There was a candle burning, glowing warm and low as Liana Rose sat hunched over her desk in the attic. Her ink well had nearly run dry. But she managed to scratch out her final draft of the letter anyway as she lifted up the piece of paper and read it over with tired eyes. Her frown deepened before she released a sigh. She was tempted to crumple it and toss it to the floor with the rest, but figured it was good enough. Her husband, well, ex-husband didn't have to know all of the details. She just needed someone to talk to-a nd she wasn't sure when she'd see him again. ANd it had been a while since she had seen him. Perhaps he was spoiled, but she counted the days. This time was the longest. It had been well over a month since there was any sign of him.
She was certain she would just die without saying goodbye, but perhaps that was the part of her mind that was breaking. She was so stressed she was shaking as her boots shifted through the sea of discarded lumps of paper- all of the numerous failed attempts to write to Tenran before she decided on the last one-
And she kept it simple.
Tenran,
I'm going North. Reese's brother invited me to stay at his Orchard since Reese has gone away to war.
Liana
It was shorter than most of her other letters. Some drafts had even come out to be several pages long. And they had only grown longer before they had become shorter until finally- she resigned herself to just those two sentences to tell him- and nothing more.
It would say more than enough anyway. Tenran knew how she felt about soldiers... and she had actually been happy to find someone that was... well, not. She hated war and fighting, mages be damned. But now this? She couldn't even openly confront Reese about it. And now it was too late. Her fiance was already gone.
She stared at the letter before trembling fingers folded it and she moved to place it in her pocket- the pocket of Tenran's pants. Ironically, she had slipped into her ex-husband's clothing that day when she ahd gone out for a walk. She had to get out of the house before she woudl go crazy, and took a hike- a very long one, before she returned home just as the sun was beginning to set.
She hadn't even eaten a proper meal since Grattis had left- and the whole ordeal between him and her had her sick to her stomach. She felt a bigger fool than she had ever been- and as she picked up the candle and began to make her way down the spiraling stairs from her loft, she let ou ta scream as a figure came moving up the stairs.
Her candle fell to the floor, the light snuffing out as hot wax spilled across the wood and cooled quickly. Her heart had almost leaped out of her chest as she clutched a hand over her breast. But the figure stood out far too familiar in the dark- a figure even her tired eyes could not mistaken for anybody else.
"Tenran!"
Why was he doing this? Why was he here of all places? This familiar old ground, the grass had been overgrown. The muddy road was passable, but not easy and his boots were covered in dirt and mud. He paused before the door and he old cloth used as a welcome mat and smirked at the memories of being lectured to wipe his feet before coming into the house. He did so, and cleaned them carefully with a spare piece of cloth from his pocket and wiped off the dirt.
"Home sweet home," he murmured before quietly passing through the door. Apparently, Liana neglected to change the locks when they parted ways, and he always kept his key, just in case... He never knew when he was passing through and needed a place to crash. So he kept it. He stepped in quietly. The house was almost empty, dark, as if no one was home. He knew that wasn't the case with the soft glow of a candle's light from the top office she had kept in the attic.
He remembered her saying how she needed a space for herself, for her work, and he had remembered cleaning out the attic just for her. The arduous work paid off, for that was her haven. Or so he thought.
He stepped quietly on the stairs, nearing the top room when he saw at last the snuffed light of her candle going out, and the lamps that had been lit along the wall shadowed him as he progressed. "Hello Liana," he murmured softly, unsure if he should flee or smile. So he had a small wry grin play on the corner of his lips and bowed his head a little. "It's been a long time. I'm sorry about that."
Liana stared down at Tenran's form- with shadows now dancing across it from the shallow candles that lined the wall-s he noted just the corners of his smile as she gaped.
"Tenran!" Came her voice in a harsh, low whisper. She took but a single step towards him, her gaze hardening as her silver eyes bore into his mismatching ones- which, even if the poor lightning, were evidently mismatching colors. "Do you know what hour it is?"
What was the meaning of him showing up so late?
"I believe the grandfather clock in the hallway needs to be rewound, but it says it's about sixteen minutes after ten in the evening," Tenran said in that same soft voice. "I know I should have sent message that I was coming, but I suppose I just thought I'd surprise you. I'm sorry. Did I come at a bad time?"
Liana's frown deepened.
"It's well past ten in the evening," she hissed. Her eyes flickered over his form, before she peered into his eyes again. Her gaze hardened, but there was evidence of strain wavering across it's silver color.
"What do you want, Tenran? Normally people aren't awake at this hour."
But she knew his job was.. not exactly one for one who was...normal.
"I did come at a bad time, apparently," he said with a curt nod and sighed. He gave her a smile and turned on the steps. "I just came to see if you had any maps for me, for the wilds of Falkenrath, the northern bits. I've got a few quarries tucked away up there. If you don't, don't worry about it. It's worth a shot," he answered as he stepped a few steps down the stairs.
Liana watched Tenran's form disappear down the narrow, spiraling steps.
"Falkenrath?" Her brow furrowed. "You came to my house at such an hour just to ask for maps for Falkenrath?"
She couldn't believe this and stormed down the steps, not even bothering to look his way. She was glad she wrote him a short letter. He didnt deserve one longer. That was- if she ever decided to give it to him.
He paused and stared out into the darkness by the door. The stairs creaked under his weight. While Tenran was larger than most Connloathians, coming from foreign blood himself, he was light and nimble for someone of his height and weight. But the stairs would take no excuse not to creak underneath him.
"Y-yeah," he said hesitantly, and his breath steamed outward in the cold house. He turned on his heel a little and look at her, flashing her a small grin. "You don't happen to have any do you? I know you always loved cartography. I always did like watching you draw."
There was a time when she might have adored that smile, the way his smile cut and dimpled into his cheek through his beard but at this hour- and the way she was feeling, it only made her feel as cold and empty as her house.
She hadn't cared to light a fire in the hearth- and when it was going, that was hours ago. Connlaoth had become far too cold far too quickly. Taking a look over of her ex-husband, she stepped out into the hall.
"No." And she turned to move away from him, the tail end of her robe fluttering in her wake as she stepped into the darkness of the main room and moved over towards the dead fire and poked at the ash. She frowned. She'd have to build another one.
"Well, um...that's a shame," Tenran said softly and gave a sigh. He watched her move toward the fireplace, watching the ashes that had once burned brightly just flutter around at her approaching movement. "You draw some of the best maps I've ever seen. No detail overlooked. I admired your skill. I still do. Do you...um...need help with that fire?"
Liana ignored him and opened up the back door- but it took some effort, (and it had been like this for years- always difficult, always hard to open) and with a grunt and a hearty push, the door finally gave with a creaky groan and wobble and Liana nearly tripped over herself as she stepped outside.
It was even colder outside of the house. WHen had autumn ever become so freezing? Shivering, she clutched her robe shut as white breath escaped her lips and moved around to the side where a pile of wood was resting near the house. She'd have to cut some more before the winter- it was going to be notably earlier this year- and most presumed- notably longer.
Tenran chewed on his lip and clapsed his hands behind his back at having his comment ignored. He considered turning around and leaving, eying her struggle with the door, but instead he stepped forward and moved toward her, around her, and grabbing a few pieces of kindling and stacking them into his arms without asking her. He made a sufficient pile and stepped back into the house, grabbing enough to keep a fire going for the rest of the night.
Liana gave a quick glance his way but said nothing, grabbing an armful herself and moving in to join him by the hearth. As he stacked his things into a neat pile, she moved forward to open the iron grate door of her fire place and began to stack a small pile of wood inside.
"You haven't been here in months," she grumbled. "I should have figured you'd show your face again at such an hour."
She swiped at some long blonde hair that had fallen into her face, which smeared some ash across her cheek as she began to work at striking some sparks for a fire- but she was soon growing frustrated, as the sparks she was making were failing to light.
Tenran said nothing, not answering her in her frustration and instead carefully and quietly moved in beside her and clasped his hands over hers, gently prying the flint and stone from her hands. He struck the objects together carefully to produce a handful of sparks, but not before moving some of the cold ashes away from the firewood. A few beats on it and then the exposed wood began to smolder and take flame, and he gently leaned in to blow on it.
When the fire began to crackle, he set the flint and stone back on the mantle, where it always was and gently used a poker to stir the flames. "I'm sorry," he murmured as he did so. "I meant to write. Time just got away from me."
Liana gave a haughty sigh as she watched him, arms folded across her chest.
"It seems to get away from us all," she replied curtly.
Tenran had been crouching before the fire, warming his hands when his head swiveled around to look at her. His eyes narrowed in a glare. "Look, I said I was sorry! What more do you want from me?" he asked with a sharp tone.
"Nothing." She replied childishly and turned away from him- only then recalling the letter for him in her pocket. She still wasn't sure she wanted to give it to him now, even if she knew she'd regret it later. She felt so irritable, so bitter, so depressed and so angry with herself that she had no control over her own temper but to lash out at him.
Though she loathed excuses- especially ones that concerned her. If he cared he woudl have written.
But then again- what did he honestly still owe her after all these years?
SHe moved out of the main room, the air growing too tense for her liking as she went intot e kitchen ad began to boil a pot for tea. She had a feeling she wouldn't be sleeping much this night anyway.
Tenran knew watched her walk away and shook away his irritation. Instead he got up and followed after her, lingering in the doorway and folding his arms over his chest. In as calm a tone he could muster, he muttered her name. "Liana...do you want me to go?" he asked. "I know I must've come at a bad time. If you want me to go, I will. I won't fight you."
Liana sighed over the tea kettle as she dropped it onto the grate of the stove.
"Ijust had a long few months, Tenran,"s he replied dryly, her back to him as she sighed a second time and reached into her pocket. She turned to him and handed the letter over to him but didn't bother to look into his eyes.
"I was upstairs writing htis for you. But since you showed up.. here. You would have read it at some point."
Tenran stared at the folded note with some hesitation before stepping forward and gently taking it from her. Unfolding it, he fixed the creases and quickly read the text. Then his eyebrows furrowed and he looked at Liana with a deep frown. "You're going to stay at that orchard? Why would you send me this?" he asked. "I suppose it was to tell me to watch the house while you were gone. Sure, I can do that."
It hurt he missed the point as her face fell.
"No. The house is to be sold."
Tenran frowned at her words and he stood straighter. "You'll not sell this house. If you don't want it, I'll take it off your hands," he said ruefully. "Besides you're not going alone to Chestin's are you?"
Liana turned her attention back to the stove.
"I am. Reese's brother, Grattis," who's name made her cringe to speak it openly as the guilt chilled her stomach. "Offered to come many times. I'd rather travel there alone." The less time she was alone with Grattis, the less he could harass her over her... mistake.
"Oh," he muttered. He'd nearly forgotten about Reese's sleazy brother. Tenran's expression soured and he moved toward the cabinets to help her with the tea. "No. You can't go alone. I hear bad storms are brewing up north. You'll get into an accident."
"I'll be fine. I know the Connlaothan terrain like the back of my hand. Besides, the snow has yet to fall. If I leave come morning, I'll get there by night fall."
"I know you do. But...I....I just don't like the thought of you venturing off alone. Would you at least let me escort you there? I'd make me feel better to know you at least arrived safely."
"Tenran,"s he turned around and gave him a stern glare. "You're not here half the time- and then you ask for my maps... how do you think I make them. I always venture off on my own."
Though since the war..
she had to cute back significantly. Even she wasn't stupid enough to wander off on her own for too long and in too isolated of a place in the wilderness.
And now with Reese off to war...
the Civil war was just coming too close to home. And she hated it. She hated all of it.
Tenran's expression tightened. He stood straighter and leaned against the counter. "I know that you know I didn't come here for maps," he said with a deep frown. "I came here for you. To see how you were doing. I was worried about you, after not sending word in so long."
Liana made a face.
"You don't contact me or write or anything and you think its ok to show up at my house at such an hour and presume I'd be ok with it? Tenran..." She shook her head. "You only came back to check on me for one thing at this late of an hour..." She wasn't a fool and perhaps at another time.. she would have welcomed it. But after what happened with Grattis....
Tenran gave her a knowing look. "You think I came here just for a fuck. And then I'd be on my merry way?" He shook his head. "I mean it. I came by just to see how you were doing. I really was concerned, Liana. I know it's not my place anymore but...I still care about you."
Liana glared at Tenran and went back to staring at the tea kettle as she fussed over tea preparations, clinking angrily two cups onto the table and the jar of sugar beside it.
Tenran put his hands on his hips and gave a soft breath. He unbuttoned his jacket and hung it over the chair. "Allow me," he murmured and coaxed her to take a seat before fixing her tea, remembering how she liked it. "There you go," he said, setting her cup in front of her.
Liana dropped into a seat and stared at the cup before her. Her silver eyes seemed to stare through it as she remained silent. She wasn't sure what to say to Tenran, and her mind was full of too many thoughts for her to even begin to want to organize them- or deal with them. She felt a mess, and was a mess a she sighed and brushed her blonde hair from her face before lifting the tea to her lips while muttering, "Thank you."
As much as she wanted to remain pissy at him, it never seemed she could be angry forever.
A small smile touched his lips. He couldn't help it when it came to Liana, despite her stubborn mood swings. He sat down in the chair beside her and put a dash of sugar in his own tea and a droplet of creme. "You're right Liana. It's quite presumptuous of me to come up here after so long of not sending word or writing. I wanted to. Really I did. I can't just expect you to be warm and hospitable in your own house. But I mean it. Let me come with you. I know you can do well on your own. But it'd make me feel better at least to know that you got there safely."
Liana cut him a look and told him stubbornly, "No."
"That's a shame. Because I've got nothing better to do and I'm already going," he said with a shrug, sipping his tea quietly.
Liana kept her tea resting against her lips as she glared at him through the steam.
"And if I refused?"
"You could always run. But I run faster than you, even with my sore leg," Tenran said with a resolute shrug. He sipped again. "You're not going alone. That's final."
It appeared as if the two were at an impasse as she glared at Tenran over her tea, then daintily went to sip some.
"Fine, you can come along. But I'm sure you'd attract more unwanted attention than ward it off."
"That's fine with me. I'm used to attracting unwanted attention," he said with a smirk that vanished when she would look at him.
Liana tried to scoff- but the late hour and her already breaking emotions finally got the best of her. ANd before she could stop herself, she cupped a hand over her eyes and suddenly began to sob.
Tenran could see the reluctance in her expression, one that quickly turned into turmoil. He put his cup down and didn't hesitate, reaching forward and wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his chest.
She tensed at his reaction at first, but was soon burying her face into his chest. She had no idea what to say or do, she she did the only thing she could do as she sobbed into his shirt.
Tenran held the only woman in his life he had ever cared for. He leaned down to kiss her forehead and buried his fingers into her hair, brushing her knotted hair from her face. He said nothing still and just held her.
After the longest moment of crying pathetically in his arms she finally squeaked out a weakened, "I don't want to leave this place." ANd the breath came out shaky and sounding as if it might break dare she speak any louder. Too bad she realized she honestly had no choice. She couldn't afford it and she knew her fiance would loath any loans coming in from her ex-husband. But how would Reese feel knowing she had slept with his brother? And why had she done it? She had been so weak, angry and stupid. Why couldn't Grattis had been someone else?
"Then why are you going?" Tenrnn murmured. His arms had gone around her and he leaned back enough to peer down at her. His own eyes were sad and somber. "Is it the house? You don't want to be by yourself?"
"It's not the house," she said, laughing dryly as she brushed back tears. A frown though soon returned on her trembling lips.
"I couldn't afford to keep it anyway- and I think Reese would want us to move. He... since he was deployed into the army he- well, next time he returns he wants to marry. I think he would prefer I remain safe at his brother's until then- for if I stay here I'd only be able to afford to remain in the slums."
"I know you know how I feel about that fiance of yours," Tenran said curtly. "And I know how you feel about soldiers. So with him gone, you feel pressured to stay more with his family." He gave her a small smile and pressed a hand to her cheek. "Well, whatever Ol Soldier Boy might say, I won't let you lose this house. Not while I live and breathe. But if you're insistent on going, I'm not going to stop you. I just want to go with you is all. I don't like his brother either.
Liana smiled souredly at him as tears blurred her vision.
"At least he and I don't fight all the time. And he finds ways to make me smile," she cut at him before jerking her face away from his hand and busying herself with brushing away her tears.
"Besides, I don't have a choice. And there's no reason to keep the house."
"Of course you do. The Liana I knew always had a choice and was quite obstinate about that choice," he smirked. "I know that part of you hasn't changed. And it does matter. This is YOUR house. It belongs to you and no one can take that away from you. Nor should they. I want you to keep it. You deserve it."
Liana grit her teeth as she glared at him angrily.
"I don't deserve it and I'd rather move on, Tenran. This house was for us. You helped build it, you put all of your money, blood and sweat into this place. Even with the extra room I wanted- not too big, not too small.."
For the child they never had.
"We're not an us anymore, Tenran. And soon, I'll be another man's wife."
But stating that out loud- for the umpteenth time, did not make it any harder of a fact to swallow. She had never been afraid to marry Tenran, in fact, becoming his wife was so natural- so easy....
She turned away, shaking her head.
"Maybe you should take it. It was always more your house than mine, anyways. I always felt like I didn't belong here after you left. As if I was always trespassing on your land, in your home."
"That's the biggest pile of crap I've ever heard you say. You're right. It's not our house anymore, but I guess it just doesn't feel right if I just let you give it up." He shook his head and looked up at the rafters, the ceiling and walls that he had helped put up. He leaned back over his cup of tea.
"So when are you leaving?" he asked softly, taking another sip.
"I was going to contact a man in town about selling the house- then I was going to head off to the orchard as soon as I can,"s he answered quietly.
"Oh..." Tenran's voice has a little disquieted, but his expression remained calm. "I guess that's going to be sometime tomorrow then." He finished his tea and tapped his fingers along the porcelain. "Are you walking or taking horses?"
"There are no horses to take. Most of the horses from town have been taken into the custody of the army. And those that remain are out of my price range. So I'll walk."
Which, she now realized, might take longer than she anticipated.
"Good. I like walking. Horses make my ass sore," Tenran smirked at her and his eyes gleamed withaa still sweetness.
"I still don't think it's a good idea for you to go," Liana insisted, arms folded across her chest. "What am I to explain to Grattis why you came with me?"
"I'll think of something, don't worry about that. I'll uh, just say I was looking for some land to invest in or something while I was up there. Then I heard you were going so I thought I ought to tag along," he said with a shrug.
Liana gave him a look, before laughing just once and throwing up her arms.
"Unbelievable is what that story is, is what you are!" she said, and abandoned her tea to brood over by the fireplace. She stared at the crackling, dancing flames with a deepened frown. After a long moment, she drew in a long breath and sighed.
"I cant have you go with me to see Grattis because... something happened-" and she was pretty damn sure both men would try to kill themselves if they found out about the other-
and she had a hunch Tenran would find out sooner or later about her little mistake.
Tenran frowned and was about to take another sip of tea before realizing he had drank it all and got up from the table. As she stood by the fire, he lingered in the doorway and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Something happened?" he asked, mimicking her words and stepping into the room a little. "What happened?"
Realizing what her ex-husband might presume (and that Grattis had done something- though unfortunately, this was not entirely his fault...) she hesitated over an answer as she thumbed over the collar of her robe.
There was no sense in hiding what she had done. And why should Tenran care anyway? At least if she told him- maybe he wouldn't want to kill Grattis.
Or revealing it might make it worse.
But internally, she was tired of holding this in all to herself and through a shaky breath, she whispered.
"I slept with Grattis."
His mouth formed a tiny 'Oh' expression before he began to chew on his lip. "Is that so? Well, that would explain your reluctance in wanting me to tag along," he said with a small nod. "Sooo...did you like it?"
She couldn't believe him and turned to smack his arm, hard.
"I don't even like Grattis. Not in that way," she said, eyes burning with anger. Besides, what gave him he right to ask that?
"It was stupid, and I was upset."
With him, with her fiance, with everything.
"Ow!" Tenran rubbed at his arm for the blow really did hurt and it stung. "Okay I'm sorry! I didn't know... But still...that would explain the awkwardness of it all... Has he made a pass at you since? I guess that would explain his insistence that you come."
Liana glared daggers at Tenran before angrily looking away and back to the crackling flames of the fire. Her arms were still folded over her chest.
He'd find out one way or another. That was one thing about Tenran. He was never stupid. And more often than not, he could read her like a book.
Drawing in a careful breath, she sighed hotly before relinquishing the details of, "Yes." And after another sigh and aversion of his gaze, she added, "He's... sent me several letters indicating his feelings and his... desire for me to head north and stay with his family."
"So you're going to stay with him...but you don't like him...?" The note of confusion was evident in his voice, but it did not touch his expression. "Then all the more reason to go with you... Honestly, I don't like the thought of you alone with him...He'd try something, I just know it."
Liana gave a scoffing laugh.
"And you don't think you being there is a bad idea? Grattis hates you, Tenran. And you coming along could make.. whatever happened... even worse. I'm hoping to convince Grattis it was nothing more than a moment of weakness..." But her hesitation in the way she said it said other wise. Grattis, as most would come to know, was a man who only saw things in black and white- and Liana willingly sleeping with him only meant one thing to him.
"You and I both know that if I'm there, that rat would be more hesitant to lay his hands on you," Tenran said decisively.
Liana's expression soured.
"And what do you think will happen when you're gone? You'd be just an escort..."
"I'll find a way to weasel into staying!" Tenran added adamantly, crossing his arms back over his chest. "I don't like the thought of you alone with him... Not to mention weather's likely to be too bad for me to travel back once we get there anyway."
"Stay?" Her eyes sparkled with tears as she gave a sad laugh at that. "Tenran..." But she didn't finish that thought as she turned away from him, shaking her head as she cupped a hand over her tearing eyes.
