, I'll—Javen?"

She slumped, hoping that her state of dishevelment might be explained as an anxious woman startled from her bed and not...anything else. "Gods save me, you scared me half to death! I—I thought you weren't coming home for another few days?"

Javen looked exhausted., clearly haggard from his long trip on the road.

"You won't believe the awful luck that befell our crew during our travels," he went on gruffly, shaking his head as he shrugged off his coat.

"An oxen got injured while crossing the river, and we lost a third of our supplies." He shook his head, taking a seat and bending over to untie his boots. He slipped one off, grunting as he shook out a few pebbles, then set the shoe aside.

"Somehow we managed to make up the time. But the loss was still a loss." He sighed and worked at removing his other boot.

"Oh, I'm s-so sorry." Nyla swallowed nervously, combing her fingers back through her mussed curls over and over. "But you, ah, you're home early? Is that...a good thing?"

She forced herself not to look at the window, despite the prickling unease in the back of her neck assuring her that it was all she wanted to do.

Javen grunted.
"Ironically.. it's a good thing. Well, good for me. It means a few less days on the damned road."
He was working at the buttons of his shirt.

"Now I'm exhausted Nyla, I'm going to go prepare a bath. We can chat more in the morning. This day has been too damn long." And he moved to leave towards the bathing room, leaving her once again to anxious silence.

"O-of course." Nyla watched him leave the room, waited a beat, then hurried to the window.

"Chase?" she whispered "Are--are you still out there?"

Chase poked his head up, but not enough to expose his face.
"Where's Javen?" He asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"The washroom," Nyla whispered back quickly. "You...you should go around back, come in through the garden. If he sees you, just say you were out weeding."

She quickly ducked to gather up his clothes and pass them back through the window. Guilt twisted sharp in her belly, but they didn't have time for it just now. If Javen found out...

She didn't even want to think about it.

"Weeding?" He questioned. "At this hour of night? It might make more sense just to say I fell asleep out here.." he went on, raking a hand through his hair and considering their options.

"Well..." he licked his lips nervously, thinking. "I could sneak around the side.. say i.. went for a walk? Maybe?" He wasn't sure that idea was any better.. or safer.

Nyla shook her head quickly. "No, you're supposed to be in hiding, he'll see that as suspicious. Maybe...tell him you couldn't sleep, and you didn't want to disturb me so you went out into the garden?"

Her chest was tight, twisting sickeningly with a mix of guilt and fear.

Chase's mind was racing. He accepted his clothing, quickly getting dressed. Yet...
Inspite it all..he snuck a quick kiss.

That's when he saw movement and stumbled back- and ended up tripping over his own two feet and landed hard onto the garden's rock bed.


"What was that? Is Chase out there?" The man asked, confused.  It seemed he hadn't quite gotten his bath yet but had returned for something...

What rotten timing.

"Oh!" Nyla nearly jumped out of her skin. Praying that her husband would attribute that to her usual skittishness, she  made a show of peering out the window as though she'd only just arrived at it. "Um...oh, yes, actually."

She laughed, just a bit too high and thin, and gave Chase a frantic look as she asked with forced lightness, "What on earth are you doing out there this time of night?"

Chase - scrambling into his remaining bits of clothes- propped himself up in the window and waved.

"I.. er- didn't want to intrude. I had trouble sleeping but thought I heard you were both awake..  and well, wanted to confirm that you were home. So er .. travel went well?"

Javen grunted.

"Well enough, well enough. But you shouldn't wonder around out there for long. We're supose to keep your ass holed up here until the steam blows over. Seems there's still quite a stir over you." The man shook his head. "We can talk later. I'm dead tired but need a bath."

Chase nodded, all smiles at the window until Javen left again to go and bathe .

Ugh, he wanted to die. 

Nyla kept her eyes downturned until Javen had left the room again. The she slumped against the windowsill and groaned quietly.

"...Oh gods." She swallowed and lifted her head to look at Chase imploringly. "What--what are we going to do...?"

"Well.. how long does Javen normally take to bathe?" Chase asked, curious.

"I don't--a half an hour? Maybe?" She blinked at him. "Why?"

Chase's smile spoke volumes as he leaned into the open window and stole a quick but heated kiss.

"Care for a quickie?" He asked, playfully.

"Chase." She pulled back to glower at him, "No! Are you insane?!"

She glanced back over her shoulder, then at him again. "Just—c'mon, get back inside. We can't—gods."

She sighed, covering her face with one hand. "Chase, he will hurt you. If he finds out..."

He stole a quick kiss before finally moving inside, leaning in real.close and whispering. "I know." He used a finger to lift her chin.
"But it doesn't change the fact I'm in love with you."

Nyla should have been more cautious, should have pushed him away--or better yet not let him kiss her at all--but she couldn't make herself do it. She leaned into him for a moment, eyes closing with a small sigh at his touch.

"...I know," she whispered, throat tight. "I--I love you too..."

She finally put her hands against his chest and pushed him back. "And I don't want to see you hurt."

"Oh? Is that so?" His eyes sparkled, as if being challenged.  "Well then you better sneak into my room tonight." Then he added the last part with a wink. "Or else you'll hurt my feelings "

Nyla gave him a very droll look. "Sneak in, eh?" she repeated in a whisper, looking meaningfully around the single bedroom that all three of them would have to share when Javen had finished his bath.

He grinned at her.
"Makes it easier then, don't it? Especially since you're cordially invited into my bed this evening."

Clearly teasing, but his handsome smile was infectious. 

Nyla rolled her eyes at him, forcing herself not to get swept up in his mood despite the slight twitch tot he corner of her own mouth.

She heard the splash of water in a tub from the washroom, which fairly quickly sobered her. She put her hands to Chase's chest and pushed him gently toward his bed.

"...He'll be back soon," she murmured, casting her eyes downward. "We should...we should go to bed. Our own beds."

His eyes danced as he looked at her.

"I suppose we should," he said quietly, desire very evident in his eyes, perhaps even much more stronger now as he looked af hee.

Then he took her hand and gently kissed the top of her knuckles.

"Until the morrow.."

And he moved to crawl into his own bed.

"...Goodnight," Nyla whispered, before moving to her own bed.

Her husband's bed.

Gods. What had she done?