"Tenran... I couldn't ask you to do that." She told him as hse leaned against the stone walls of the hearth. "I've made enough messes in my life. I can fix this myself."
Though even she didn't believe her own words.
Tenran's eyes grew somber and he stepped toward her. "You don't have to ask me. I want to stay. It's my own choice," he murmured, putting his arms gently around her.
But his embrace wasn't welcomed. She felt so dirty, and was bitter for everything that had ever been and gone wrong. Between them, between Reese, Grattis, between everything. She broke away from him, shrugging him off as she angrily wiped at her tears.
"Don't you get it, Tenran?" she said, turning away from him as she shook her head. Fresh tears wet her eyes now as she stared back at him. "I don't want you to. This is my life, Tenran. My fate. And I'll be damned if I'll let you try to rescue me again." ANd even as she told him this, she found herself shaking as she began to sob.
Tenran backed away and frowned a little. He scratched the back of his head and sighed. "Okay," he said at last. "I get it. I'm sorry I came at this bad time. I think I should go." Tenran stalked back into the kitchen and grabbed his jacket, throwing it over his shoulders and heading for the door.
Realizing she was a bit harsh, Liana stiffened as Tenran walked away. She wanted to call out to him, to apologize, but she couldn't get her feet off the ground, nor open her lips. She was still angry with him- but maybe she was more angry with herself. So instead of chasing after him, she closed her eyes and waited for him to leave.
Tenran did hesitate at the door for the longest brevity of the moment. He sighed once more then silently opened it and as he did so, a soft meow echoed in front of him and a black and white cat scurried through the door. "Tuffy!" Tenran howled, beaming as the car wound between his legs, rubbing against them.
Liana whirled around at the exclamation and gasped.
"Oh! Shoo! Shoo!" she said, using her hands in a forward sweeping motion in hopes to coax the cat out. "He knows he's not allowed in here after he's been out in the wet grass. Look at him! He's making muddy paw prints all over my floors!"
"Oh let him be. You probably locked him out again on purpose!" Tenran said as he plucked the meowing cat up into his arms and cuddled him. The cat purred like a motor and rubbed his face against Tenran's beard. He smiled widely and opened up his coat to stuff the cat inside it while he moved back into the kitchen to fix the poor feline something to eat.
Gasping, Liana followed the pair into the kitchen.
"Tenran!" she scolded. "What are you doing? He has fleas!"
Tenran shrugged. He didn't care at the moment. He just wanted to hold his darling pet. One that at least missed him a great deal more than Liana did.
Liana huffed when Tenran ignored her.
"At least put Tuffy down so he can drink the milk from his pan. He can't do much of anything all tangled in your arms."
Though she never outwardly said it, she was always jealous the cat liked him over her- though she had always been prickly towards the cat since it scratched her during it's kitten phases- and always attacked her feet and quill pen when she worked.
"All right,. all right," Tenran groaned as the cat was busy nuzzling his neck from inside the warmth of his jacket. He set Tufkins down and the cat dove for his milk, drinking happily and purring as he did so. Tenran came back with some food in his bowl and set it beside the cat. "I guess you didn't feed him today. He's gorging it down," he said, smirking. "So how have you two been getting along?"
"For your information he had his food this morning. And he even brought me a mouse as a gift."S he rolled her eyes, arms folded across her chest. "And if you must know, he still sleeps on your side of the bed."
Though she didn't complain much- she just wished the cat didn't always lay there- waiting for Tenran. It made her miss him even more.
"Aww. Poor guy," Tenran murmured, watching the cat for a moment and walking back to Liana. "Always had that attachment, but he's got you now. He loves you, you know that. He's just got a funny way of showing it. Next time I go into town, I'll get him some serum for the fleas at a local apothecary." Tenran smiled and turned somber again. He looked back at Liana a breath moment before glancing back at the cat. "Are you sure you don't want me to come along?" he murmured softly.
Liana had been holding a breath and once released, her cheeks depuffed as she sighed. The cat irritated her, but also gave her an odd sense of comfort as she bent down on one knee and gentle stroked the cat's soft fur. But then when Tenran spoke, she turned solemn again.
"I don't even want to go along," she grumbled and sighed again before peering over at him. "Do you really want to go that badly?" Too bad she couldn't change her mind- or have some place to hide far away from all of her mistakes. But she supposed she could have it worse, and her eyes strayed to his metal leg brace.
Tenran did meet her gaze this time and he nodded. "I do. I wouldn't lie about anything like that," he murmured. "I want to protect you, Liana. Though...I guess it's a little late for that, I know. I missed my chance. Maybe somehow I'm just trying to subconsciously make it up for all the crap we went through. But I know we can't just...forget what happened.
"I just want to be there for you in the time that we have left you know."
For a long moment Liana just stared at him. His words stirred a rippling inside her heart. And also a tearing. She wanted to bury those feelings for him so badly, but it was too difficult. Not wtih him here. Not when he was around.
"You make it sound as if we're dying," she said through a breathy laugh.
"I guess sometimes it feels that way. I look in the mirror and I just look older and older. Sometimes I feel it too," Tenran gave in an awkward tentative laugh.
Liana shook her head.
"We're not that old Tenran.." but the idea had her smiling about a tender moment they shared and she found herself needing to turn away from him. She loved his smile. He didn't always smile for everyone, and it made her remember far too much how much she still cared for him.
Tenran's shoulders shrugged a little. "Well, do you mind very much if I crash here while you still have the house?" he asked. "I know where the blankets are. I'll take the guest room across from the study."
Liana tensed. She hadn't told him while he was away...
"The guest room bed is gone." She hesitated before informing him. "I had to give it away." IN fact, all of the furniture in there was gone. She needed the money- and someone wanted the entire room so- she couldn't refuse.
The look on Tenran's face was stunned to say the least. "Wait...how can an entire guest room be gone? Did you rent it out?"
"No.." she hesitated, before clamping her lips into a firm frown. "I sold the pieces."
"Okay then," Tenran said, turning around. "Then I can sleep on the floor down here? I don't mind."
Liana frowned.
"I.. I'd prefer if you didn't. What about the couch? I know it's not the best... but it would be more comfortable than the floor."
"Are you sure you didn't already sell the sofa?" Tenran smirked at her and gave her a nod of thanks. "The couch will do, thanks Liana. It is pretty late. Maybe we all should just get some sleep."
Liana shivered and nestled into her night robe before nodding at his statement.
"Yes, let me fetch you a blanket and the spare pillow from my bed. Though excuse the cat hair- Tuffy sleeps on it when I'm not around."
"I'll excuse my beautiful boy!" Tenran said, beaming and moved toward the sofa when at lasts she left to retrieve the blanket and pillow. He took off his jacket and boots, leaving them to dry by the fireplace and his tunic and trousers too which were still quite muddy from the rain and thanked the gods for underclothes as he sat down by the couch, hearing her return. The cat jump up on the couch, purring by Tenran's ribs.
When she returned she let out a sigh.
"Tenran!" She gave a stern look to him and the cat before tossing the blanket over top of them both- and then the pillow, she dropped onto his head.
"What!?" Oof! He pulled the pillow from his head and chuckled, shooing the cat off the sofa. "Sorry. He can sleep in your bed. Go on Tuffy! Get her!" And the cat shot up the stairs like a bullet. Tenran stood up and fixed the sofa for a proper bed, draping the cover into the folds of the cushions, then folding it over to serve as the blanket. "You shouldn't go to bed all pent up, you'll never get to sleep. He just wants a little affection that's all."
Liana huffed and crossed her arms across her chest.
"I never said I was going to sleep." And she peered over towards her abandoned cup of tea- no doubt cool by now.
Teran smirked at her moodiness. "Very well," he murmured and laid down on the couch. "Then you can watch me sleep." He smirked and threw the cover over him.
"Or maybe I'll just drink some cold tea while sitting on you." ANd she went to scoop up her cup and came back over and dropped down right on top of Tenran with a sigh.
"A bit lumpy though i'm sure you'll forgive me- you do know I hate drinking my tea alone."
Tenaran gave a grunt and an Oof! when she sat on him and it forced him to wriggle off to the sides and gave her some room. Her back was to him and he forced a laugh. "Oh how foolish of me to forget. My apologies," he cooed and leaned up on one arm, smiling as she sipped her tea.
And she daintily sipped her tea. But oh how she loathed cold tea. But to get one up on Tenran, she'd suffer through it as she gave another dainty sniff and ignored his boyish grin her way. He was too handsome for his own good and she didn't want to fall pray to her raw emotions again. At least not this evening, even when she felt so vulnerable.
So she kept on sipping even as the cat mewed from the top of the steps.
Tenran grinned at her, and coursed a hand around her waist and leaned against the back of the couch. "So other than sleeping with brothers in law, what have you been up to?" he murmured, watching her with idle eyes.
"About to put tea on my ex-husband's head,"s he warned.
"Thank Ansgar it's cold all ready," he said, smiling even wider and relaxinf against the pillow, and closing his eyes.
She snorted and let some drop unto his nose- but only a little as three droplets splattered onto his cheek and nose. Splat! Splat! Splat!
Tenran wiggled his nostrils and he wiped off the tea on his nose. He blinked his eyes open to her and he furrowed his brows. "I take it you don't want to let me sleep," he muttered.
"How can you sleep when the cats meowing?" She sighed and looked over towards Tuffy. He kept meowing and shaking his tail. "I think he wants you to lay with him on the bed."
"But...Tuffy knows that you don't want me in the bed. So I have to stay on the couch," Tenran whispered softly, putting a hand over his mouth and gasping lightly. He chuckled lightly. "I guess Tuffy will just have to suffer, eh?"
She sighed and stared from TEnran to the cat before getting up, setting her tea aside and scooping up the cat. She moved him over towards the bed and set the cat on Teran's belly.
"There.." she said, swiping her hair from her face. "Now, maybe he'll stay here and-"
But then the cat jumped off and scrambled back up the steps and began to rub along the walls and meowing.
"Ugh. Tuffy!"
Tenran laughed at the cat's antics and shook his head. Sitting up he rubbed his head and snatched the pillow. "I guess I have no choice since he insists so much," Tenran said and threw his legs over the edge of the sofa and grabbed the blanket and pillow, taking it with him. "C'mon Tuffy, Let's go cover her pillow in cat hair," he laughed and ran up the stairs, the cat bounding after him.
Before Liana could stop him, Tenran was up the stairs, cat in tow.
"T.. Tenran!" but instead of following, she dropped onto the couch with an exhausted sigh.
Ugh, men.... and cats.
Tenran had thrown the blanket and pillow on the bed and then moved back toward the stairs. "All right, all right," he grumbled with no end of amusement and stepped back down toward the couch. He leaned down and scooped her up into his arms before heading back upstairs.
"Tenran!" Though she chastised him, it was difficult for her not to laugh. "But your leg!" And even that she knew never stopped him before.
"Nevermind my leg. I could pull a wagon cart if I wanted with no qualms. Besides it's cold, you'll freeze down here," he smirked and ran the rest of the way up the stairs.
"Yes, but might I remind you you're an old man? You could throw out your hip. Just like Old McDoughery down the street. I'm sure you remember him."
"Yeah but McDoughery is a drunk and a cantankerous old coot, whose wife has has been cheating on him with the gaffer for at least sixteen years. I'm still fit and fine." Tenran broadened out his shoulders as he carried her and finally settled her down on the bed.
Liana huffed, though by now she was smiling.
"I don't know why I'm surprised. You were always foolish and I know for a fact that leg never stopped you at doing anything."
"Damn straight," he muttered, going around the bed and crawling into the other side, Tuffy jumping in after him and laying at their feet. "Just as good as any man with two working legs! Maybe better."
Liana rolled her eyes and turned her back to him.
"And just like any man, I bet you'll snore and keep me up for the few hours I am able to sleep," she grumbled as she nestled her face into her pillow. "Just stay on your side of the bed. Just because we have sex every time we meet," A fact that made her flush because- sadly it was true, she drew in a careful breath before she added. "Don't think we'll just.. just start doing it again. Besdies I... I think we need to stop. Reese is serious about marrying me."
Though even still- she was beginning to wonder how serious she was about Reese.
"I think you ought to know that I don't come here with the sole expectation of sex," Tenran pointed out, but he couldn't stop his grin. "You know I come because I really want to see you, Liana. Not because I just think you'll serve up the goods everytime I come along. ... That's just an added bonus. And if ol Reese knows what he has, he wouldn't have joined the army. The old rockhead."
"His reasons for joining weren't stupid," she commented dryly. "He joined because his younger brother Abbis had been killed in a rogue mage attack."
I suppose that's as noble a reason as any," Tenran said with a vague huff. "It certainly beats all that honor, legacy and family tradition crap my dad used to knock into me."
"Yeah.." Liana told him, quietly observing the wall. "I suppose you're right."
"Yeah," Tenran said idly, and leaned back, staring up at the dusty ceiling. He turned on his side, as she'd asked him, with his back to her and stared off toward the wall.
"Well, at least you've already paid your dues," she commented quietly.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked softly.
She curled up a little more beneath the blanket.
"I mean in the army." She gave a weak smile at the memory. "Well, more than your dues."
His leg, after all, would never be the same.
Tenran turned over on his belly, as he liked to sleep sometimes and smirked at her as she clarified. "Oh yeah, paid those dues, of course." He smiled at her widely and laughed softly. "It doesn't hurt like it used to y'know. Just gets...stiff once in a while."
"From old age, probably," she told him through a smile, but still kept her back to him. Things went quiet though, except the gentle purring of the cat.
"Nahhh. Just...eagerness," he murmured and smirked at the back of her head. But his eyelids were starting to droop, for it had been a long time since he had the comfort of a bed to sleep in and he let them slowly close.
Liana hadn't realized how tired she was- nor how cold, and in the middle of the night had found herself nestling into his arms out of instinct. She had missed the warm company of a man and to feel his heart beat against her back warmed her as she lay contentedly in the bed sheets- not aware that it was already morning and growing ever closer towards noon.
And their cat, Tuffy, continued to purr as it lay in the tangles of their legs.
Tenran's arm had somehow wound its way around her waist and he was in close against her. Her hair branched out towards his face and tickled his nose. He wiggled it and blinked at the sunlight that peeked out from the curtains. His arm curled around her, gripping the silk fabric of her nightgown as he leaned his head over hers. He leaned down to kiss her temple. "Good morning," he murmured, nuzzling in closer to Liana.
Liana groaned and buried her head into her pillow. She didn't want to get up yet- or deal with.. well.. this.
Tenran was too tired to want to get up, or comfortable for that matter, and his arm just moved around her a little, patting her a hand, but saying nothing.
That's when Liana's elbow met lightly to his belly.
"Tenran.."
But then the cat decided to join them as she cringed through an "Ooof."
Groaning, she moved to shoo the cat off of her.
"Tuffy! Stop that! You're too fat to sleep ontop of me!"
So the cat tried the same tactic on Tenran, looking for a comfortable spot on his hip.
Tenran gurgled a little when the elbow came flying into his gut. "Damn cat," he murmured and turned to look at the cat. "Tuffy. Go get breakfast! Go hunt! Go on!" The cat stretched ceremoniously before hopping off the bed and slipping through the slit in the door and out the back.
"He'll be back. But that'll give us a few more minutes," he muttered, kissing against her neck.
Liana shivered, feeling his beard graze her neck as her teeth sunk into her lower lip. Why was it that no matter how much she tried, his kisses still thrilled her? But she couldn't fall back for him. Her aching heart reminded her it just couldn't work.
"Tenran... "She pulled away from him, not that she could get very far, but even from the short distance she stole away from Tenran, something familiar prodded her back. That's when her voice grew soured and low. "Tenran!"
But her voice came out.muffled from.where she buried her face into her pillow.
"What?" he murmured, trying to hold her still even as she slid away from him. His lips had been buried in her neck for a moment before he looked at her with drowsy eyes. He knew she had felt his groin, and he chuckled in amusement.
"Sorry," he chuckled, kissing her temple. "It's not that often I get a little happy in the morning." He laughed again. "Y'know I always liked when you teased me into a bout of early morning sex. Remember? You'd kiss me on the neck, you'd bite my ear a little, growl like you were irritated. I remember one time you slammed my face with a pillow."
Liana tried to hide her smile before realizing with widened eyes.
"Oh, a pillow." And she stuffed her into his face. "A good idea!"
Tenran chuckled when she buried his face under her pillow and his arms suddenly went around her sealing her to him. "And the I'd tickle you furiously!" And his hands danced up and down along her sides
Liana squealed and began to buck and squirm beneath his ministrations.
"Te-TENRAN!" she roared, but it came out more like a squeal than anything.
He laughed as he resumed his original position and leaned in to take her neck to his lips once more, nursing here for a moment and locking her in his arms, his hands finding their way around her belly, playing with the cloth of her nightgown.
"T-tenran!" But her words turned into something more husky as her teeth sunk into her lower lip. A shiver coursed through her. Her ex-husband had always been good with his hands, and just knew the perfect ways to touch her to turn her on.
"T-tenran. We can't.." But her voice was strained across one breath as her eyes became half lidded-
and her wriggles from earlier had all but ceased.
"Can't what?" he murmured, dragging his lips down to where her neck traced up to her ear, where his breath splayed out haggardly across her ear. He kissed just beneath her lobe, soft pecks all over.
His hands were just as explorative, reaching down and dancing along her thigh, gently pushing up the cloth of her night gown, sliding down and touch lightly, the soft skin just above her sex.
Her breath hitched in her throat, her body, melting at his touch as she felt a primal heat course through her as he touched so near to her sex. She had almost forgotten she didn't want to have sex with him as she released a wavering breath. But somehow, a part of her couldn't voice that thought- and even deeper, she wondered, if she fucked him, would it rid her of the taint from Grattis? And make her forget everything else in her life she messed up. It normally did- and took her back to a time in her life when the world had been perfect, and nothing would have stopped her from having sex with her husband all day- trying so hard to start a family, but never, ever becoming so blessed.
They had wanted a family together, but that was a time long passed. Tenran just wanted her in his arms without fleeting thoughts to the past. He turned over her, leaning against her side and leaning over her head , brushing his beard against her lips for second, testing his touch, feeling her breath.
His hands had reached down and slipped underneath the cloth of the nightgown, feeling along that skin further, fingertips kissing along her hairs and brushing along the inside of her thigh. "Kiss me," he murmed against her lips.
Liana hesitated only briefly before succumbing to her body's desires. Her legs spread open as she kissed him, tenderly at first before each subsequent kiss was filled with more desire, more need.
"It isn't fair," she breathed against him, lips finding his again as she cupped his face. She couldn't control this,a nd he knew it as her hands smoothed along his body.
He knew her so intimately he need only kiss her, to touch her once and she always became his love again.
"What isn't fair?" he murmured. His lips drank hers and he fell easily between her legs, letting his hand feel around the pooling heat of her sex. He leaned over her, an arm on one side of her head just as he dropped his head low enough to kiss her again, pulling on her lips when he captured her lower one between his teeth.
She was breathless as always, and this time- far too eager for sex.
"This isn't fair,"s he moaned, hands smoothing down his back side as she kissed him back and pouted slightly through tender, soft kisses. "You always know I'm weak for you."
And he was so much better at sex than Reese....
and kissing, too. She never thought much into it, since she always found herself back in Tenran's arms in moments like this but...
Once she got married, would that be the real end to all of this?
"Kiss me.." she told him, even as she was already kissing him back. "Like you used to. When we were young... Kiss me as if you're afraid tomorrow will never come."
"Always," he murmured and he leaned down upon her with ravenous need. He loved the feel of her lips against his, tasting the hollows of her mouth, his tongue sliding along hers. His hand had pushed her nightgown high enough and he slipped a few fingers into the folds of her sex, feeling her warmth.
Liana gasped through their kisses as his fingers began to slip inside her, and instinctively, hands raked down his back before one of them fumbled down the front of his pants and groped at his hard on, eagerly pressing through it. And in the same breath, her hands somehow managed to free it as she gasped again and eagerly wrapped her hand around his throbbing member as she sighed.
"By Ansgar's name, Tenran," she moaned, and let her hands stroked against the length of it, feeling his warmth and need against her hand as her own sex tightened hungrily around his fingers that were soon soaking wet.
When her hand went fishing through his undergarments, as his trousers had been left downstairs, it was Tenran's turn to gasp. He bit her lip at the feeling her hand made as she explored it's length. "Gods," he moaned, breathing haggardly.
"Don't stop, Liana," he murmured. He shivered at the pressure she had placed on his member as it throbbed in her grip. His hand slid deeper inside her, brush against her most sensitive areas as he went in to kiss her again. "I want you," he said. "I need you."
Liana whimpered at his words. He'd feel her body quiver from where his hand was buried inside her a she released a soft, heated breath.
"I.. I need you too."
Tenran shuddered, moving his hips lower against hers as his hand moved deeper into her sex. He was eager all over, his breath ragged as he pressed them back to her lips. "I love you Liana," he whispered.
Liana whimpered. But she didn't say it back, even if she wanted to- even if it was on the tip of her lips because she knew if she did, she'd be his again, forever, and she wasn't sure she was ready to take that risk again.
She didn't have tossay. He knew what position saying that would put her in and he only wanted to make her feel loved again, because it was what she deserved. So Tenran slowly removed his hand from between her legs, finger moist from her softness and he gradually slid himself inside her.
Liana gasped. He fit so naturally within her, like a glove, and to be taken again from him caused her to shiver. She even helped him, sinking her hips down so as to help feed his entire length within her tightness. But she was hot and ready, her walls slick from all their foreplay so that as much as she tried to clamp on him, he could still easily push through. And soon he was buried within her so that she moaned.
"By Ansgar's name... Tenran," she breathed, gripping onto him desperately as her body began to move to the rhythm of her need.
He grunted in pleasure at their union. He always loved making love to her, the woman he loved and cared for. Tenran rolled his hips sensuously against hers, taking his time, moving painfully slow as he felt every part of her. He kissed her hotly, pulling on her lips as he kised her with growing need.
To feel his length work within her real slow had her moaning each time he pulled out of her, leaving her sex quivering as she wanted him more and more with each slow and steady stroke. It felt good she was practically begging him for more as finger nails dug into his skin. And she was so immersed into their heated moment- she didn't hear a knock at the front door.
"By Ansgar's name, Tenran, just fuck me already. You're already making me soaking wet."
Tenran grinned and kissed her again and began to move deeper and faster within her, their hips moving in unison. Soon his movements became more hungered. He didn't hear the knock at first until a second pounding echoed upstairs. "Shit," he whispered, panting as he moved into her still. "Somebody's at the door."
But she felt so good he didn't want to stop, he moaned loudly the way her sex gloved around him, for as often as they had sex, she was still tighter than any other woman he might have fallen prey too. He moved faster, hoping to finish before answering the door.
Liana's hands fumbled all over his body as she was completely at the mercy of their heated passion and love.
"Ignore it,"s he growled, kissing him hotly. "Maybe they'll go away."
But something made her fear it might be Grattis, and the very idea made her more excited as her breath hitched. Imagine- Grattis finding her with her ex-husband after bedding him! Her eyes rolled back. What mistakes she had made, what mistakes she had done- but this one she was reveling in and her husband- or rather, ex-husband read her like a book and new just the right angles she loved.
"Gods, yes there!" she cried out, clinging to him as he was pounding into her fiercely as the entire bed began to creak and shake.
The entire headboard began to pound into the wall and the bed began to scratch across the floor the more intense his thrusts became. He wanted to here her scream and he held her thighs to his waist, locking them together. His moans became louder and more haggard.
"Yeah, right there. Uh-uh-ugh," he grunted, breathing heavily as he pounded into her, in and out with increasing dexterity. "Gods, Liana!" He could feel her wrapped all around him, all the muscles of her sex nursing on his cock and he felt himself shudder in another wave of pleasure. "Right there? How about there?" He was sweating heavily, beads dotting his brow as he began to twist his hips in a circular motion just as another pounding at the door resounded.
Liana moaned. She didn't care for the door anymore. All that mattered now was this moment, and the sensations striking through her as Tenran fucked her hard and good. It wasn't until she caught Grattis's voice did she choke up, her body tensing, as did her sex- which made her eyes roll back inside her head as she was about to come.
"By the heavens,"s he cried, gripping him. "D-don't stop! Quickly- I'm about to-"
And as she heard the footsteps up the stairs she began to writhe wildly, coming harder than she had ever done before and Tenran would be able to feel her tight walls grip and pulsate all around his member as he fucked her so hard the bed was creaking and cracking, as if about ready to break.
And because Grattis was now outside the door, she screamed into his shoulder- praying to the GOd's Grattis wouldnt open up the door.
Tenran came as soon as he felt the gushing of her sex around his cock. He bit his teeth hard into his lip just as he burst within her. He held her close for the briefest second, wishing instead that they didn't have the interruption to bask in the afterglow of their lovemaking. But as soon as Tenran head the hand on the doorknob, he immediately rolled off of Liana and onto the floor, shoving himself under the bed, hoping Liana would shove her nightgown down, as he wriggled around to pull his undergarments up.
Just then Grattis came through the door. "I knew I'd find you here," he chuckled.
"Gr-Grattis!" Liana stammered, eyes wide as she was barely able to keep her nightgown down and pullt he covers up to make herself decent. "What on earth- what are you doing here?"
He approached the bed with haste and sat down beside her, finding her hands and taking them.
"Liana, I was worried about you. I was afraid you never got any of my recent letters. I know the others you kept denying but I- I... Well, I just had to come see you."
And seeing her flushed made him flush.
"My.. you're warm.." he said, sweeping a hand to her forehead. "And sweaty- are you sick?"
Liana merely stared at him, not even sure how to respond to that as her chest heaved beneath her gown.
"Er- y-yes. But truthfully, I am alright. You just startled me, that's all. I thought someone was breaking into my house!"
"Well.." he gave an awkward scratch to the back of his head. "That's because I kind of did."
"She wouldn't give you a key anyway," Tenran muttered outloude and Grattis looked at Liana.
"I'm sorry?" he murmured, looking at her quizzically.
Liana paled.
"Er, I said I don't have a spare key, so uh- of course if you were afraid for me you'd have to break in!" Oh, she was going to kick Tenran for that one!
Grattis chuckled and put one hand on your leg. "I'm glad you could welcome me in your home. And I'm happy to see you're all right." He cleared his throat. "Soo...did you consider my offer?"
Liana's face went beet red. Thankfully she had already been flushed from the sex, so it was hardly noticeable.
"Yes, I uh- well that's to say I- I... I thought I told you no already, Grattis," she said through clenched teeth. She wasn't about to tell him she just sent a letter saying she actually would agree. Because that meant she'd be forced to be escorted by Grattis... alone.
Grattis flicked a brow at her and chuckled. "Then you can't really blame me for asking," he murmured and laughed. If he had turned around, he would have noticed the man on all fours crawling out of the toom and headed down the stairs.
But Grattis didn't catch him- Liana did. ANd her eyes widened and as Grattis's went to follow her obvious gaze she gasped and grabbed onto him, accidentally falling into his arms.
Grattis laughed and pulled her up against him just as Tenran scurried down the stairs and abruptly pulling his clothes back on and shoving his boots in and grabbing his jacket.
He climbed out the window and went back around to the front knocking on it moments later. "Hey Liana!" he called out, pretending he just arrived.
Liana tensed at Grattis's hold on her, and gritted her teeth beneath his gaze. And it was only at Tenran's voice did she gasp and push away from Grattis.
"Oh! Someone's at the door! I better go see who it is!" And as she scrambled to get off of the bed, she tripped over a pair of men's boots that had been half lying underneath the bed.
As Grattis rushed to help her, his eyes fell on the shoes before he glanced to her.
[Lool all of Tenran's clothes were downstairs by the fire, including his boots!]
Tenran smiled, his hair mussed as he pushed it back and stepped back as the door opened. "Hey Liana. I see a horse tied to the post, guess you got a visitor?" he said, winking and smirking at her when at last she opened the door.
Behind her he could see Grattis calling after her, following down the steps and pausing as he saw Tenran in the door.
OOC: OMG LOOOL your'e right.
I guess just ignore my last post 8D
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She thanked the heavens Grattis didn't catch on as she answered the door wth nothing but her night gown on.
"Tenran!" she feigned exclaimation, but even she had to cringe at her fakeness as she batted her eyes at him. "What a surprise! And she ushered him quickly inside. "Yes, a visitor. That would be you." And then when Grattis came down the steps she looked his way and say his expression and froze.
"And.. Grattis. I'm sure you remember Reese's brother." She said, awkwardly standing between the two men as Grattis reached the bottom of the steps.
Tenran was having a hard time hiding his smile, but he managed enough once Grattis came toward them. "Oh did I come at a bad time?" he murmured, looking at Grattis.
"Oh, uh, not at all! Hello," he smiled and extended his hand awkwardly that Tenran laughed as he shook his hand and he gripped it hard enough to make Grattis grunt uncomfortably.
"Yes, well, lucky me to have so many visitors at such an hour. WHo's up for tea?" And she awkwardly moved away from the lot of them to make some anyway, not realizing that- due to the fact she was in her silken night gown, both men were getting a lovely show.
At the awkwardness of the moment, Tenran exchanged glances with Grattis before moving into the house and helping Liana with the plates and tea, and gestured for Grattis to take a seat. "So what brings you along this afternoon, Mr. Chestin?"
Grattis didn't like this one bit that her ex-husband showed up. He knew enough from Reese that it appeared as if he was around more than he ought to; and the man was just happy he didn't catch the pair in bed. He wasn't sure how he'd react. No, he did. He'd beat Tenran's face in.
His jaw had consequentially tensed, and he relaxed it only enough to take a seat.
"You know how I like my sugar, Liana," he said with an idle wave and sigh. ANd then to Tenran's question, he narrowed his gaze at him "She'll be staying wtih me throughout the duration of the war."
ANd as far as he saw it- indefinitely.
"Oh really? Is that so Liana?" Tenran asked herr, peering with one raised brow. "You never mentioned anything of the kind with me."
"And why should she mention it to you?" Grattis said sharply. "It's her business anyway. And besides aren't you her...ex-husband?"
"Yes. But despite what some others may believe, you don't have to hate your ex-wife. I'd like to think Liana and I can still be friends."
"It's unnatural if you ask me," Grattis said dully as he reached for his tea once it was served.
"Good thing nobody asked you," Tenran smiled and sat down to drink his own tea.
OOC: So many awks 8D
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Liana sighed as the men snapped at one another like dogs. This was getting them no where, and she knew Tenran was baiting Grattis. She placed a hand on Tenran's shoulder, a silent gesture for him to be quiet before she moved away to grab her robe, and when she returned, Grattis was at it again.
"I brought my wagon, in case you changed your mind, Liana. You know it'd be wiser, and safer for you to come and stay with me. We already cleaned up the loft. All you have to do is say yes."
Liana smiled and shied away, shaking her head at such an idea.
"Grattis.... please," she sighed and looked over at him. she was too anxious to take a seat or even sip of her tea, and kept stirring at it, the spoon clanking inside the stoneware.
"It's not as simple as that. I'd have to worry about this house, and informing Reese and-"
"Those aren't too difficult of tasks," Grattis said with a sniff. "Just sell the house back to your ex-husband. He's right here. I'm sure he'd make you an offer. And Reese- well I've been writing him letters. He... seems to agree to this.. idea."
Liana hesitated, finding her mind goign numb as she felt- trapped by all of this and her fingers itched at the side of her hair before hse dropped her gaze to the floor.
"I'd rather not make a decision so early in the morning.."
"But you've had weeks, Liana..."
Tenran saw the tension in her expression, once Grattis seemed oblivious to. "It's all right Liana. Nobody's forcing you to do anything you don't want to do," Tenran said tentatively.
"Just take your time to really think about it."
"I don't think she needs your counsel," Grattis bit back.
"I don't think she needs your pressure. Just give her space. Let her think about it," Tenran said, drinking tea slowly.
"I think I've given her enough time to make a decision."
Sighing hotly, she stormed away from the two of them. Really, this was getting her no where and she just wanted to be left alone. Neither of them were helping her cause-
She couldn't afford to stay here.
Grattis was already ready.
She had technically sent him a letter to accept..
So why was she still fighting it?
"Tenran, I don't really think this is any of your business," Grattis pressed and gave him a flakey smile.
Tenran shrugged and sipped his tea. "I realize that, but look, how about this? Give her another day or so and if she decides to go, I'll escort her there myself. I know Liana a little better than you," he muttered. "But you can't put pressure on her like this. Just give her more time."
Grattis looked at his steely eyes and grit his teeth. "Fine," he said reluctantly, putting his tea down. "One more day. But I do believe she had sufficient time to make a decision."
Liana kept her back to them both, finding herself pacing around in the living room near the hearth, and refused to leave that space until Grattis eventually, and most reluctantly, left. She didn't even bother speaking to him, she just nodded her head and hoped he'd just go.
The squealing of wagon-wheels rolling out from the driveway signalled his departure and Tenran sat quietly in the dining room, looking at the half-sipped tea cup that Grattis had touched. Tenran sighed a little before standing and quietly cleaning up.
It wasn't until Grattis had long gone did she finally collapse onto the couch, raking a hand through her hair while fighting back tears. This was a mess. She wasn't even sure what she ought to do, but no matter which direction she went in, she felt...
Trapped. ANd she hated herself all the more for it.
"Maybe you should go too, Tenran,"s he whispered through soft sobs. After all, she hadn't planned to have sex with him- and if he stayed around- what other foolish things would she do?
He had washed the dishes in the basin first and chewed thoughtfully on his lip and nodded, though his back to her. He turned around and moved toward the door. "I'm sorry for how I acted, Liana. But I'll give you your space," he murmured. And moved toward the door.
And that's when Tuffy found his boots again, meowing happily and shaking his tail as it stood up straight like a moracca. His eyes were large as he meowed again. He wanted fed!
"Tuffy!" Tenran growled. "I told you to get breakfast! And now you're hungry!" He couldn't stay mad at the cat and moved back into the kitchen to prepare his bowl.
OOC: Oh Tufkins 8D
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Ignoring their antics, Liana curled upon the couch, staring out distantly to the world. She just wanted to forget everything that happened- and start over again. When she was young. And nothing made her afraid.
While waiting for his meal, Tufkins moved around to Liana and promtply jumped on the couch, rubbing up against her.
Gasping, for the sudden appearance of the cat had her startled, Liana looked up at the cat through bleary, tear filled eyes.
"Oh, Tufkins!" She shook her head, and tried to ignore the cat, but he managed to wiggle his way beneath her arm and forced her to pet his soft fur as his whiskers tickled at her skin. And he purred and purred and purred, which was enough to get Liana to at least smile- well, a little.
Tenran smiled when at last he set his bowl down on the ground and them moved back towards Liana, observing her battle the overaffections of one Mr. Tufkins Cyneran. He couldn't help himself. He threw his head back and laughed. "I always knew you loved Tuffy. And he loves you too."
And that's when one of the couch pillows came sailing at Tenran's face.
Tenran fell back onto his ass and held the pillow in his lap. "Liana!" he growled and hurled the pillow back at her head.
The pillow coming back startled the cat who leaped off of Liana's giggling lap, only to have Liana hissing out a curse as the cat's sudden bolting tore a long, red bleeding scratch up her inner thigh.
"TENRAN!"s he wailed, hefting up her nightgown to peer at the wound with a frumpy frown.
"Oh, crying baby," Tenran grumbled as he stood up and walked over to her. He leaned against the armrest before observing her leg. "Oh, it's just a scratch. We can clean that up. C'mon let's go into the kitchen," he said.
But Liana refused to join him, standing there all grumpily before realizing she had to go there to get the water to clean the wound, and with a huff, followed after him. But she didn't like it. Or wanted him to presume so.
"Yeah, yeah. I know that look," he muttered with half a grin and when she was beside the table, he lifted her up by her hips and set her on the table. and moved to get the cotton and small bandage wraps and some water to heat by the hearth. It took a few minutes but soon the water was set before the fire to boil. "Just give it a few, it doesn't even look that bad."
"I know, I know I'll live. But it doesn't mean it does not sting!" she told him huffily, and glared down at where Tuffy was eating his food.
"I know. But I'll make it all better now. It's okay," Tenran said as he got the water at last and carefully dabbed the long scratch on the inside of her thigh and then carefully dabbed a cotton on it before wrapping it carefully in the bandages. "See? All better."
Liana huffed and shook her head at him.
"You didn't have to make such a fuss over it," she said while idly playing with the hem of her nightgown. "BUt thank you anyways." Though as she moved to walk, she winced. "But it still burns." She glared over at the cat. "Damn cat." And began to move her way towards the steps.
Tenran followed her to the stairs and reached for her hand. He brought it up to his cheek and kissed her wrist softly, before letting it go. "Then I guess I better go then. Don't poke that wound. It won't get any better if you do."
Liana hesitated, only after his kiss sealed to her skin. Her heart fluttered, her cheeks turning pink.
"Yes.." she told him through a frown. "You probably should."
Tenran gave her a sweet smile before waving her off. "I'll see ya, Liana. Hopefully before you ship off," he murmured and winked at her before departing for the door.
Ship off? That was the last thing on her mind as she disappeared upstairs and soaked herself in a nice long warm bath. And as she lay in the tub, she thought over everything that had occured and decided that she was just going to sleep the day away. So she did, and after drying herself off she wrapped her long hair in a towel and put on and old pair of clothing before curling back up in her bed to try to forget this day, this week, had ever happened.
It was a long day indeed. Tenran didn't do much before returning to the house that he had once shared with Liana. In fact, he waited in the porch outside the main door, laying down on the bench outside, with his jacket until he heard the door open and a cat jump out of it. Tufkins meowed loudly at the sight of him and rubbed against his leg, purring loudly and jumping up onto the bench beside him.
"Hey Tuffy," he said tiredly, sitting up and petting the soft cat.
When Tenran arrived Liana was sleeping, and barely heard the door open and played it off as a bad dream as she curled up deeper into her blankets.
[LOL. The cat opened the door 8D]
"let's get you inside and fed," Tenran said as he picked up Tuffy and opened the door, walking as quietly as he could into the kitchen.
OOC: My cats do it all the time- so long as the door isn't completely shut 8D
The fatties X3
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And even as Tuffy let in the 'stranger' she tried to ignore it, drifting in and out of unconsciousness, even as her body was growing tense of the events of the day. Finding herself presumably alone, she lightly touched herself between her legs, to where it was still warm and slicked over from where Tenran had fucked her. She blushed at the memory, fingers itching to treat herself to what he had done to her and craving more-
and while Tenran was tending to their cat down stairs, his ex-wife was slipping her fingers into herself and moving them slowly, softly within her sensitive folds as she dreamed of him- and softly gasped at the feeling of how soft and hot her sex had gotten.
Yes, she could fuck Tenran again, and closed her eyes as she imagined him taking her, as she continued to burying her fingers inside herself with more fervent need.
He should surprise her, he thought to himself. And it wasn't often that he had the luxury of a kitchen at his disposal. So he moved through the pantry as most of everything was still in the same place and he moved as quietly as possible. The frying of eggs below crackled quietly. Tufkin meowed loudly, even after eating his breakfast.
"Quiet Tuffy," he said, and soon the kitchen was filled with the wafting smells bacon and sausage and fresh hotcakes. Being on the road most of the meant he usually had to settle for any leftover stew the local tavern had left after the night. He could eat most of this if Liana didn't want to eat much. He even made some tea just how she liked it. He set two plates on a bedside tray and began to take it up stairs.
His steps were quiet and Tufkins would have followed him if he hadn't left a strip of bacon and some eggs in his own feeding bowl to keep him distracted. Tenrnn carefully walked up to the room and nudged his boot into the opening and stepping quietly inside. He noticed she was doing something that need not be mentioned, but he just snickered and carefully sat down on the bed beside her. "Good morning Liana," he said with a wide grin, setting the tray on his lap.
Liana jerked up from where she had been masturbating beneath the blankets and cried out in alarm, "TENRAN!" and just as she did so, her shoulder collided with the tray of food and sent it flying EVERYWHERE.
The tray was largly on his side and some of the food flew off onto the floor, but most of it largely remained displaced on the tray. He frowned a little and picked up the eggs and bacon and put them back on the plates. "Sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just thought I'd make you some breakfast."
Liana only gaped at him, her face as red as a cherry.
"How but.... I..." Frazzled, she grit her teeth as she looked at him- her body unsatisfied, and it showed in the way she breathed and looked at him.
"You.. you made me breakfast?" she finally managed to stutter out, still stiffly remaining hidden beneath the blankets. After all, she wasn't about to go reaching for the tray or anything, her one hand was soaking wet from what she had just been doing.
Tenran grinned at her frazzled look and straightened on the bed. He set the tray off to the side as he plucked up the other food from the ground, tossing them into a wastebasket on the side. He returned to her bedside and took a cloth from his jacket as he wiped up the spilled tea with one side and folded it over offering it to her with a raised brow. "For your hands," he said, smirking.
Liana gasped.
"Tenran!" And jabbed him through the bedding. "How rude of you to presume!" Though her flush and smile indicated other wise.
"It.." she began, hesitating, even as she smirked. "It has been a trying day."
Tenran laughed and pushed the tray over to her. "Well yeah it was," he smirked at her. "But that was yesterday and this is today. The important thing is that tea is served - well half of it - and the eggs are hot as is the bacon. Your plate and mine," he said, gesturing to the plates and the forks. "So how do you feel this morning?" Tenran munched on his own bits of egg and snapped a piece of bacon between his teeth.
Liana only stared at him, her face still red before she released a heated sigh through a smile
"As if I need more sex before eggs." But she used the kerchief he offered her and wiped off her fingers before stealing a piece of his bacon.
"You know... I was thinking of you," she told him, a bit sheepishly too as she tried to tuck back her smile.
Tenran laughed a little, giving her a smile before taking a sip of the tea on his side. "You have your own bacon you know!" he said. "But I guess food always tastes better when it's from my plate." He ate more wiped his mouth with another cloth, letting her keep the kerchief he gave her. "Thinking of me while touching yourself. Oh you're so naughty Miss Rose." He said and snapped a bit of sausage between his teeth again.
"I can't help it," she said,plucking more bacon from the plate as she munched on it. "My ex-husband is good at sex."
Tenran smiled at her. "Well I'm glad my efforts are appreciated," he said, stealing her bacon next before it got cold. "Reese not exactly fitting the bill?"
Liana gasped and smacked the bacon clean out of his hand.
"Tenran!"
"Sorry!" He laughed and shoved the rest of the bacon in his mouth with his other hand. "It's none of my business!"
Liana tried to make an angry face, but it turned into some sort of contorted smile as she shook her head and looked down at the eggs.
"So you just left yourself in to fix all of this?"
"I did in fact. Life on the road can be pretty hard. I don't always get a hot meal like this. So I hope you'll forgive me for taking advantage. Do you like it?" he asked, stealing another strip of bacon before digging into the hotcakes. "Here taste these." Tenran chopped another bite and stuck it on the fork before offering to pop it into her mouth.
She let her husband feed her, well.. ex-husband. And she devoured the hot cakes with a moan.
"They're divine. I remember you used to love making me breakfast in bed all the time,"s he said, a longing to her voice.
"I am pretty fantastic in the kitchen," he said, smirking at her. His hand came forward and wiped off some excess syrup from the side of her lips with his thumb. He brought it to his own mouth and lightly sucked on it, giving it a pop when he was done. He continued to eat more of the hotcakes and winked at her. "I still like doing it."
She had been in the middle of stealing another piece of hot cake, just to jab at him for his little thumb sucking jab- before his words reached her ears as she gasped, and the hot cake dropped down and slid onto her chest, then beneath the fabric of her night gown where it came to a rest ontop of her left breast.
Ternan gaped a little, throwing his head back to laugh. But suddenly he barked out even more as Tuffy jumped onto the bed and lunged for the piece of hot cake, burying his face onto her boob and munching it as quickly as possible. "Tuffy!" Tenran suddenly howled and shoved the cat off the bed and the cat ran out the door in his great escape.
Tenran shook his head, "That goddamn cat."
Liana clutched a hand to her chest, her heart beating rapidly.
And all she could say was a stuttering, "Yeah." Before she started to laugh.
Tenran sputtered a little and his grin sobered and he gestured to her chest. Without warning, he dropped his head to her chest and lapped where the pancake had been. He pulled his head back, licking his lips. "Looks like he left a bit of syrup still on you," he said with a small smile and downed the rest of his tea.
Liana blushed, smiled, then laughed and threw a hot cake piece at his head.
"There..." she said, and crawled on over to him like a cat and ate it off his shoulder where it had landed. "Now we're both sticky.." she said, breathing against his neck.
"Yeah I guess we are," he chuckled a deep throated laugh. A shiver passed through him that he didn't do much to ignore and he smirked at her, leaning in to give her a chaste kiss on the cheek.
Liana smiled bashfully at the smile and peered into is eyes inquisitively, wonderingly...
"Tenran..."
but she said no more, and turned away, looking back down at the food.
"Breakfast was nice. I... I appreciated it. Really."
"That's good. But no need to thank me. I wanted to do it," he smiled back and sat up, scooting at the edge of the bed. "I guess that means you're done with breakfast then. So I can take these back downstairs to wash them. I know how you hate dishes."
Liana shook her head. She could not believe this.
"This is so strange. It's like we're married again."
Tenran was taken aback by the term. He supposed he hadn't considered it before, but now that she mentioned it. "Really? Oh, I guess so. Except we are so much more civil with each other," he said with a raised brow, taking the tray again and setting it off to the side.
"Yeah..." she answered quietly, staring over at the wall. "Probably since we're apart so much..."
Tenran pursed his lips for a moment, chuckling, perhaps forcibly so. "That's probably it. We each give each other space... But...sometimes, I wish we didn't have to be so apart. I wish I could visit you more. I know, though, when Reese finally puts a ring on that finger, he's probably not gonna take too kindly to me hanging around anymore."
If she was quiet before, she was more so now. Her gaze dropped to the floor as an over whelming sensation of guilt squeezed at her heart.
"You know... I, I was always guilty for making that decision." she told him quietly, after sitting there for several moments in silence. She drew in a careful breath, still looking at the floor. "I never wanted to hurt you Tenran. But it became too much. I.... I couldn't handle any of it."
Or anything. To lose a child, then to lose him... to lose herself. She felt awful, but she felt as if she had little choice. Neither had been happy-a nd she always felt she was to blame. But now she began to wonder if finding Reese wasn't just a way for her to hide away from the truth, from the need and love she still held for her ex-husband, and that she had become too hasty in being swept away in the first man that came along...
Tenran peered at her sympathetically. He moved back toward the bed, crawling on it on his hands and knees, laying on his belly beside her. "It's all right. It wasn't anyone's fault," he murmured. "We were both under a lot of strain, Liana. We were moving all the time. I bought this house for you because we wanted to try a stable life but we were both stressed to see it at the time. I guess that's really why I'd hate to see it go, I'm just being sentimental I suppose," he gave a soft chuckle and a hand came up to lift her chin to his eyes. "And I know you know you can count on me sticking around even after Ol Reese has given you the ring proper."
She stared at him, her eyes wavered with tears.
"But it's not fair," she told him. "To you or Reese. I can't let you both think I'm in love."
It was wrong, it felt wrong. And was truly a cruel thing for her to do.
"I'd care for you even if you didn't love me, Liana," he said. "Life isn't supposed to be fair. I think I'm old enough to know that by now."
It was here Liana's face fell at his sentiment before she hardened her gaze.
"Then we honestly should stop this. Before we both get hurt again."
The heart break from the first time nearly killed her. She did not want to have to relive that twice.
"Stop what?" Tenran murmured, gazing deep into her eyes.
At his inquiry, she wavered.
"This." She grit her teeth. "Loving one another. I don't think I could handle another heart break from you."
Tenran grew somber. "I know... But I can't just stop loving you," he murmured. "I never did stop. So what are you more afraid of? Me breaking your heart or you breaking mine?"
At such a question, she grew stiff, her silver-blue eyes wavering before she turned away from him and stood up from the bed.
"Of everything."
"Then what do you want me to do?" he murmured, following suit, standing on the opposite side of the bed. "I'll do whatever you ask of me."
"I don't know, Tenran," she said, hugging her arms around herself. "I am just so tired of being torn all of the time. Our divorce was supposed to fix that.."
But it hadn't, and in fact things only became more complex.
"Then don't be torn," he murmured as he stepped around the bed and trapped her in a tight embrace. "Let me stay with you. Even if it's for a short while."
"But Tenran..."she said, tensing in his arms before she leaned her head into his shoulder. "I'm already engaged to someone else."
"But you're not married to him yet are you?" he asked softly. "No, you're not. So instead of fretting, wouldn't it be better to enjoy the time you have while you still have it?"
"But Tenran, that's not the point," she said, peering into his dual colored eyes. "I shouldn't want this. I shouldn't want you... because when I married you, there was no confusion. There was no doubt." She cupped his cheek before a sadness took her eyes as she looked away. "But maybe we were just young and naive."
Tenran just held her there against him. "I know..." he breathed in a sigh. "Things were easier then. I can only imagine how you feel Liana... I'm sorry. I wish you didn't meet Reese so soon after we divorced."
Liana grit her teeth. What would happen had she not met Reese? Had she not openly flirted with another man and let herself fall in love? But was she in love? And who with? That was the problem and she didn't even understand her own heart anymore as she leaned in against Tenran's side and closed her eyes.
Would it be nice to just forget? To go back to the way they were? To the way things had been? So easily she could forget the pain when she closed her eyes and succumbed to the feelings he stirred up inside her so easily.
"I don't think it's fair to you," she finally said after a time. She peered up into his eyes. "Tenran... you saved my life, you won my heart over- and now... now I feel as if I'm pulling you around. Using you and doing things with you that will only remind us both of the pain and regret we've already been through. I.. I feel as if this divorce can't heal properly with.... with the way we've been acting. And it's selfish of me to want both you and Reese."
But that's how it would seem. That hse wanted both. Reese made her forget- and Tenran, allowed her to remember.
"I agree. We can't go on like this without expecting a wreck ahead of us. But you should know me better than that, Liana, I'm a glutton for punishment." He gave her a playful smirk. "I just want you to know that if you ever need me, just say the words and I'll be there. Fairness or not."
"But I don't want to torture you, Tenran," she told him quietly. "You don't deserve that."
"So you want me to leave then?" he asked quietly, brushing a hand through her hair. He gave her a trying smile. "Never to return? Look, Liana. I come here because I want to. You're not torturing me. I want to see you, I want to see your smile, to hear your laugh. Not because I want to hurt you. I wouldn't let you hurt me."
Liana could feel the tears prickling, threatening to fall.
"Tenran..." She lowered her gaze to her lap. " I ... I wish things had gone differently."
And she peered back up into his gaze.
"I wish we could go back to the time when all I knew what to do was.love you."
Tenran gave her a smile and his hands cupped either side of her face. "We can pretend it is if you want. Nothing wrong with stealing away a moment to kiss the person you love."
"But that's the problem," she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. And though she wanted to, she dare not say it as she thought,
'It's because I still love you.'
"No, no problems," he purred as he leaned down and stole her breath through a kiss.
The kiss erased all doubt and lit her up inside with a passion she tried to hide but never could, as she moaned and hugged her arms tightly around him, kissing him back with need.
Tenran held her head tightly and kissed her, responding to her passion in kind. His tongue sought hers, turning his head, pressing his mouth to hers in intensity.
She moaned through their kisses, her tongue meeting his, finding it and wrestling with it as her hands gripped him tighter, her body on fire and flushing with need. She was through with words. The only way she could be truthful with him was with her body, and she found herself pressing against him, her hip grinding against his as she grew hungry for more than just his lips.
Tenran moaned against her lips. He felt saliva pull between their lips, as he pulled back to catch his breath. The way her body held onto his sent his blood boiling hot. He wanted her and his breath hitched in his throat. "Gods Liana," he murmured.
She didn't want words. Only actions, so she silenced him with another kiss- long deep and moanfilled as she clung to him possessively, afraid that if she were to open her eyes and let go- this might all disappear.
Tenran moaned against her lips and his arms suddenly went around her like a vice, lifting her clear off the ground and up against him. He pulled is lips away for the moment to lap at her neck, suckling on the sensitive skin of her throat, his beard tickling her flesh there and drinking in her scent. Her smell, her touch, her taste, all so familiar to him, and yet somehow brand new all over again.
Tenran knew all the ways to make her melt, to make her his, and as he continued to nurse at her neck, she moaned, "By Angsar's name, Tenran... take me. Take me now."
Tenran didn't need to be told twice as he peeled his jacket from his shoulders. "Gods, Liana," he whimpered against her as he pulled his shirt up from his head and fumbled with the buckle of his belt.
He wasn't the only one fumbling as Liana helped him undo the buckle. She tossed him a breathy smile before moving her hands down and gripping into the fabric of her night shift and pulling it up and over her head. Discarding it to the ground in an uncaring heaping, she leaned forward to capture his lips again.
Tenran dropped his trousers, pulling off his boots and falling on the bed. He looked at her with half-lidded eyes and his hands came around her waist.
As he pulled her onto the bed her legs opened around him, sex pressing softly over his as she kissed him hungeredly, their bodies mere inches from connecting as she ground herself against him, quickly becoming slick and wet.
She didn't have to invite him within the warmth of her sex, for him to quiver in pleasure from it. Tenran always enjoyed lovemaking with Liana, just as he knew her, she knew him as well. They had ten years to memorize the maps of each other's bodies better than anything.
Tenran leaned back and pulled her over him, his member having grown eagerly and throbbing for want of her body. His hands came down at her waist and he undulated his hips against hers enjoying the sensation of not connecting just yet.
As her hips moved, she felt herself becoming slicker, hotter, wetter as they rubbed bodies and she moaned. She could even heard the slickness forming beneath her as her sex lapped at his length over and over in eager motions that sent hot thrills through her veins.
"Gods.. Tenran..."
It was too much to bear, she needed him more than this and a subtle shift in her position and he was sinking deep within her.
Tenran arched his back at her teasings, his breath getting caught in his throat. "Geeze, Liana. You feel so damn good...." He was breathless, his heart beating in his ears as he felt the moistness of her sex gliding along his length. He shuddered and shivered and bit his lip at he ministrations. He moaned loudly when she slipped him within, and he could feel the heat of her walls more easily now.
"Liana!" he whimpered, leaning up and capturing her lips within his own. His hands guided her hips, moving them in small circular motions to the pleasure that rolled through him, a crashing wave that made him bit roll his eyes back that he could almost see his brain.
She moved over him, hips rolling and rocking as she claimed him, took him in with her body and moaned his name. Her hands clung to him.fiercely, one to his shoulder the other.to his hair as lips sealed unto his in a passionate kiss.
Tenran melted at her mercy, that it wasn't long before he quivered in ecstacy, holding her fiercely to him in the midst of his rush. He couldn't just stop there. In the midst her movements he returned her kiss, with equal fire, burning hot within him as he ached with need. Tenran was quick to recover and soon rolled over, claiming her for himself. He panted heavily, bearing down on her with his body and buckling her legs securely around his hips.
Liana gasped as he moved over top of her, bodies meeting and interlocking tight. She smiled through a moan, eyes closing tightly as she clung to him just to feel him so closely against her, and to keep him as deep inside of her as she could.
"I love you Liana," he groned haggardly and kissed down along her neck as he moved within her. Her warmth was exhilarating, his mind lost in heat and passion. "I always have...." He wanted to please her now more then ever, rolling his hips agiainst hers deeply, to get as far within her as he could and making every stroke count. His hips moved painfully slow, prolonging every motion in their act of love.
It was pleasure, it was torture, and his words had her whimpering with need.
"Tenran... Gods.."
And she had those three little words just at the tip of her tongue, but even in the height of pleasure, she was too afraid to let those words breath.
Tenran moved a little faster within her warmth, increasing the tension. She didn't have to say it as Tenran sealed his lips over hers, devouring her whole, moaning loudly against her.
With her body bouncing beneath his as they fucked, it didn't take long for her to reach heaven, her body arching beneath his as she cried out in ecstasy. It was beautiful, it was pure, and in her moment of heat and desire, she breathed out, "I love you."
The very words that might ruin and seal her fate.
But she needed it, as she needed him. And she needed to say those words for far too long. As well as three other ones, too.
Tenran paused at the words she had uttered, staring at her for the fullness of a minute. He never thought in all the time they had parted he would hear those words from her again. They chilled him and yet they moved him and he leaned down to kiss her hotly, passionately. "I love you," he whispered back. "I do, Liana." And moved faster within her once more.
Liana's eyes wavered beneath his surprise. ANd her ears even heated as her cheeks flushed. But then he as moving into her again, breathing those words out as they continued to make love. Her eyes rolled back as she whimpered, her body becoming unyielding and hot and soaking wet as she held onto him tight.
She felt guilty for it, but relieved all the same. But even if she still loved him- what were they to do?
For now, she let that thought be carried away from the moment as she sunk into the abyss of the pleasure he gave to her as he drove himself deep inside.
Tenran transitioned with ease from one position to another, easily coaxing her over moving in from behind. The headboard knocked against the wall rhythmically and Tenran held her hips flush to his, pumping in and out of her to her pleasure and his.
How long had they been having sex? It had to have been at least an hour, and her body was rolling in an dout of pleasure. ANd she could not stop. She never recalled having these many orgasms before, and she could not stop coming. He was obviously doing something right. Or maybe what they were doing was finally right as she moaned and let her sex grip onto him as she asked him to pause as she cried out and rode his still cock furiously until she came again, and was screaming so much she was red faced, her sex pulsating maddly all around his member, and he'd be able to feel every quiver and grip of it before she wilted against him and peered up at him through a smile.
"So.."s he said through a pant and brushed sweat slicked hair from her face. "Want to go at it again?"
Tenran's heart was just about to burst out of his chest as he fell off to the side, next to her panting hard and his voice hoarse. He was slick with sweat and covered in their sex. He peered at her from the corner of his eye and chewed in on his lips.
"Ready when you are," he smirked at las and pushed his hair from his face. He turned over and began softly to kiss at the slick skin at her chest. "I always liked how flush you get after sex. Your eyes light up."
She laughed and entangled her hands into his hair.
"How is it that our sex has become so much better now that we shouldn't have it?" she asked, closing her eyes and smiling as he kissed at her chest.
"Not that I can complain about it before... it was always wonderful."
But now... Gods in this moment, she couldn't describe it. It was heaven.
"Perhaps...it's the temptation...of the forbidden," Tenran murmured between kisses that moved below ber breasts and down along her belly. "But if it feels right...how could it be wrong?" he asked softly, running his tongue along the skin of her belly.
"Perhaps now we feel free to explore...to fuck like teenagers again... Except I was pretty awful back then. I didn't have a lot of staying power. I only hoped to improve for your sake."
She closed her eyes lightly, pursing her lips subtly as teeth dug into her lower lip and her eyes nearly closed. She just took in the sensations and his words while digging a hand into his hair.
"Y-yes, ad I don't think we've begun to explore my peaks of pleasure until we had been having sex for nearly half a year." ANd she blushed at finally telling him that little secret.
"You were good, but I was so young i had no idea how to please myself fully with you until... later."
"Oh, I'm sorry I was such a selfish lover back then," Tenran murmured sarcastically as he tasted the skin just above her sex. The smell was ripe with their mixed bodies but he ventured forth anyway, kissing along her hips and holding her waist.
"I think it's better because we're older and more experienced. We know each other's bodies...and our own bodies."
"Y-yes," she said, pausing a moment as the kisses had her stunned. "Perhaps you know it too well," she murmured.
"After ten years, I'd like to think I have a good idea," Tenran smirked at her from below, and proceeded his kisses along the inside of her thighs, tantalizing the hair around her sex, but never quite lingering there for too long. He wanted to feel her quivers, her body, and hear the softness of her sighs.
And soft sighs he would hear, coming and going like ocean waves upon their release, but nearly silently as she drew in her breath and held it. She squirmed beneath him, both fingers and toes curling happily into the bed as she leaned her head back, her eyes lightly closed, lips parted.
His beard would tickle against her sex as he leaned in close to it. He tasted her soon enough, pulling her legs up onto his shoulders, lapping at her folds with a generous mouth. He did not shy away from the combined essence of their lovemaking. He spoke his love for her through his ministrations, lapping deeper against her until the hair on his head was just about to be torn out.
As his tongue reached deep, so did her moans. To feel his tongue tasting and lapping within her was more than she could bear. Her breaths became shallow and quick, hands digging and brushing through his hair as she angled herself back and moaned out, her body on the verge of pure bliss.
Tenran showed mercy only when the peak of her essence had been reached and he moved back over her, cleaning his face with the sheets. He gave her a wicked smirked and stretched out beside her. "So what do you plan to do tomorrow?" he murmured, smirking wickedly still.
Liana lay there, fully content to just ignore the world and let herself melt away from contentment- that was, until he spoke. Gasping lightly, she made a face and took a nearby pillow and smashed it into his face, before giggling and throwing the bed sheets overtop of his head too, hiding both of them away in a cocoon of sheets as she grinned up at him, eyes dancing.
"Sleep all day and hide away from the world!"
OOF!
His grunt came out in a shaky laugh and he adjusted himself closer to her as the covers were thrown over them. He pulled his arms around her waist and yanked her over him. "Oh, sounds like a wonderful plan," he snickered. "I'm assuming you want to be alone in these hidings?"
Liana smirked down at him and stole a kiss from his lips.
"Maybe, but where would the fun be in that?"
"So you wouldn't mind a little company?" he murmured through a smile. "I think I know a good-looking guy I could introduce you too. About my height, with dark hair and a good body. Pretty good in bed, and pretty good in the kitchen too. And he's single and eager to meet you. I hope you don't mind a beard. He'd shave more but it's a bit of a hassle, sharpening a blade. But I suppose he could a use a bit of a trim."
Her eyes sparkled at his jest as her hand moved to brush through his beard.
"I don't know. I'm a fan of facial hair," she said, then lifted her gaze to his. "But there's just one.problem..."
Tenran furrowed his brows, a little more seriously. "A problem?"
"Yes, because I.think I've.already.found.amicable.company." and her eyes shined as she looked up into his eyes.
Tenran blinked, but his eyes smiled at her. "Really? And what shall I tell my friend? He'll be awfully disappointed. He was so looking forward to meeting you. But...well, he should get used to disappointment," he smirked at her and leaned up to steal a kiss from her.
And she let him steal the kiss, lips hungry, desperate as they found his. She breathed through each kiss, hands wrapping around him, holding him, feeling him as she drank of his love.
"Who cares about your friend,"s he murmured through a smirk. "I just want you."
His body shivered considerably underneath her touch. He always dreamed of her holding him, coming to him of her own desire, taking hold of him and kissing him fierce, without regard or thought to the mistakes of their past. He couldn't understand what it was that made him love this woman more than any other for surely he had had other women after their parting, some that had shown genuine interest, but nothing inspired in him the kind of love he held for Liana.
"And I want you," he murmured, almost a half-whimper in the face of her fire.
"Then let's forget about everything else," she told him through a croaky breath, hands cupping his face as she moved to kiss him again. "Just let the moment be. I'm not going anywhere else but here."
"I want you...badly," he murmured, leaned underneath her, welcoming her advances. His hands came up around her waist, reaching up her back. His fingers ghosted down her spine, and soon gripping possessively into the skin of her lower back, sliding down to her ass.
Her breaths came out softly from his touch, the pair of them hidden away beneath the blankets that not tented over their forms. ANd she was in no position to deny him what he wanted again as her eyes became lowered as she nodded to him.
"Then pretend like it was when we first got married, and you couldn't wait to fuck me every night after dinner."
"I can't wait even now," he murmured, gripping the muscles of her ass, holding her hips close to his. "Sometimes we couldn't wait, we'd make love right on the kitchen table. Sometimes the floor. But I think I always treasured our bed most of all. It was the one place we could always leave our troubles at the door and shut out the rest of the world." He smiled against her lips and pecked them softly. "I remember those subtle glances you gave me. Those light touches through the day, those irritable jabs how you wanted to be left alone, but I know it was only a ploy to get me to touch you and hold you and kiss you." Tenran subtly brushed his legs against hers, his hands running all along her back and his lips pecked her again, wanting and needing.
Liana sunk her teeth into her lips, gasping softly. His words, his touch; had her melting into the bed sheets beneath her. It was a beautiful moment and all she could breath were the words, "Kiss me," as she wrapped her legs around him and sealed her body unto his.
"As you wish," Tenran purred and pressed his mouth to hers, even with the taste his tongue had brought from her essence. He kissed her deeply and wholly, wrapping his arms around her form, fingers digging into her back. Damn Grate-fool-whatever-his-name-was, for his intrusion of what didn't belong to him, for taking Liana and abusing the heart Tenran treasured most of all. He didn't want Liana to go to him, and he would keep her here with him for as long as he could.
At their kiss, Liana let out a throaty moan. This moment, she wished too, could last forever. And as they took a tumble in the sheets, Grattis and Reese were the farthest things from her mind. All she cared about was the here and now, and perhaps that's why her and Tenran still strung along whatever was left of their relationship...
Though it seemed as if at times it had never really been broken. But she remembered the fights. She remembered the tears. It was not easy to forget, but the kissing helped, and so did the joining of their bodies as she gently lowered herself onto his member, slowly, gently, so that he could feel every inch of her- and she, of him.
It wasn't just this that kept Tenran coming back to his ex-wife, it was everything that came with it. The closeness, the familiarity. She knew him better than anyone in his life and he could put down his guard in a way that he couldn't before. He trusted Liana and hoped that she trusted him in turn. They did not have the bonds of marriage to trap them together, to smother or suffocate them, but the freedom to explore what they rellly wanted, what they needed and Tenran found each time, that he wanted and needed her.
"Gods, Liana," he gasped, feeling her come down on him and surely did he quake. His hands ghosed up her back, resting along her sides and feeling her body so close to his.
She shivered beneath his touch, and slowly, ever so slowly, began to roll her hips over top of his.
Why was it that everything was so perfect with him? Why was it that this failed before when now it worked so openly? She felt as if she wanted him, no, needed him more than she had ever done so before as she moved slowly, and let her body work at lengths over his. Her body spoke volumes where her voice could not- and the slow, sensual movement of her body had her gaping over the sensation.
Maybe it was just too hard.
Maybe it was never meant to be.
She couldn't forget about her love.
She wanted Tenran forever.
Tenran was victim to every wave of pleasure that was shared between them. His hips moved in tune with hers, even encouraging her to move a little faster as he held her hips possessively to his. "Gods," he breathed, gasping, gaping and wanting only her.
Coaxed by his wants and her own desires, she moved faster upon him, riding him like a horse as she ground hips to hips and gripped onto his sex possessively. Her inner walls moved and pulsated all around him, the sensation burning and sending electrifying sensations from her groin and up through her belly. In this way, she could let her own sex nurse upon him as she tasted everything that he was and found herself nearing her peak of sexual desire.
Each move she made her breath hitched, and each breath became more needy and less delicate, btu was soft all the same. It was maddening and in a rush, her sex began to explode all aroun dhim as she took his length in fully and screamed out his name to the Gods.
Tenran quivered beneath her as she moved over him, tasting him with her body. His fingernails turned white at the force which he held her hips. Each nursing, every stroke made his eyes roll into the back of his head. "Liana," he begged, biting his lowe lips. "Li-LIANA!"
Somehow their sex life had become as wild as it had been in their youth, and Liana found herself insatiable as, even after her orgasm, she was writhing over him again, riding him, feeling him, tasting him with her body as she shivered and moved and quivered and breathed.
The state of the bed was hopeless. It held the memories of their many years together, and continued to hold them in their years apart. The floor was scraped and there a dent had been made in the wall where the headboard had struck against it. Tenran was in a haze, feeling that sensation all over again, that familiarity of making love to the woman that was his wife.
That was no longer his wife.
But that didn't seem to matter. He didn't care. They were simply them.
Hours later, she lay in an exhausted heap upon the bed. Blankets were strewn ever where and her skin was flushed over in red. She was breathing heavy, but she didn't care. She felt so sated she could simply fall asleep. ANd somehow, in the mess of it all, her hand found his and their fingers threaded together as she gave it a silent squeeze.
"Oh Tenran, what I couldn't give to do it all over again."
And she wasn't talking about their sex.
Tenran was silent, though he knew what she meant. His hand clasped hers tightly in his and he turned to lay on his side. "What over again?" he murmured. "Our meeting? Our marriage?"
Liana turned to him, her hair a mess, sweat still clinging to her body, and her face red from exertion.
"Everything."
Tenran said nothing and simply squeezed her hand. But his eyes were glued to the ceiling as he looked up at the rafters and the spiderwebs that were sewn between them.
After a long moment of silence, Liana spoke up softly.
"So.." she said, clearing her throat. "Where will you go from here?"
His jobs always took him so far away...
and to some rather dangerous places. She couldn't help but wonder where he'd disappear to next. She missed him- that much was evident, and he wasn't ready to give him up just yet.
"That's up to you really," he answered thoughtfully, peering across at her then back to the ceiling. "What are you going to do about Grattis? Are you leaving after all?"
"Up to me?" She blinked quizzically at his statement and shook her head. But then when he brought up Grattis, she kept her eyes locked to the ceiling, went quiet, and frowned.
"He's adamant about you going with him. Of course, if I have any say in it. I'd much rather stay with you here. I can help cook and clean. And...keep you warm at night," he said softly. "But ultimately it's up to you."
Liana made a face and shook her head.
"But what about your job? I'm sure you've got places to be, men to catch..."
"I've done okay for the past few months and put some money in a safe place. I have plenty of spare time," Tenran said. "But even if I didn't I'd still make an effort to be here."
She peered over at him with a thoughtful expression, a curled hand resting to her cheek.
"You must've taken in some impressive bounties."
It was Tenran's turn to grin slyly. "I may have picked up one or two really good ones," he admitted with a curly-lipped smile. His beard stretched in a light laugh. "With the army away, the brigands will play. They get a lot bolder when there aren't soldiers around to quell them. That gives plenty of room for bounty hunters like me to keep them in check. Some of the bolder ones have brought me quite a lucrative haul. I'm not a rich man, mind you but I can afford to live comfortably for a while. I wouldn't mind sharing it with you either."
Liana's cheeks turned pink at the sentiment. She was happy for him, but the underlying question still remained, lingering just beneath the surface. And she couldn't hold it back any longer.
"How is it that we seem to get along better now that we're divorced?" she asked softly. "It still feels as if we're still married sometimes. But I suppose that's not fair. Perhaps we can only exist like this in short moments- what with you now always being away..."
It wasn't an unexpected question, and one that too lingered in the back of Tenran's mind. He raised his head thoughtfully and pursed his lips. "I've been thinking the same thing," he replied honestly, easily. "I've always thought me being away on campaigns put a lot of strain on you, and us, when we were married. I suppose now I'm away a lot because I'm after bounties. But...you're always on my mind Liana; if not on the forefront, then most certainly within reach, and I can't ever wait long enough for me to find you again.
"When we were married...I think we tried too hard to make each other happy. I'll be honest, there've been times when I've hid my own frustrations because I didn't think you wanted to hear it, and there've been just as many times when I knew you were quiet, in that way you are at times, troubled, and forced yourself to be happy for my sake. Maybe we just needed our space. Ten years...gods, it went by so fast."
Liana gave a light cringe at the idea and dropped her gaze.
"Yes... ten years is a long time for anybody."
And she drew in a careful breath, as if to say something else, but instead, simply exhaled and peered over thoughtfully towards the window.
Tenran turned on his side toward Liana and suddenly drew an arm around her. He put an arm underneath her head and pressed her into his chest. Pushing her hair away from her face, his lips found their home against her forehead. "What would you change then? If we could go back and do it all over?"
Butterflies fluttered inside her when she was drew in close and kissed softly, affectionately on her forehead through her hair. And being so close in his warm embrace made her melt as she sighed and leaned into him, her head resting on his chest.
"Everything," she murmured. "My decisions, my rules, giving you up..." She found herself wincing a bit at saying that. BUt it was true. "I won't lie. Divorcing you lifted a weight from my shoulders... but at times like these... I miss you. I do. And I still wished we were married, or had been strong enough to make it work."
"Maybe I'm just trying to look on the bright side of things, but I don't think we failed just because we divorced," he said softly. "It might have been the best thing we could have done for each other at the time. It gave me at least, the chance to see what I really felt, and who I really cared about. I know you probably think I only come around for sex..." His smirk grew a little.
"But maybe that's a part of it, we always did have a pretty good sex life, but I really do care about you, Liana. And maybe...maybe I just think someday we could give it another chance. Someday. No pressure." Tenran gave a soft laugh and kissed her forehead again. "So, what new came of Reese's next furlough, eh? No doubt he's fighting hard for God and Country and to come back to you. You don't very eager."
What he really felt? Give it another chance? Did he think reclaiming love was so easy? Her eyes shined angrily over what he said, but she knew it to be truth, even if it hurt. Where she had been looking at him when he spoke, she turned away, brushing back a few tears that threatened to fall as she sighed.
"He wouldn't have gone,"s he said quietly, bitterly. "Had his brother not died."
"I'm sorry your new fiancee up and went off like that," Tenran commented sincerely. He sat up a little. Leaning over her he let his thrumb brush the moistness away that he saw gleaming in her eyes. "The only thing I regret, is putting my career in front of you, when it should have been the other way around."
Liana grit her teeth at his statement before turning away.
"No.. perhaps that was a selfish wish I always had."
Considering, it seemed all of those who loved her made her their second choice beneath their careers.
"No! No it isn't," Tenran said adamantly and his hand came by her face to keep her looking at him. "You were my wife, my partner in life and I paid the price for choosing anything over you. Did I ever tell you the reason I never spoke to my father after we wed? It was because he didn't approve of you, he thought you beneath me. But I didn't care. And I neglected you in the later years of our marriage. You don't deserve that twice. You didn't even deserve it once. That is what I regret."
As he forced her to look at him, her grey eyes swelled with tears. Though the shock of his father's disapproval was evident on her face, she had a hunch, though never pressed it in all of their years of marriage. In fact, she never told Tenran, but his father had even told her that to her face, though not exactly the hate and disapproval, he had asked her, well before the wedding- to call it off. But it was his last words that had her tears over flowing, as her lips trembled, and she found herself unable to speak as her face wrinkled up and she cried.
The tears were evidence enough of how overwhelmed she was and by sheer instinct did Tenran wrap his arms around her and press her into the wall of his chest, holding her to him.
"By Ansgar's name.. Tenran.." And here, hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she sobbed against him. "It isn't fair."
Nothing was, and she was torn now more than ever. Tenran had openly stated wanting to try again, yet she could not deny she had always considered it- but not with the options on the table, and other truths revealed, she was over whelmed.
"I know," he murmured. "I know." His hand came down her back, rubbing the soft skin there and pulling her tighter to him. Another hand came around to her head and he brushed her hair out of the way as he kissed her brow once more.
Liana curled up against him, feeling hollow, bitter, upset and overwhelmed. And she was shaking. She was hungry and she felt too sick to want to eat, but perhaps it would be best to at least try.
Peering up at him, she sighed.
"Perhaps we should talk of this later. My head is spinning and though I do not feel I could eat much, I should try to eat something so I do not feel so faint."
And emotional. She was a wreck and this day could not be over soon enough. But even when it did- none of her problems had been fixed, and she was still fooling around with her ex-husband-
and Grattis had a letter enroute to his place saying she would come...
Tenran nodded and loosened his hold on her if a little reluctantly. "Okay," he said softly and slipped off the side of the bed. "Would...would you like me to cook something for you?" he asked.
Liana nodded lightly.
"That would be nice, yes. And I can bathe in the mean time."
She felt so dirty, and her face, stiff from salty tears.
"Okay, I'll make proper breakfast for you," he murmured, and kissed her brow for a long moment before rising from the bed and slipping his trousers on, then heading downstairs.
Once she was left alone, she quietly prepared herself a bath, and slipped into the warmed waters, letting the heat soak into her muscles as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes as she rested her head against the lip of the tub. It had be a long, exhausting few days, and her head was still spinning over it. And.. despite that fact, she had somehow managed to fall asleep in the bath.
Downstairs the kitchen was alive with the smells of delicious food. Even though he had just eaten, it was almost symptomatic after all the rigorous...activity he'd just endured. He made a larger meal of thinly sliced steak and cheese and sausage and more bacon. It smelled delicious and Tufkin meowed at his feet. "No, Tuffy. You have food!" And gestured to the bowl.
Still the cat followed him back upstairs as he took the food up there. He set it down on the bed and locked Tufkin out of the room to keep from making off with any portion of their food before he went to check on Liana.
She awoke to the smells of food and through half lids, she peered up at him from the bath.
"Oh Tenran," she said, wiping at her sleepy eyes. "I think I fell asleep." And while the heel of her palm was rubbing at one eye, she peered over at him with a smile. "That smells good."
Tenran saw her breasts bobbing up through the water and he smiled as he gazed at her nipples. "Looks like the water got cold," he commented and chuckled.
Liana peered through her fingers and hair and noticed where his eyes were and flicked bath water at his face.
"Keep that up and so will your food." And with a sigh and smile, seh moved to sweep her blonde hair from her face. "Can you fetch me my towel?"
Tenran turned the door and pulled a towel from the rack, handing it to her. "There. Now let me see you dry off. And make it sexy why don't you."
She rose up from the bath tub, waters gushing down her form. And once she took the towel, she smacked him for his remark and began to pat down her hair.
"I am not working for my dinner, Tenran," but the idea had her blushing and tucking back a smile.
"Why not?" he pouted playfully. "You make me work for my dessert." He gave her a smirk and came forward, leaning his head down to kiss her forehead again and smacked her ass. "I hope you're hungry. Can't get steak like this on the road."
Liana gasped at the smack.
"Tenran!" Though she did adore the attention, she still shook her head at him and continued to work at drying her hair.
"And yes, I'm famished." And curiously she peered up at him. "Steak?" She smiled. "You went all out for this it seems." And it was only then she took the towel to her body, nd began to dry off her arms.
"Ayup..." Tenran murmured idly, going back into the main room, but standing at an angle so that he could watch her ass in the mirror behind her. And a tell-tale smile spreading on his lip.
Liana took her time toweling herself off, knowing full well her ex-husband was watching her.
So she went from her arms to her back, and front, still leaving her ass wet and exposed for him to see.
Tenran's eyes drifted out to where the water glistened off the roundness of her behind. He couldn't help himself. Liana always had been beautiful, even in her meanest moments. He walked toward her and shifted behind her, letting his hand just glide over a cheek just before that arm went around her waist and hugged her close. He leaned in to kiss her neck. "How did we ever get out of bed in the morning?" he murmured with a laugh. He smiled at how his beard belt against her skin.
Liana smirked as she turned towards him, peering at him from over her shoulder. Then she smacked hm with her towel and wiggled the towel in between her ass and his pants.
"Very slowly, it's almost the evening, Tenran."
Tenran shifted accomadatingly for the towel and chuckled. "So we spent the entire day in bed?" he said, almost in disbelief. "Well I wouldn't call it a wasted day, would you?"
Liana smirked again, giving a shrug of her shoulders and quirk at her brow.
"I suppose not. It bought me another day."
And let her just.. forget.
Tenran said nothing. He just smiled. That was all he could do. And his arms closed tighter around her when he stepped toward her front. He simply hugged her too him, and she fit so perfectly against him, as if the space between his arms and his chest was made just for her.
She let out a soft noise and closed her eyes, falling into his arms and nestling herself perfectly against his body. Like a puzzle, she fit- and in that moment, she just let herself revel in the moment.
But even she knew this couldn't last forever.
"The food... it will get cold if we continue to linger."
"Oh yeah," Tenran murmured. But he still didn't let her go. "I'm famished. How bout you?" His arms only tightened around her possessively.
"I am too, but somehow I am doubting we are speaking of the same thing," she told him, her eyes dancing as she smiled.
Tenran pulled his head back far enough to look at her. He gave her a smile, leaning to kiss her but didn't quite just yet. "But the food will get cold if we wait too long. Cold steak isn't very tasty."
Her eyes shined as her cheeks dimpled into a smile
"No, but we've had it before." And she leaned in to kiss him, hotly, hungrily, and with as much passion as she might of in their youth- in the days they had fooled around- well before they were to marry.
He couldn't stop it even if he wanted to. The loud moan that escaped him when he was bit with the fire of her passion. It had been too long since he felt her kiss him like that and it took every ounce of strength he had not to allow his knees to buckle as she kissed him. Tenran met her with powerful arms, that coiled around her so perfectly, wrapping possessively around her. He felt her tongue against his, the heat of her breath that drove him crazy and made his blood run hot, and he quivered in every aspect.
Forget the years of suffering, the years of pain. How longer could she deny she loved him? Needed him? And she whimpered and moaned and kissed him back, and though she did not speak, her breath and lips spoke volumes as she held him, touched him and leaned in with need.
Nothing else in the world could have mattered, could have existed save the two of them in that moment. Tenran was drunk with her scent, her caresses and the hair on the back of his neck tingled, standing on end. Tenran stepped her back toward the wall and pulled her up off the ground, holding her there with her legs dangling as he head angled in toward her. He kissed her deeply with a hunger all his own, unable to contain himself any longer.
Liana felt herself picked up- and from his kiss, it felt as if she were flying, and she clung her arms around him more tight, fingers digging in and gripping into his back side, feeling up the muscles there and how tense they were as he held her. But she could also feel his heart beat, and moaned as she did so as her tongue slipped past his lips, head tilting leftward as they kissed.
His hands moved easily as they parted her legs and trained her thighsto wrap around his hips. He dropped his trousers, wriggling out of them in growing frustration, but he managed the feat somehow. "I want you," he moaned against her. "I need you."
When his pants dropped she felt his arousal between her legs and smiled through a kiss.
"I can feel that,"she murmured. And no doubt he could feel what she wanted, too.
"Can you feel this too?" he smirked slyly at her as he allowed his sex to prod between hers, letting it linger there. He continued to tease her, letting their bodies taste one another without fully joining.
Her eye lids hung, daring to close. But her lips lifted a little ina smirk as she looked back at him.
"Y-yes... but I think we're forgetting something.."
"Are we? And would you be willing to share that little piece of knowledge?" he panted a little as his member continued to slide alongside her sex, prodding entry here and there.
Liana felt him glide against her-a nd gods did it feel heavenly. Her lips and eyes remained barely open, so she was barely able to inform him... "The steak..... they'll get cold."
"Hmm, you're right," he murmured. He felt his sex plunge further into her before pulling out again. "We should eat before it gets cold." He kissed her before moving her away from the wall and walking back to the bed and laying her across it.
She gasped when he teased her but with one insertion, and when he laid her on the bed, her smirk grew wider.
"I don't see any steak..." she said, eyes sparkling as she lay beneath him.
"Truly?" Tenran murmured as he rolled off of her and moved to the tray and began to cut the steak on the plate before taking a piece and gently laying it on her skin before he leaned down and lapped it up from her belly and chewed quickly. He licked her belly to clean off the excess grease and peeked up at her. "Still don't see any?"
Liana snorted a laugh.
"Yes. I still don't. I think some hungry dog may have come along to eat it."
Tenran laughed and took a slice of steak and offered it to her from between his own teeth. "Do you see it now?" he offered with a grin.
"I do," she said with a smirk. "But I see it between some one else's teeth." She leered the meat. 'Are you trying to offer it to me?" And then lifting a finger, she swiped away the grease that was beginning to drip onto her cheek.
"I suppose I could be pursuaded in sharing a bite. Go on. Have a taste," he smirked and let the steak dangle at the end of his lips just close enough for her own teeth to snatch it from him.
Liana chuckled. "Are you offering me pre-chewed meat?"
"The meat I'm offering is not prechewed, though...you have sampled it before, and you claimed to be more than a satisfied customer." Tenran stuck the piece back into his mouth and swallowed it. He took another slice between his fingers and offered it to her. "Open wide. This one's coming in hot."
"Tenran," she said, giving him a knowing look. "You know I can feed myself."
"I know, I know. And if it's any consolation, you can feed me a piece too," he smirked at her. "Just don't bite my fingers."
"What was that?" she asked playfully, her eyes dancing. "You want me to bite?" And she moved forward swiftly, going in for a chomp.
Thankfully Tenran had seen that coming and promptly plopped it into her mouth before retracting his hand and laughing. "Oh, no, not that easily," he growled and leaned in to kiss her softly. He had a few bites for himself and offered the rest to Liana.
Liana moaned as she chewed on the piece of steak,a nd sat up more properly to enjoy finishing the rest, though she couldn't help herself but cut a look down towards Tenran's hip, where his cock was still jutting out eagerly.
"I suppose there never was a button to turn that thing off," she said through a chuckle and took up some drink before nestling back into her bed as she stretched out within the comfortable sheets.
"But you know we can't keep this up... we have yet to really leave the house.."
Or this room...
And there was still the matter of Grattis to attend to.
As eager as his body was, Tenran was content to lay beside her, pushing the empty tray aside. He smiled up at the cieling and nodded. "I know. We gotta get up and out sometime," he muttered with a shrug. "The sun already went away and we're still in bed. But I have to be honest, I enjoyed days like this."
Liana's eyes wavered as she took him in, and his words heated her all over and stirred up memories of long ago. She turned her eyes down to the empty plates, now discarded to the end table.
"Y-yes... they had always been fun, hadn't they?" Though she knew she couldn't keep ignoring the inevitable, it was time to confess what she knew she ought to do. Drawing in a wavering breath, she sighed hotly nad turned to him.
"Tomorrow, I ought to leave to stay with Grattis."
Tenran pursed his lips and turned his eyes to Liana. He didn't blink, but nor was his expression sorrowful. "I figured you would. You know he told me yesterday that today would be the last day he would give you that decision. Figures, he'd try to drag you out of here when you weren't ready. I told him. He was awfully stubborn about it, like a puss-filled scab," he murmured.
Tenran laughed at his description of Grattis. "Will you still let me come with you?" he asked tentatively.
Liana studied his face for a good long while before sighing and shaking her head.
"Yes, but just for the journey."
No sense in having him be fooled into thinking it'd be much more than that.
"ANd then we really must part ways, Tenran. I'll.. handle this issue on my own. I'm an adult. I can handle myself." But even she knew the roads, especially now, could be dangerous. Or else, well, Tenran knew better than her! He'd be without a job!
Tenran opened his mouth to say something but it snapped shut and he only pursed his lips. "I know Liana," he said at last, giving her a knowing smirk. "I know you can handle Grattis around by the balls if you had to. You got your work cut out for you. We wet out in the morning? Set! I mean set."
Liana rolled her eyes.
"I think we've had enough wet mornings." And though she sighed, she smiled as she looked up into his eyes. "But I still have to figure out what to do with this home...." She pressed her lips together. "Were you serious about wanting to keep it? I mean... I'm not certain what will become of it, and the war... and I have barely the money to keep it. Are you sure you can afford it on your earnings?"
"I was in fact. But if you already have a buyer lined up, we'll just have to see if I can beat his offer," he smiled at her. "I guess maybe I'm just clinging to the past. These walls could tell quite a few stories I'm sure, but I'd love to buy. I wouldn't want you to lose it."
"Well, there wouldn't be much of a sale. You did, after all, give it to me when we divorced," she stated tactfully and brushed back some of her blonde hair from her face. "But there are a few debts I still owe on it- for repairs and things when you were not around... Those I would at least have to pay, well before saying my final goodbyes."
"You know what. You may be on to something. Maybe I'm still holding on to what was. God knows this house has a lot of memories between us. Minus the repairs, maybe it would be better to just sell it, just move on. I've been looking at some houses of my own here and there. I know I like to travel, but I do miss the warmth of having one constant place I can come home to at night," Tenran mused, peering at her then the cieling. But his eyes were not sad or filled with grief. In fact he was smiling, almost hopeful.
Liana wasn't sure what to say to that. Part of her had, sadly, hoped he had went on to agree to take it-b ut another part o fher would be relieved to see it go. But it was that part of her that wanted to move on- but couldn't. Because Tenran would always be there, as he was now. Would a day actually come when he'd finally be out of her life? Having moved on? To be with another? To have taken another?
She felt a pang of jealousy hit her as she grimaced, and turned away from him as she moved across her room now to get dressed.
"Yes, well... that we can think on tomorrow. If you don't buy it, I might have to just out right sell it to the bank."
Watching her rise from the bed made Tenran frown and he suddenly reached forward to pull her back to him. "You didn't let me finish," he said, holding her hands between the two of his. He furrowed his brows. "I want to buy a new house that...maybe we could make new memories in...maybe, if you..." He squeezed her hand and let it go. "If you wanted to."
At first she thought she hadn't heard him correctly, but then there it was. He said it. He had to go and say it and her face flushed and her eyes flared.
"Tenran.." she siad, removing her hands from his. "Do you not recall what happened to the first house?"
"Yeah I know what happened. Except this time, the house is mine," he flashed a sharp-toothed grin at her. "What I mean is...it could be a place the two of us could share from time to time, if you ever wanted to come and see me. Wasn't that what we talked about yesterday. You never finding me. But at least then I would be in one place...somewhere you could always find me. I know you'll do what you have to do. It's, uh, it's just a thought."
At such an idea, she frowned, and deeply.
"Tenran... it's not a location I was looking for. You're... you were rarely home, you're still rarely home. What good would a home be for you if you're only there half your life?"
Tenran sighed. "I know. I know. But I'd like to be there more often... At least it's a place to stay. Especially in the winter months when travelling is too harsh..."
Liana had heard enough of this. She rolled out of bed and moved to fetch her clothing, slipping into her dress as she began to lace it up.
"Well, I suppose you can start looking after our journey North.." she said, keeping her back to him.
Ternan said nothing as he mimicked her. He dressed as quickly as she did and threw his jacket over his shoulders before grabbing the tray and heading back downstairs.
Liana only eased up after Tenran had left. She felt too hollow to cry- and she had cried too much. Why was it so difficult for her to make any sort of decisions? And why was everything so complicated with Tenran?
Moving away from the bed, she remained quiet as she began to pack her things.
Tenran waited downstairs, dressed and sitting on the couch with Tuffy on his lap. The black and white colored cat stretched across his thighs and he rubbed his side until the cat purred relentlessly. "Ahh, Tuffy, if only we could have more moments like this," he mused softly and the cat only meowed. "You wouldn't like life on the road, but we can't leave you here by yourself. So you can come along for now. And we can take care of our fleas, hopefully."
What Liana packed was minimal. She had been dragging her feet over what to take- but she realized... did it matter? Nothing ought to be kept. She needed to move onward with her life- so just enough clothing for a week's travel ought to suffice. The rest would find itself. Moving away from her room, she set the clothing sack on her bed a nd went to move down stairs, but paused before the door to the attic- and slowly opening the door, she fetched up a candle and disappeared up the stairs,a nd down where Tenran sat o the couch- he'd be able to hear the wooden steps creak beneath her steps.
Tufkin had always found comfort in the confines of Tenran's jacket, even when it was already snug to him. It secured the cat and he promptly closed his eyes as Tenran knotted hin in there and pet the cat into a roar of purrs. Purrs he heard just through the sounds of creaking. Tenran rose up from the couch and ascended the stairs slowly until he reached the lowered staircase of the attic. Light bled from within and he followed it, but lingered on the steps. He said nothing, simply watching Liana from behind, though little did he know the purring from his jacket was likely to make his presence known.
Liana had been fetching up her papers, placing her journal into a small box along with a few other writing supplies when she heard the creaking of the steps and then silence- and then purrs. She was wading through the letters she had scattered but a day or so ago- letters she had continually tried to write in order to tell Tenran what had been going on in her life- and that their house was to be sold, she to leave...
but she could not have anticipated what had transpired these last few days. So after peering down at the crumpled paper all over the floor for quite some time, she only then peered over at Tenran with a sigh.
"He never purrs as loud when he's with anyone else." Then she noticed the fur ball was in his jacket and placed her hands upon her hips. "You know the cat will not freeze. He does not need to stay in here. He's got a fur coat you know."
Tenran observed her rummaging, making a not of it before the attention was turned on him. He smirked at her. "I know, but he likes that snug feeling that comes with fitting in impossible places," he said, his smile only growing. "He just likes being hugged all over. Most people do."
Liana made a face,a nd tried to fight back a smile.
"Tenran... but he's not a person."
Tenran put his hands over Tuffy's ears. "Shhh. He thinks he's a person," he smirked. "No need to make him privy to that little inconvenience."
"I think only you think he's a human," Liana said with a roll of her eyes, and turned away to stare back at the mess on the floor. Then without so much as a word, she began to clean up her mess ofpapers in silence.
"I'm sure he's perfectly happy with that," Tenran muttered with a shrug and just lingered in the doorway.
"Or you're perfectly happy with that," Liana said through a sigh. "I suppose you'll be taking him when you purchase your own home?" she asked, not bothering to look up at the pair of them as she worked.
"Well, only if you really really don't want him. I couldn't bear the thought of him being homeless. He really does love you, you know. He just wishes you'd let him sleep on the bed."
Liana cut him a look.
"But he'd have to get used to a new bed, and Reese is allergic to him anyway. It makes him sneeze all the time if he's ever in the house with him."
"Then Reese can go suck an egg," Tenran said flatly and nursed Tuffy's head. He smiled at the cat. "I'll take him then. I'd hate to have him be a bother to Sir Sneezes-His-Brains-Out."
"Tenran." Liana cut him a look before she sighed, swiping blonde hair from her face. "But that would make sense. But who would take care of him when you're away on your job?"
"Didn't I tell you I came into some money?" he said idly, petting his head. "I have enough to lay off the bounties for a while...that was the whole idea of settling down. Tuffy will be fine."
Liana still frowned at such an idea.
"I know but... for how long?"
"I don't know," Tenran said. "Maybe a few months, maybe longer. Maybe I could invest it and maybe do a few bounties here and there for my health. Though it's be a lot harder with my outdated maps."
"And I suppose that's another reason you wanted to visit me?" she said curtly.
Tenran looked up at her from the cat, but only smiled. "You know it's not the only one. You just tell yourself that so you can justify pushing me away because you're afraid of what letting me hang around might mean... And I was hoping you'd recognize the invitation a little more easily than that."
Liana sighed and shook her head, continuing to gather up the rest of the paper into a bag in preparation to toss into the fire.
"You can think what you want, Tenran. I'm not going to go around... inviting... this."
"I was only implying, or trying to at any rate, that you could accompany...on my journies. But it's all right," he said with a nonchalant shrug. "So what's that you're collecting?"
"Accompany you?" Liana's eyes went wide. "What? Collecting bounties!?" Was he mad!? What hit him over the noggin and made him think that was a good idea!?
"No...it's all right. It's not a great idea, I know. I meant...helping me collect bounties by making better maps than those readily available...you'd get a cut of course. But, it's a terrible idea, I'm sorry," he said with a shrug.
"What?" Liana blinked. "You want me to help you make some more maps?" She frowned at the idea and gave a tired sigh.
"Help me bring these papers down to the fire, Tenran." And exhaustedly, she hefted up what she could and began to make her way down the steps.
Tenran shook his head and obliged her. Tuffy continued to purr in his jacket unbothered by the motion as he helped her downstairs.
With the fire still crackling, Liana began to dump the crumpled letters into the fire, spilling a few as she did so and not realizing the contents could be read. Some of the letters were a bit more personal than others, while others, were blunt, to the point- hollow..a nd rude.
Tenran was about to throw his own pile of letters into the fire when he saw some of the letters spilling out. He dropped his letters in a crouched position and paused to pick one up. "What's this?" he murmured as he grabbed a few in hand and examined them. "Liana."
Liana was busy scooping up a pile of more letters when she blew an annoying strand of blonde hair from her face. But at his tone, her eyes drifted over to what he was looking at. Gasping, she tossed the letters she held into the fire and ripped the one from his hand.
"You're not supposed to read those!"
"Liana...those letters. They're touching. They're intimate and personal," Tenran commented idly as he protected the yet unburned pile and he unfurled a few to read them.
"TENRAN!" Liana snapped,a nd grabbed the one from his hand, attempting to snatch it from him. "I told you these are meant to be burned!" The LAST thing she wanted was for him to read them- any of them. And finding ut he was starting to was embarassing enough!
Tenran pulled his hands back fiercely. "But I want to read them!" he called back. "Why did you never send them? Liana...please."
Angered, she reached for it again.
"Because they are not yours to read! Now, give them to me so I can burn them in the fire. Tenran! Please!"
Tenran gave a sigh and handed the letter over to her, along with the rest of the pile and sat back, watching them burn with somber eyes.
Liana felt much better to be watching them burn, but she also could not help but feel guilty for it.
"You wouldn't have to read them anyway,"s he muttered. "I already told you what most of those contain."
Tenran was silent for a long time, watching the letters burn before cutting his eyes to Liana. "Are you ready to leave?" he asked.
"Of course not. I have to finish packing and the fire has to go out first. Can't have the entire place catching to flames now can we?" And coldly, she stormed away from him, disappearing back into her room.
"Well, then hurry the fuck up," Tenran muttered under his breath and watched the flames continue to burn away the last of the letters. "Dumb ass."
"Don't think I didn't hear that, Tenran!" And she slammed her door closed.
"Good, I wanted you to hear it! Bout time you did something about it too!" he called through the door and threw a piece of kindling at the wall. "You never had the guts to tell anything to my face except when you were pinned between a rock and a hard place..."
"That's because ther'es nothing left to say to you, Tenran!" she roared behind the closed door. "At least not anything worth wasting my breath!"
"You always were just a bag of hot air," Tenran growled and chucked another piece of kindling at the wall once more. "Too stubborn for your own good."
Anger heated her enough to throw back open the door as she turned towards him and screamed right in his face.
"NO ONE ASKED YOU TO COME HERE, TENRAN! IF I'M SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE YOU CAN GO BACK TO YOUR OTHER LIFE!!!"
Tenran scowled at her and almost let his temper get the better of him. Almost. "Liana..." he said, sighing, releasing the tension in his body. "I didn't come here to fight with you..." He swallowed hard on a dry throat. "I came here to ... I don't even know why I came here. I don't even know why I bother. The only time you seem to talk to me is when it's convenient for you. You have so little faith in me...you think I only come around for a drink, or a fuck, or a place to crash. Well, if that's all you think of me then...then, I guess maybe I should leave."
"But what AM I to think, Tenran? Everyone talks about us, they see us... and Reese.. he gets angry and I have to explain, I have to lie to him- Gods.." And here, she found angered tears pooling in her eyes. "Yes.. yes maybe you should leave, Tenran." Because the more she thought on it, the more she only found it was herself to blame, and she just couldn't cope with this any longer. No matter what she did, she always messed things up. "I'll be fine on the road on my own." She ahd done it before, she was a cartographer, after all, and war or no war, she knew these roads better than most.
This time, Tenran couldn't control his temper flaring up. "Then you shouldn't have gotten engaged to him at all!" he found himself seething, his face red. "I know you don't love him! I know you just used him to get back at me, or to try and lie to yourself. But you're right, forget it. And forget me. Since when did you ever give a damn about anyone but yourself. Goodbye."
Tenran might as well have slapped her,f or those words were truly a slap to the face. She couldn't even retort, she was so surprised and angry that all she could do was stare at him, growl angrily and storm back off to her room.
Tenran grabbed that piece of kindling and threw it hard at the door, and the force was so strong the wood splintered on impact. He was furious in his own right and he took Tufkin out his jacket and set the cat on the ground before storming out of the door.
How DARE he speak that way! How DARE he be so cruel! And the words stung her so deeply, she dropped to her knees and sobbed. For hours this went on, her mind and body wrecked by emotions, until she lay there, numb to the pain and to the memories. And it hurt so much.
Only because she knew Tenran was right.
If she looked out her window or walked out the door, she'd find Tenran sitting on the porch bench outside, sleeping in his jacket. Again.
The mrowling of Tuffy drew her outside of her room. And though it annoyed her at first, she softened upon seeing the cat just wanted out. He looked upset, and with a sigh, she opened the door and the cat rushed off. But more mrowling caused her to pause before she shut the door, and when she opened it, she gasped.
"Tenran!"
Tuffy jumped on his belly.
"Mrowwww!"
Tuffy had never been a small cat. Though, he wasn't fat, he was large enough to make him jump up with a gasp at the sudden weight on his belly. "Tuffy!" he howled, but the cat just snuggled against him, purring furiously before shoving his butt in his face and hopping off to go pee in the grass. Tenran spat out a few strands of hair that got on his face and he looked at Liaian for a few seconds. "Sorry," he muttered and slid his jacket back onto his shoulders. "I'll leave now."
Liana sighed.
"If you intended to leave, you would have done so already. Just get back inside. It's freezing out here. And the inns are not open in town at such late an hour."
Tenran had a look about him resembling a whipped child and he looked up at the road leading to the dirt path out toward the main one but he didn't respond so quickly. "No it's all right," he said after a while. "I don't mind. I can stay out here. Just feed Tuffy a good meal. Ah, spoke too soon, looks like he's got something to eat already." As the cat came back through the bushes with a dead bird.
This time Liana glared at him.
"I told you you're coming in side. So stop being so stubborn. ANd it's too cold to remain out there. You'll catch your death. Now come on," and she moved to shoo him back inside.
Tenran shot Liana a look that she dare speak to him like a child. Well, suppose he was acting like one. But damn Ansgar, so was she! Tenran knew the futility of attempting to hold his ground however, what little there was to begin with and without even looking at her he rose and sidestepped her into the house.
Growling,s he followed after him, and after Tuffy came in, she closed the door with a rough click. Turning from the door, she peered over at Tenran, her brows still furrowed.
"You can sleep on the couch. I'll get you some blankets." And she moved away to pull some out from the cedar chest in her room.
Tenran made no reply still and sat down on a small corner of the couch, using his jacket to cover him once more. He had remembered his boots, leaving them at the foot of the sofa before he laid back and curled up on the cushions.
And that's when Liana dumped a ton of pillows and blankets ontop of his head.
"There. GOODNIGHT." And she stormed off to bed.
But her irritation had no store on him and all he did was feel a bitter emptiness when he fixed the blanket over his body. He frowned deeply before setting his eyes to stare at the door, picturing Reese wllking through it at any moment, hat in hand, Liana running into his arms and carrying her away. He saw a lightness in her eyes, a smile on her face the likes of which he hadn't seen in years and his own grin flickered then sputtered out. Then he heard it. That laughter. A giggle of youth, of happiness. Real happiness. And his smile flickered and faded again. And a small tear escaped his eye and soaked the cushion under his head shortly before he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
And the next morning, it happened- the unthinkable. Though at first she thought it was some terrible dream, that was until the house shook and roar to life with fire. And the cries outside made her rush to the window to see the horror that was a fresh battle erupting to life- right in her very back yard.
Bare feet slamming against the floors, she rushed down stairs calling out.
"Tenran! Tenran!" And a meowl had her spotting Tufkins and protectively she scooped the furry cat up into her arms and hugged him close, eyes searching as she continued to rush into the common room- to check on the damage and to see if Tenran was okay.
"TENRAN!!"
ANd the moment she stepped into the room, the window was blasted away beside her- glass exploding everywhere.
Tenran had smelled the smoke, had heard the shouting but he too thought it little more than apart of his dream. And then he heard his name and Tenran's eyes shot open. He leapt to his feet and he stuffed his feet into his boots. His body protested in a sudden change in motion, but for the moment adrenaline overcame any other sensation that came his way.
"LIANA!" he called out and saw smoke moving in through the kitchen as more glass was broken. Troops swarmed the property and it was only a matter of time before the battle was taken even closer than comfort dictated. He got up and ducked low, scampering over to Liana as she reached the bottom of the stairs and pulled her toward the back door. "Let's get the fuck out of here!" he said to her and yanked the door open. "Stay low!"
Wearing nothing more than her night dress and robe, and wearing no shoes at all, she clung on tightly to their fear stricken cat and followed closely behind him, keeping low. The entire back yard was smoky, and the clamor of steal could be heard and each time the noise and sounds of death and cutting sent a chill down her spine. But then through the shadows before them, figures emerged. Gasping, Liana clutched onto Tenran's arm.
"There are men ahead, blocking the way!" Giving his arm a tug, she glanced around.
"Should we try to hide somewhere? Perhaps in the cellar? Or do we dare try to make it for another patch of open forest?"
Tenran moved off the side amidst the dust and smoke that clouded around her property. "We can't hide, not for long before they find us," Tenran whispered. "Then they'll make mincemeat out of Tuffy! Oh quiet you! Look, we can split up. I'll draw the men off to the left and you make a run for the trees to the right! It's a lot closer from here you'll make it. Are you ready?"
"What? NO! We can't split up!" The fear was evident in her eyes as she reached for his arm.
"We have about fifteen seconds to make a decision. It'd be ideal if we had out mind made up by then," Tenran said, gripping her hand with his. "Then I suspect we ought to run then. Now!"
Fear fluttered within her, but she trusted him-a nd the last thing she wanted to do was to be separated from the only person she trusted so completely during chaos. So she took his hand and ran hard, holding on to their cat as best she could while keeping low, keeping fast and moving as swiftly as Ansgar would allow for her.
Tenran didn't know how well the dust would conceal them. It was just as likely they were spotted and they were just biding their time on when they would go after them. But the confusion of shouts and of musket fire and flaming fireballs being hurled in the air made their situation even smokier and gave ample time and cover for then to scurry out to the trees.
"God... Tenran.." Liana whispered as she stumbled along behind him, bare feet slamming through the mud and snow. Any chills she might have felt through her dress or robe, or even the cold that might have been numbing her bare feet was easily ignored over the fear of them getting skewered or blown up- becoming just another casualty of this bitter war.
The clashing of steel smashed through the screams and Tenran turned his mind away from the carnage or as well as he could considering their circumstances. "Don't pay any mind to it, Liana," he whispered. "just keep moving forward."
"But it's so loud!" She called to him. "And Tufkins is scared." ANd she hugged the cat closer. "And so am I."
They were nearer to the trees now and he pulled them both into the bushes, hiding as well as he could. He squeezed her hand. "Don't be scared," he said. "I'll protect the both of you. I've gone through enough messes like these. You're safe with me."
"God... Tenran,"s he trembled beside him, out of fear and the cold. "The sounds aren't going away. It's as if we're surrounded.."
"Here!" Tenran said an slipped his leather jacket from his shoulders and placed it arund Liana's. He took the cat from her until the jacket was secure around her and he gave back Tufkin who clung to her in desperation. "We'll have to play it by ear then. Just follow my lead. Stay close. I won't let anything happen to you." And with that he unlocked one of the boltguns from his thigh and loaded it with small arrows, bolts strong enough to pirce through plate armor. And began to move through the treacherous ground.
OOC: I guess it's a good thing he stole back his bolt gun from Jinai 8D
----
"Oh, but won't you be cold?" she said, nestling into the jacket, then taking Tufkins back into her arm. She peered up at him with a frown, but moved behind him silently, watching him work while on occasion, her own eyes peered out into the frosted, clouded chaos around them.
"Don't worry, Tuffy. Daddy will protect you. Like he always has," she whispered, stroking their cat's soft fur and kissing the top of his head. ANd though the cat clung to her possessively, she ignored the claws marks and blood. It was either ignore it, or let the cat go- and despite the fact she showed such disdain for him, it was only in moments like these that showed how much she truly cared.
"I can't believe we're being attacked. I knew there was an infantry line moving through here- but I'd never have imagined there'd be any fighting in or near our little town." ANd as she spoke, she still trembled as the winds cut through her jacket as she peered over at Tenran, who had to bare the elements without it. Well, at least he had his shoes...
Somehting SHE would have scolded him for for having forgotten- and in the craziness, she hadn't even thought to put on her own- and of course, was regretting it now as the icy waters of a nearby stream had to be passed. It felt like daggers on her heels, but she pushed on- knowing a worse fate awaited her if she remained.
Chancing a glance back to their home, her eyes glossed over with tears as she noted it was in flames.
"I... I guess we won't have to sell it after all."A nd she didn't realize how much on edge she was until she spoke that phrase, as hot tears streamed down her face. And as they crested the hill, she suddenly called out to Tenran.
"I'm so sorry." And she huffed a bit, breath white from the cold and her legs, sore as she stumbled in a half run behind him. "I never meant to hurt you, Tenran. Even those times I thought I did. But you were right."And here she paused, feeling Tufkins struggle as she adjusted her grip upon him. "But if we do die here, i just wanted you to know that. That I never stopped loving you and always wondered... if I was being foolish. If it all was some big mistake. Some big mistake I alone had made. But I knew then I didn't deserve you, even though I knew we wanted one another... Tenran... I...."
But a massive explosion behind them knocked her cleant ot hte ground, sending Tufkins flying and their entire world blinding them in deep, dark smoke-
and it was only then, with her face, dizzy and pressed into the ground, she realized she knew not where she or Tenran was.
"Tenran!?" she called out, but the ringing in her ears practically deafened her. And so she tried again. "TENRAN!?"
Tenran had tuned most of what she said out, mostly because he was in survival mode, really and was focusing on cutting their path through the line as discreetly as possible. But he knew what he'd heard from her was in her desperation. There was no doubt of that in his mind. "What...don't talk like that, Liana. We'll get out of this soon enough," he said with a nod and forged onward again.
But when the blast exploded, Tenran wenr hurdling through the air and he was thrown down into a gully nearly knocked out from the fall as dirt flew and rocks pelted down on him. He coughed loudly and a spat what dirt landed in his mouth, his ears ringing loudly, rendering him deaf to everything.
When no response came, fear cemented itself within the pit of her belly, chilling her and causing her mind to panic. She tried calling out again, but the moment she saw a figure through the smoke, she tried his name again. But this time she got a response- and was met with a rifle to her face.
"On your knees!" The soldier commanded, and Liana wasted no time dropping to her knees.
"Please.. you have to help me. My husband.."
"ON YOUR KNEES AND BE SILENT!" The man howled, as Liana winced but obeyed. Another soldier appeared behind him and frowned at the sight of the woman.
"Is she with the rebels?"
"I don't know. She was calling out for someone when I silenced her."
The man's brow's furrowed. "We don't have time for maybes. Find out the answers from her or shoot her. There's too many of the bloody rebels infesting this place for us to take any chances."
Liana paled when she was left alone with the soldier, as she began to tremble.
"P-please. I am no mage. My home was just set to fire- we were fleeing and-"
"A likely story. Now put your face in the dirt. Come on. What are you waiting for? Or I'll shoot you between the eyes." He cocked the rifle. "It's less messy this way."
"But I'm not..."
"You've got three seconds and I either shoot your face, or the top of your head. It's your choice."
But Liana was too stunned to comply.
"One........ two...."
Three, Tenran thought as he watched the dart from his gun hone in on the armed soldier's neck and blood spurted out from his throat in a gurgle before he fell to the ground. Tenran had laid on his belly on the side of the gully that rose up on the ridige where Liana had been captured and rose suddenly when the man was down. His commanding officer whirled around in alarm at the sound the soldier made hitting the ground and he too reached for the pistol in his belt only to have the bolt pierce his armor and another shooting into his throat.
He fell with a loud thud and the pistol went off in his hand, shooting at the bark of a tree. Tenran limped over to Liana and grabbed her and the rifle. "Close one. Told you to stick with me dang it," he said with mock irritation but he managed to flash her a smile nontheless. "Here found some cartridges and a few bullets for the rifle. Remember it's loaded, but all you gotta do is stick the cartride down the whole first and ram the bullet in after it. Cock the hammer back, aim, and fire. Let's move."
Liana took the gun and glared at Tenran, despite her smile.
"I know how to use a gun, remember? You taught me, after all."
He flashed her another grin. "I know. I was just making sure Ol' Reese didn't brainwahs you into forgetting," he said and took his time in standing and quickly moving toward the bodies to retrieve the bolts from them and then motioned her to follow him once more.
"Wait, Tenran," she said, grabbing onto his arm. "Tufkins.. I.. I lost him in the blast." ANd her eyes darted around, searching for any clues as to where their cat could have gone.
Tenran's eyes went wide at the realization and he blinked at Liana for a few seconds before peering out to the dusty field. "I don't think we can find him in all that. He can take care of himself. He'll find a way a back to us. First let me take care of you."
"But Tenran...." she said, moving reluctantly to his side. "I don't know what I'd do if something were to happen to him!"
And just as if speaking of Ansgar, he would suddenly appear, there was a sudden mreowling in the air and Tufkin flew threw it, landing right on Liana's head.
Liana gasped and dropped the gun, before yanking the freaked out feline from her head. She suffered a few scratches, where blood now seeped from stinging wounds, but she'd live. And so would Tuffy.
"Oh, Tufkins," she cooed affectionately as she hugged the beast tight.
Tufkin struggled even in her grasp, but he calmed immediately upon sight of Tenran and meowed loudly. "Not now, Tufkin. She's got you now. Just put him in the jacket,grab the gun and let's go. I can hear men just up on the ridge. Get down in the gully."
Liana obeyed, stuffing the cat inside the jacket and hefting up the gun. Hugging the gun and cat carefully to her body, she followed closely behind Tenran as he lead the way.
Tenran nearly slid back down into the gully before he remembered one more thing. He quickly scurried to the first dead soldier and pried off the man's boots. His feet were smaller than Tenran's and there was a slight chance they were going to fit Liana's, or at least be big enough for her. "Here, put them on. It could be worse. Last thing I need for you is to freeze to death. Shit maybe you out to take his trousers too." And without her saying so, he was taking them off the corpse.
Liana gasped in horror, and found herself squeezing the cat a bit too tightly as Tufkin's protested.
"Are... are you serious?" And though she gaped, she knew he was not.
"Put the boots on!" he commanded. "I'm not going to take any lip. Here." He managed to slip off the corpses's trousers and belt and held them out to her. "We don't have time to contemplate. Slip them on!"
Liana looked up at him just once before moving swiftly to slip into the pants, then awkwardly into the boots.
"Where should we go, Tenran? The battles growing quieter around us." She peered in the direction of the noises. "It seems to be going south..." Towards the town. And this made her frown.
Tenran listened to the sounds around them. "East. There's an old farm there where we can find some rest. At least for a short moment. I just hope the troops didn't move in it first. But it's a plan. Okay. Let's go."
Following Tenran's lead, Liana rushed along with him through the fading smoke, over the hills and through the icy creek- and just as they crested another steep pass, it was only then she began to realize it had begun to snow. Soft, white flakes began to collect upon her hair. They were the sort that their unique crystals were large and visible, and landed daintily on everything and did not melt swiftly upon their initial touch. For the air was cold and unforgiving, and the grounds were quickly becoming coated in a light dusting of the wet snow.
Tenran knew the risk of having their tracks so easily visible in the snow. Thankfully it had yet to really collect on the ground. Still he pressed their movement all the same. Then he finally saw the barn up on the horizon and he stopped short of the dirt road that led a hundred yards out to it. "I'm gonna go check it out. You rest here with Tuffy while I do." Tenran turned to her and wiped some snow from her hair and gave the collar of his jacket a tug to lift it up around her neck, cresting just the bottom of her ears. "To keep you warm."
Despite his attempts to help keep her warm, she still shivered.
"It seems I've come unprepared for this," she said, forcing herself to smile while Tuffy meowled inside her jacket. She tried to shhhh him, as she rocked him gently against her, as if he were some sort of child.
Tufkin's head popped out and he moewed loudly and struggled to get out of the jacket but soon ceased when he realized its futility. Tenran laughed and pet the cat. "It's okay," he nodded to her. Just stay in the bushes and hold the musket. I'll be back in a ten minutes."
"O... okay," she said, releasing a shivering breath. "But be careful." she said, pausing him a moment to take his hand as she squeezed it and looked desperately into his dual colored eyes.
At the pause, Tenran felt his stomach jump. "You be careful too," he smirked at her, but not before leaning forward and kissing her brow. "Okay. I'll be back."
Liana waited until he was out of sight, than slunk back into the foliage and cowered beneath it. She peered around, grey eyes every alert as soft breaths came out in white puffs. Thankfully, her and the cat kept relatively quiet- even as the sounds of war echoed all around them.
Except he wasn't back in ten minutes. Ten minutes came and went and soon passed into twenty, thirty, and forty-five minutes when at last Tenran emerged through the thickening blanket of snow and he emerged behind Liana with a soft knocking against a tree. "Coast is clear now," he whispered.
When Tenran had finally showed up, she felt at wit's end and released an elated breath, capturing him into a hug- which elicited a low mrowl from Tufkins from within the jacket.
"Gods.. Tenran.."s he said, feeling hot tears slip down her cheeks. "What would I ever do without you?"
Tenran closed his eyes at the sudden embrace, though Tufkin as likely less than happy about it considering he was being smashed between the two of them. But he didn't care in that moment, his arms went around Liana like a vice and he held her as fast to him as he could. Soon he brought a hand up to wipe those tears away and he kissed her forehead again. "Let's get you out of the cold. You'll get icicles for eyeballs soon," he murmured in a semi-forced laugh. "Last thing is for you to catch your death of cold."
"Yeah,"s he laughed through a breath. "And last thing we need to do is survive this for the cold to be our killers." ANd so close to home...
Adjusting Tufkins within her jacket, she stepped out from the brush and took a hold more firmly of her gun.
"So how are away is the farm?" she asked, just making conversation.
"Just across the road from there," Tenran said, shivering a little from the loss of his jacket and his breath coming out in puffs of white. He followed her and remained ducked low as they crossed the road and scurried down the hill side. "A group of soldiers were rummaging through the place, seeing what supplies they could take. I found some old fireworks in the back and set them off along the edge and the spooked real fast. They bolted, took what they could and ran off to join their regiment," Tenran said with a nod as the barn came at last into view.
Tenran couldn't say what happened to the farmer's but it was just as well the shallow graves by the side of the house and fresh dirt strewn over them would have answered any questions regarding that. "Here, inside," he said, opening the door for her and following her through, then abruptly locked it behind him.
Liana shivered and followed after him, silver-blue eyes searching the barn's darkness as they adjusted to the dark. Then, after a moment of hesitation, she opened her jacket to let Tufkins out. The cat meowed and shook out it's matted fur, before turning on the both of them and then promptly running towards a hay stack towards the back door. Sighing, Liana raked a hand through her hair and turned back to face Tenran.
"You're shivering.. why don't you take your jacket back?" she suggested as she began to slip the sleeves down her arms.
"No," Tenran shook his head and rubbed his arms to warm them up. "You keep it for now. I laid some of the soldier's wool jackets out that got left behind on some hay to make a bed of sorts. It's warmer in here, don't worry." He smiled at her and reached for her hand, stopping her short of taking the jacket off.
Liana paused and looked up into his eyes.
"Do you think we'll be safe here?" she asked softly.
"For the night, likely yes. And maybe for a few days afterward, but we shouldn't stay in one place for too long. At least there's watere here and they didn't kill all the cows. In fact, we might able to have some fresh milk. I'll go milk her, You get warm in the hay and wool over there," he gestured to her before standing and moving to relieve a cow from the burden of full udders into a bucket.
Liana stood there, uncertain of what he said.
"Is it really wise to remain here? What if the men come back?" And she shifted uncomfortably upon the make shift bed. "Tenran, I'm frightened. What are we to do?" ANd as she observed him work, she reflected back on when they had first met. "When you were a soldier... was life always this crazy?" she asked, tucking back a loose strand of her blond hair.
Tenran knew the moment was as strenuous as any he could imagine. At least when he was away in campaigns, he could trust that Liana was safe at home away from the bloodshed. He hated what this war was doing, what it had done and what it was still going to do. It would be brought closer to home than anybody would realize.
"Not nearly as much," he said softly, milking the cow gently. "There wasn't a war back then. There were plenty of bandits, organized ones to deal with and they were enough for anybody. That's how I got the knee remember...and how we met." He gave her a trying smile as he looked at her, but it was forced and he soon finished with the milking. "I don't know what we can do, Liana. We have to keep moving that's for sure. Maybe we might have to go see Grattis after all...If the war hadn't gotten to him all ready."
Liana cringed at he mention of Grattis.
"Isn't there someplace else?" she asked. "Someplace just you and I could go?" She'd rather leave the dangers of this war behind her- and Grattis right along with them.
Tenran made a thoughtful expression for a moment and made a nod. "Right. He'd really be a last resort and the last thing I want to do is have to owe him one. We'll think of something. I think I have a small safe house in the hills east of here, but it might be a pain trudging throught the snow. I'm sure you don't mind through." He smiled and finished the milking walking over to her and setting the bucket down iand finding some tin cups to drink from it. It wasn't cold but it was good and from the travel, they could use something to ease their parched lips. "How you holding up?" he asked after taking the cups from his lips.
Liana peered down at her cup, but did not drink from it- at least not at first. But then she downed the milk rather quickly, it was warm and filled her belly, where fear filled and knotted the rest of it. Wiping off her lips, she peered over at Tenran,but before she had a chance to say anything, Tufkin's mrowled and leaped onto her lap.
"Oh! You!" ANd with a shake of her head she held out her cup. "Some more." And she hugged the meowling cat. "For Tuffy. Of course."
Tenran laughed at the cat, so easily winning the affection of a woman that aad no qualms kicking him out of bed. He scooped more milk from the bucket and handed the cup to her. "I knew you had no hard feelings for him!" he said with a smile. "Tuffy always did like you."
Liana sighed heavily.
"I never said I hated the cat," she told him, with a visible frown. "And you know how I feel about war...." She peered up at him, then back down tot he cat, who was now drinking happily from the cup. "Look at him," she said, stroking his back as the cat purred. "He's quite content to drink the milk. Bet he could all day and would get himself sick." She shook her head about it, but was still smiling as she peered down at the lovable fur ball.
Tenran watched her pet Tufkin as he sipped from the tin cup and his smile only grew at the sight of milk dripping from the cats whiskers. He sat closer to Liana and leaned in to pet the cat. "Well, I'm just glad to see you two getting along," he said and stroked Tuffy's head, then turned to look up at Liana. Without so much as a word, his other arm swept around her and he pulled her into his chest. "I'm sorry about the house. I'm sorry about everything."
"Tenran... why are you apologizing? It wasn't as if you were the one responsible for this war..."
"Just for good measure," he said with a shrug and leaned down to kiss her forehead again. "I don't want to miss anything."
"Tenran.." she said, frowning up at him as she moved to take his hand. "What I said earlier... I... perhaps we should... talk about it. It's quieter now and I.... I know I've been acting foolish. Really foolish and down right selfish. Towards both you, Reese and even Grattis." Shaking her head, she continued before Tenran could get a word in. "And I just want to let you know I still do love you, Tenran. I just don't know what path I should take in life anymore. I'm not happy no matter which I choose, but realizing what truly matters to me... well today I was thinking. Really thinking. And I think I'd.... like to start over with you. If we can. If it's possible. I don't know how we'll do it. I mean, the house is gone and the world's gone to hell. But I... I think I've wronged you in just letting you go. Obviously, we wouldn't fall prey to one another's charms if there still wasn't that attraction, and that force that brought us together when we were younger. But realizing today, that either one of us could die- I... I've come to realize the only one I'd worry about would be you."
And a soft meow and snuggling prod of his head from Tufkins made her smile and finally drop her gaze.
"Well, fear of losing you and Tufkins." And scooped up the purring cat and hugged him closely to her chest before sighing and peering over at Tenran, her face washed white from fear and her eyes shimmering with the threats of tears.
"I don't know if it's selfish of me to ask that of you, especially when Reese is away and Grattis expects me to become his next lover..." she shook her head. "But i've made so many bad choices in my life, I realize.... though you and I have not always been civil, I can not ignore that the majority of the time I am with you- things do feel... right. Perhaps we've just strayed too far away from that love that we've bonded over- but I... I think I really would like to try again. If.. if we can."
Tenran felt his lip quiver without realizing it just as tears streamed down his face. He sighed a smile and his eyes were wet in the dim lighting. "I think I'd like that," he said with a light breath. "Though Grattis could never be good enough for you...I'll castrate him the next time I see him, the bastard."
His hands cupped her cheeks and he shook his head. "We can start over. From the beginning. We can find someplace else to live together...we can travel together and everything we said we wanted to do when we were old and gray. Except we still have some of our youth left..." His smile was sad, but hopeful, but he knew he was getting ahead of himself. "Well, maybe we can take it slow...if that would be what you'd want to do."
"I don't care," she told him softly as she cupped his face. "So long as I can start over with you."
His smile only grew at her response and he ran the tops of his fingers against her cheek before lenning in to kiss her forehead once again. Tufkin took the opportunity to wriggle out of her grasp and drink some more milk for himself before going off to raid the chicken coop in the rear of the barn, or whatever he could get his stinky paws on.
Tenran watched the cat go off before he leaned in closer to Liana, putting an arm around her and pulling her in close. "Then I think the first thing in order is finding some shelter after we leave here. In the meantime however, I just want to hold you in my arms."
Liana breathed a sigh of relief as she leaned into him.
"I'd be okay with that," she said, smiling softly before glancing up at him and growing quiet before telling him, "Thank you. For everything. I mean it." Her smile grew a little. "I'd never thought you'd ever want to give me a second chance- not after all I've put you through. And for that, I'm really am truly sorry, Tenran. But I just... I don't know. I just thought our only option might be to give up. I was so unhappy back then. It.. it hurt. It still hurts, even now."
Tenran leaned his head in to hers. "I know. It hurt me too. To stay with you...and to leave you. I couldn't even look at you. I'm sorry too. That's why I wnnt to try again. I can't help but feel like I didn't give it my all. But I couldn't bear to suffocate you like I was doing, neglecting you. I guess the old adage is true in some part. If you really do love something, let it go. And if it comes back to you, then it's yours forever. If it doesn't it was never yours to begin with."
Liana gave a dry laugh.
"Whoever spoke that deserves a kick between the legs." And as her hand moved, thumb stroking lightly over the coarse fur of his beard, she smiled. ANd as she smiled, a few delicate tears rolled down her cheeks.
"So do you really think I could be yours, forever?" she asked, in barely over a whisper.
Tenran's smile turned somber and his eyes gleamed over with fresh tears. "Only if you want to be. If I could chain you to my side, I certainly would. But then people could find me by the claw marks you'd leave in the ground. You know like the kind Tuffy makes when you have to give him his bath."
Liana gave a half cocked smile before releasing a breath through her nose.
"Yes.. he did leave a lot of scars for that. But it was for his own good," she then added and peered up at him curiously. "What of you? What if I were to ever chain you to my side? Would you claw as desperately?"
Tenran's grin turned wry. "Maybe a little. We didn't get that kinky in the bedroom as I recall," he smirked and shook his head soberingly. "I would probably cling to you more than me anyway. I never stopped loving you. And you're just as lovely now as you were when we first got married."
Liana froze and flushed and turned away.
"Tenran.." she gave his arm a light shove. "I never thought you'd be the sort." Then with a gasp, she turned to him. "You never tried that on some whores when we were separated, did you?" For some reason, the idea made her a bit angry- not because he was bedding a whore, but because, if he had ever wanted to try something, she had thought she would have at least been his first...
well, to at least inquire about it anyway! For she wasn't even sure how she felt about.. well..
that!
It was Tenran's turn to blush and his smile was a little sheepish, if trying to day the least. "She wasn't a whore...and it was her idea. I guess it was a little exciting. Not nearly as good as any sex I've had with you of course!" His expression was one of immediate panic, anxious at already having messed up something they had decided to retry not even five minutes in.
Liana simply stared at him, then turned away, trying not to think on it, even as her own cheeks burned in shame.
"I.. guess it's only fair you'd seek company elsewhere," she murmured through a sigh. "I was fooling around with Reese during that time." More than likely.
"No, it was a mistake. And trust me, I regret it every time I even think about it," Tenran said with a shake of his head. "It was all just a jumbled series of events and I still can't believe how stupid I was. I shouldn't have let it happen either way."
"Don't worry about it," Liana said, though she tried not to sound it, it was evident she was crestfallen. "We're both allowed to make mistakes. I know I've made more than my fair share."
Tenran didn't respond. Instead his hands found hers and and he pulled her arms around him. His hands rested on either side of her face and he leaned in to kiss her thoroughly, powerfully, with as much intensity as he could muster in that moment.
The moment was sweet, the moment was kind, and powerful and uplifting that it made her whimper through it.
"Tenran.." she said, opening her hazy eyes as she peered up at him as she blushed. "Your breath reeks of milk."
"And yours smells of cat chunks. Have you been letting the cat kiss you again?" Tenran quipped.
Liana smirked and kissed him powerful back, full lips locking to his as she moaned.
"I'll ignore the smell if you do," she quipped back, silver eyes dancing.
Tenran chuckled through their kiss. But the force of it was enough to make him quiver. His arms slid around her waist and he leaned in to kiss her deeply, moaning in understanding of her words.
Their lips continued to meet, and hot breath was splayed between them as she held onto him fiercely, needing him so.
"By Ansgar's name, Tenran, you kiss like a God."
Tenran pulled away abruptly, feigning a scowl. "You've been kissing Ansgar too!? Geeze, is there anybody you haven't been kissing?" he snapped, but there was a playful twinkle in his eye that would be hard to miss.
Liana laughed, a full, genuine sound that ended abruptly when the distance sound of gun fire caught her ears. Turning towards it, she pressed her lips together.
"What if the fighting comes back this way?"
"It might," Tenran said with a resolute shrug. He turned to look at the wall of the barn. "I don't think they'll come back though. They'll likely want a place to recoup, and decide their next move. But this barn is way too far from their current location from the sound of the guns."
She gave a nod and shivered.
"It's pretty cold in here. They say this winter will be the worst one yet." And thought she tried to sound cheerful, it was evidently forced.
"Then you best keep that jacket on and drink the rest of this milk. I'll see what food we can find in this place that wasn't carted off." Tenran got up from his place beside her and followed where he saw Tuffy disappear too. A few second later and he came back with a few eggs in hand and little else. "Well, it's better than nothing."
"I'm surprised they're not all smashed," Liana told him with a small smile. "But it is better than nothing. And we can just eat this and some milk and perhaps be on our way? It might be wise to travel at night."
Tenran nodded in acquiescance. "I think we can afford to have one now. At the very least," he smiled and gently cracked one of the eggs with the tip of an unused bolt, and brought the egg to his lips and sucked out the yolk.
Liana nodded, nervously eating an egg herself as some of the whites dribbled down her face. She wrinkled her nose and brushed it away, before sighing and shaking her head. "We should move fast, and see what other supplies we can't take from this place before moving onward."
"We should get some rest first," Tenran said. He stretched out on the haypile. "You can look. I'm going to shut my eyes for a few minutes."
Liana nodded.
"Yes, it would be good to take turns keeping watch. You get some rest, I'll keep my eye out for a good few hours. I'm not that tired now anyways. TOo anxious to sleep."
Tenran was already fast asleep by the time she finished speaking. Tenran had never been a loud snorer, unlike much of the stereotype that came with men. After all, it would never do to allow yourself to give away your hiding place by the sheer loudness of your own snoring! And Tenran had slept in the woods often enough to know that much.
But for now, with Liana, to keep watch, he felt comfortable enough to fall in as deep a sleep as he could while he could.
While Tenran slept, Liana prepared things for them to move when necessary. She knew they couldn't stay here for long, especially when the gun fire began again in the distance. Shaking his side, she whispered, "Tenran... Tenran wake up." She lightly shook him again. "It's night now. We should get moving."
Tenran jerked his eyes open and immediately reached for his boltgun, but stopped short at the recognistion of her voice. "All right," He rubbed his eyes, cracked his neck and then stumbled to his feet.
"I'm sorry to wake you," she said, looking from his bolt gun to his face. "But... it sounds as if the fighting started up again and I was afraid they'd be coming back this way. We.. we should move. And fast."
"Let's go then. At least everything is ready as it can be. Let's take the coats to be sure as well. At least the wool will protect us against the snowfall outside. " Tenran thrust the other jacket over his shoulders before thowing her the other one and he took his share of the gear and headed for the door.
Liana nodded, preparing herself quickly and moving into the shadows of the barn to scoop up the sleeping Tufkins. Thankfully, the cat was still warm with sleep as she tucked him away, kissing the cat upon the head before slipping outside with Tenran into the world of falling snow. She shivered and looked about her. "Seems alot of snow has fallen since we took homage here." Which made her frown. Snow meant foot prints could be tracked, and by the looks of it, if they treked out on their own- theirs would be the only ones.
"Damn if you aren't right," Tenran cursed just as he turned around and looked up at the small feathery snowfall that came down in gentle drifts. "Step where I step. We can at least make it look like one pair of tracks instead of two."
"Do you think we should stick to the main roads, or stay to.the wooded paths?"
"The wooded paths would be our best bet," Tenran murmured. "In fact, maybe we can stick just off the road, but not quite on it," he nodded.
"I just fear them.thinking we're the enemy." After all, the one side already had. She squeezed Tufkins closer. "And after what happened here today, I question this war even more."
"It doesn't matter what either side thinks," Tenran said through grit teet as he labored through the snow. "We're just collateral damage either way."
"I never dreamed it would come so close to home," she admitted, keeping herself talking out of nerves. "I... you... I... just always wanted to ignore this aspect of life. To think, now it is happening to me again." And before when the attack had happened, she had been so young- but old enough to remember it all.
"Try to think positive. Because the bottom line is that it can always get worse." Tenran cut her a smile and pressed further up through the falling know. The faint pop of musket fire sounded off in the distance and every now and then, when it did, it seemed to be off farther and father away. But with not clear direction and the snow falling a little faster than it was the night before and it was best they find shelter before night fall. Tenran knew the terriin a little better than most. But after a while of not treading on these grounds as he once did, he had to take into account that things had changed over the years. That the smal hillock that swept up on the east had sloped dangerously down along a running creek that had yet to freeze over. For the moment however, the water was a godsend.
"At least we can rest for a minute," he said. "Get a drink of water. Refill these soldiers canteens."
Liana gave a slight nod, setting their cat down into the snow to let him stretch his legs as she had to do with her own limbs. She wasn't as young as she had once been, and she could feel the soreness creeping over her. And after taking care of that,s he moved to quietly stand beside Tenran, helping herself to a freezing cold drink and to also help him with the canteens where she could, but her hands were shaking something fierce, ad the one canteen she was helpign wtih slipped out of her grip and fell into the water with a splash.
Tenran's hand came out and snatched the twine that was wrapped around the canteen's base and pulled it out of the water. There was a splash, if only slightly and Tenran sat the canteen beside them. "You're shivering," he said and reached for her hands, pulling her close to him, and slipping her hands inside his jacket around his waist.
She hadn't realized just how cold she was until she felt his warmth against her. Her teeth were uncontrollably chattering as she gazed up into his eyes.
"Y-yeah, I didn't exactly plan to have our home become a war site."And though she tried to smile about it, it was forced.
"Y'know, I used to be married to you. I don't think anyone knows those fake smiles better than me. Here take my gloves. You'll make better use of 'em than me. I shoot better with my bare hands anyway," Tenran said and pried his glove off before handing them to her.
"But, I... " she sighed and accepted the gloves. "What about you?" She gave another forced smile. "Won't you get cold?" She asked, slipping on the warm gloves.
"I'll be fine. I'm big and manly enough to withstand anything the weather can throw at me, don't you think?"
This time she smiled for real and poked at his belly.
"I'm not convinced." And she stolea warm kiss to his cheek. "Shouldn't we.get.moving?"
"Yeah we should," he chuckled and dunked the canteens into the creek before sealing them shut. "Where's Tuffy?"
Liana shivered and sunk in deeper to her jacket.
"He should be around here somewhere." And she turned around on her heels, peering around to see if she could spot the little feline but it was to no avail. "Tuffy?" She called out. "Tuffy!!"
Tenran furrowed his brows and looked up just enough to try and get a better view of the cat, but he couldn't even see him. "Tuffy! COME HERE BOY!" he called out and still nothing. "Shit! That goddamn cat!"
And that's when he leaped onto Tenran's shoulder. Liana placed a hand toher chest.
"Thank the Gods. The cat nearly gave me a heart attack!" And she shook her head at the fur ball.
Tenran grabbed Tufkin by the scruff and he moewed in protest like an unruly child caught stealing catnip and set the cat before Liana. "Put him in the jacket. He smells like dead mouse though. Guess he got lucky," Tenran smirked.
Liana huffed but took the fur ball and tucked him away, giving Tenran a knowing pout.
"Really, Tenran. Go easy on Tuffy."
Tenran snickered at her and bundled himself up and moved his arms to help secure Tuffy in the jacket and overcoat, petting the cat affectionately. "I love him. I'd never speak a harsh word to the puff ball. Not let's get moving," he nodded to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek before moving to cross the creek.
Liana blushed lightly at the kiss and nodded.
"How far do you think we'll have to travel?" she asked, still shivering but trying to ignore it.
"Just a few more miles," Tenran puffed, tendrils of white escaping his mouth in the cold air. "There's a cave nearby. We can follow the creek until we reach the mouth of it and we can make a fire without being seen...I hope."
Through chattering teeth, she nodded.
"I.I.... I hope so." She hugged the meowing cat closer to her for warmth and sighed, and remained in silence for the duration of their long trek. Behind them stretched a trail of two foot prints, but the newly falling snow was quick to cover their path, and that was about the only thing she was thankful for. But the snow was so intense, the air all around her was turning white and she could barely see Tenran, who was but a few feet away.
Through a wild, bluster of wind, she called to him, "Tenran! The snow's getting too bad! Can you see the cave yet!?"
Tenran was at the mouth of the cave and when he was sure he found it, he set a twig in the snow beofre turning back to her. "Here!" he called out and made it beside her again. He put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her along with him back to the cave.
Liana was thankful when the pair finally made it to the cave. They were out of the weather, out of this storm, and hopefully far enough away from the fighting they would be safe. She shivered, and at the protesting mew from Tufkins, she opened her jacket and let the little furball loose. Shivering, she then moved closer to Tenran, and found herself suddenly clinging her arms around him in a tight embrace.
"Oh, Tenran. Thank God for you."
The sudden embrace nearly knocked him over and it would have, if he weren't leaning against a wall. His arms went around her instinctively and he hugged her to him, scrapping the flurries of snow off her back. "Yeah well, thank god for this cave too. Or we'd be forced to make camp out there. Looks like my old camp supplies is still here too. Some dry wood for a fire, blankets, but...eh those might have bugs in 'em." Tenran smirked at her and kissed her cold, numb cheek. "Let's get you warmed up."
Liana nodded, despite her shivering.
"Y-yes. Let's." ANd she moved about to help him.
Tenran worked on getting a fire lit and when it began to successfully smoke up, he threw a few good logs on there before helping Liana peel off the jacket and winter coat. "There there, you're shaking like a small dog!"
"It's just so cold," she admitted, still shivering as he helped her with the clothing. "And Tufkins could offer little warmth, especially not for my legs. They feel frozen!"
Tenran gave a small laugh. He was shivering too, perhaps just a little less than Liana was, but cold all the same. He helped peel off her clothing, succh as it was and guided her toward the fire. "What Tufkin helped protect was just a little more important than your legs, your chest and alltthe beauty that remains in it. Oh and your heart too. Gotta keep that warm. Not just the twins." Tenrnn laughed as he went about rubbing her legs gently but firmly to encourage the blood flow.
Liana lightly smacked his head.
"Pervert." Then bent over to hug him tightly again.
"Gods.. Tenran...."
Words could not even describe what she was feeling now, but relief was definitely one of them as she hugged him and just wanted to be close.
Tenran was stilled for the moment, before peering down at the woman against his chest. "What's the matter?" he asked, though he figured he knew what it was all ready. He kept rubbing her legs beside the fire until he could feel them warm.
Liana breathed out a long sigh, still nestled overtop of him.
"Just you. I'm just glad it's you." She said, and closed her eyes, burying it into the back of his shoulder and head and just enjoyed his musk, his scent.
Tenran felt a jump in his belly, but he said nothing of it. Instead he wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back. "And I'm glad for you too," he replied. "How do you feel? Still feel cold?"
"Yes," she told him through a smile. "But I'm warming up."
"Good, good," he murmured and kissed her temple. "Mind if I take off this coat? Now that the fire's going, I'm positively boiling." Tenran removed the jacket and laid it across with the other one. He removed his boots as well to let his feet warm up and rubbed them together. "The cave's small enough to let the heat spread quickly, and stay where it belongs." Tenran resumed his place beside her and gave her a sidelong glance. "I'm sorry...about the house."
Liana kept near the fire and when he returned to her side, apologizing about the house, she shook her head.
"Do not apologize for things that are out of your hands, Tenran. We've.. been doing enough apologizing already," she went on, raking a hand nervously through her now untamed, blonde hair. She sighed but then moved to pat a spot beside her. "Come. Sit near me. Or are you still too boiling to want to nestle in besides your ex-wife?"
"Me? Turn down an invitation to sit at your side? Never." Tenran grinned knowingly at her before he sat beside her, sitting hip to hip. He put an arm around her, kissing her forehead again. "We'll get a new house. A better house. Maybe a house by the beach or maybe a lake. Or our home can be the road. We'll see."
Liana sighed and nestled into him, just keeping close.
"I don't care where it is," she said, taking his hand and threading her warming fingers with his. "I'm just happy to be with you."
"Me too," Tenran said and then his brows furrowed. "I know I shouldn't talk about it. But when news that the house was attacked and you've gone missing reaches Grimace or whatever his name is, he's going to blame me, you know."
Liana shook her head.
"Don't you worry about Grattis. He's my problem."
"Very well," Tenran muttered, skeptical at best. "But if he comes at me, Liana, I swear I'm not going to hold back."
Liana just clung to Tenran and leaned into him, her cheek against his shoulder.
"And if he tries to harm you, I'll be right there with you, beating him with a broom, or rolling pin, or anything I fancy to get my hands on." And she smiled at the thought, staring down at the fire, before softly hmming in thought and then glancing back up at him.
"Tell me... how it's like for you now. Or how it was, to live so freely on the road. I mean, when we were separated. I bet there was a lot you could do out there that you couldn't back at home with me before. ALl sorts of adventure and trouble. Trouble.. It was one thing you were always good at."
Tenran chuckled and leaned back against the cave wall. "To sum it up in one word? Tough," he said with a nod. "Unless you're entirely self-sufficient, it can even be fatal. I remember not long after we separated, I had gotten a nasty cut on my toe and it got infected. I had first started bounty hunter and let me tell I had never been more afraid of dying as I was then. I was horrified at the thought that I might have to cut my toe off, or lose so much blood I'd never make it back to...well, you know. All from a tiny gash. Well, it was a manly gash all the same."
"I suppose after all we've been through, a tiny gash having done you in doesn't seem right," she told him with a soft smile.
Tenran raised a brow at her. "Oh? And in your expert opinion just what would be the most suitable way to have me done in?"
Liana gave him a coy grin, and despite her shivers, which were fading by now, she was able to reply, "A kiss." Then leaned in towards him, very dangerously close to his mouth.
Tenran smirked at her "Oh you've figured out my weakness," he smirked at her. "It could nearly be fatal!"
"I suppose there could be worse ways to die," she told him with a smirk, still remaining leaned in close, but a breath away from his lips.
"Yeah," Tenran snickered. "Like during sex. That would be anticlimactic. In more ways than one."
Liana gasped.
"Tenran! Here we are, running for our lives, shivering in the freezing cold and you bring up the idea of death and sex." She was smiling, but still shaking her head at him.
"And what's so wrong with that?" he muttered with raised brows. "You act like those aren't the two most perfectly natural things in the world."
"That's because they aren't, Tenran. Maybe you've spent too many years bounty hunting."
"I disagree. Maybe it is easier because of my bounty hunting, but they are in fact a natural part of life. But let's not talk about death. Sex is a lot more pleasing a topic anyway," he murmured.
"I'm not saying they're unnatural,Im saying together they are!" She told him with a smirk and shake of her head. She gave him a.nudge. "You would want to talk about sex now."
"Ah, well then my apologies, my lady," he laughed and leaned in to kiss her softly. "Could you ever forgive my crudeness?"
"Maybe. But only the next time you save my life."
"So you would let me save you again? You would allow yourself to become to so vulnerable?" he asked with a small smile.
"I never said allow," she told him with a smirk, and stole a kiss to his cheek before peering up into his eyes. "My, my, aren't you so presumptuous? Is all of this getting to your head?"
"Maybe a little!" he laughed. "We did meet after a similar incident after all. I saved your life. And...you saved mine to. By giving me a real reason to live. Not just the glory of a soldier's death. And I'm most thankful for that."
Liana smiled and looked up into Tenran's eyes, her own shining and heart fluttering at the memory.
"I was so young then," she said, and dropped her gaze to her lap. "And look how far we've come...." The mirth began to fade as she went on with a sigh. "It seems life chooses not to be so kind to us sometimes. And I've always felt awful for hating you. For leaving you, for stop believing I no longer cared."
"Yeah. We had some bad times. Life was never meant to be fair, y'know. But when second chances come to you, you have to snatch them the first opportunity you get lest it slip away.... Maybe that's why I kept hanging around you...even after you wanted me to go away time and again. I just thought if I kept trying, maybe you'd see that I really did want to be there for you. And I always would be."
"Tenran.... I..." Liana went on, stopping herself through a breath before sighing and lifting her gaze unto his. "It wasn't just that that had drove me away. I was becoming an awful person and I hated myself. You.." she dropped her gaze to her lap. "You can not love someone if you're hateful of yourself." But here she shook her head, brushing back a few tears. "But perhaps we ought to talk about something else. I'm... too anxious over what had happened today, Tenran." And she leaned in closely against him, sighing contentedly, at his warmth, at his smell.
"Tell me a story, Tenran. Something to keep my mind at ease. Something to calm me." Or she feared she wouldn't be able to sleep through the night.
"All right, all right then," he said resolutely. "When I was a boy, my mother was quite a proficient clockmaker you know. I was fascinated with all the gears and how they were put together and how each piece was just as important as the other, all working together to make something function. Well she had his one clock, a cuckoo, you see, that she was working on for a nobleman. Was going to be well paid for it, and she was so meticulous in everything she did. She was so good at it, that was the first clock she let me work on myself. We spent six months making it..." his voice trailed off as he continued with the story.
As he went on, Liana nestled in close, warmed by his body and his words. And soon his voice became noise as she found herself drifting off to sleep.
Tenran could not sleep and instead remained watchful, watching the snow flutter outside the cave entrance. But not long after, he too fell asleep.
Liana worked, shivering. The fire had since gone out and the world had gone into pitch black. She plucked herself away from Tenran's warmth and moved to the fire side and began to tend to it, feeding it sticks and dried leaves before the flames began to grow once again.
Tenran shivered now, as she worked on the fire and he tiredly reached for her, snatching onto a thigh and wrapping both arms around it, clinging to it tight.
Liana gasped.
"Tenran!" she said, poking his head. "What are you doing? Let go of my leg so I can tend to the fire. We'll freeze to death, other wise!"
"I'm already freezing," he grumbled. "My nipples are so hard they could cut diamonds. Just hurry up. I'm just gonna hug your leg."
"But I can't move to get more wood for the fire," she said, trying not to chuckle at his statement. "Then where will we be? The fire will go out..."
"There's kindling right here," he grumbled before he finally popped an eye open and mumbled something unchivalrous and got up to reach for the wood in the back of the cave. "Here." And tossed a few pieces on the fire pit. "Now get here, in my arms, before my nipples turn to icicles."
"Why would I want to go near you if your nipples are icicles?"
OOC: loool the ridiculousness of that comment is just.. lol
"Then I'll hug Tuffy and your nipples can turn to icicles," he smirked as he grabbed the sleeping cat and he mewed as he held him snuggly, the cat struggling to be free.
Liana gasped.
"Tenran!" She shook her head and moved near to him. "Can't you see him strugging? Let Tuffy go!"
Eventually Tuffy ceased his struggles and laid there like a child's plush toy, and soon after that purring. "You're missing out," Tenran murmured with a coy smile as he cuddled his cat.
Liana sighed,a nd once she was done tending to the fire,s he nestled in close to them both.
"You're like a child."
"Oh yeah? Well, you married me so the joke's on you," he snickered, sticking his tongue out at her and letting go of Tufkin at last. The cat burst from his cage of arms and meowed as he rushed to the corner of the cave to clean his paws and ruffled fur. And Tenran reached for Liana and caged her within his embrace himself. "You're very good with fire, I almost forgot you were once the outdoorsy type."
"Were married," she corrected, then gasped when Tenran suddenly pulled her into his embrace. "Te.. Tenran!"
"Tenran what? What were you going to complain about this time?" he smirked at her.
"Ugh," she wriggled a bit in his arms. "You're holding me too tight!"
"I am not! I don't hear any bones crunching," he chuckled. However, he loosened his grip on her nonetheless and gave a defeated sigh. "Fine. Let my nipples turn to icicles then!"
"Since when did you care about your nipples?" she asked with a smirk.
"Since it started to get freezing cold in here," Tenran said with a pout.
Liana rolled her eyes but eventually caved and snuggled in closely to him.
"Just be sure to keep those nipples to yourself. What would people say if you stabbed your wife to death with them?" And it took every ounce of effort coming from her not to laugh.
"People would say you got what every ex-wife deserved. I wouldn't agree with them of course but it is what it is," Tenran quipped.
Liana gave him a shove.
"Shut up, you." And she smirked, admiring him a moment as he shivered. "And what would they say about a wife you re-married?"
"They say I was smart and had good taste in women...I mean if they could look at you at this angle," he laughed as he leaned in and kissed her deeply. He tasted her lips deeply before pulling away. "Besides..who cares what they think anyway? I just want you all to myself."
"Yeah, but you almost let her get away..." And she moved a hand to comb through his hair before she was smothered by a deep, passionate kiss. When he pulled away, her face was flushed.
"Well that's one way to keep warm..."
And at his last comment, she simply shook her head. "Well, it seems you've got me." No one else was there...
"I am a bit chilled. Well, not anymore at any rate," he said as he leaned in and kissed her deeply again, turning his head this way and that. "You taste lovely. Like fresh spring water. It's delicious." His kisses became more hungered and he leaned into her, pushing her back against the ground.
Liana simply smiled, and when he came at her again, leaning overtop of her and kissing her deeply, her eyes fluttered closed as she softly moaned.
Maybe it wasn't the most romantic setting. And if he had any real choice in the matter he would have picked something more homely, comfortable, and a lot warmer. As it was however, he would settle for what they had. There were worse things than caves, after all.
Tenran stretched out over her and ran his hands along her body, gliding his fingertips along her tips and letting his lips explore the hollows of her throat. He loved her body, he always had, even in the years that aged them both. She'd grown soft among some of her curves whereas life on the road had kept his body hardened. His hands explored her familiar hips, learning her all over again, and worked to warm her in more ways than one.
Cave or not, her body reacted to Tenran's caresses how it ought to and she arched beneath his touch, gasping softly through each kiss as her hand cupped his cheek but then was soon smoothing across his back. They were both still dressed, she more haphazardly than he- for she still wore her silk night gown and some of the dead soldiers things and his jacket, which she was soon becoming warm within at Tenran's attentions.
"Need some help with that?" he asked gently, gesturing to the jacket and the trousers. "I don't want to be presumptuous." He snickered as he kissed just underneath her ear, his hands helping themselves to her body anyway, pushing the jacket from her shoulders.
Liana shivered through a gasp at his touch, and the breath to her ear.
"You were always presumptuous," she breathed. "And if you remove my clothing, would I not get cold?" But the flush on her face spoke other wise.
"Why would you get cold?" Tenran purred against her ear, kissing down her neck as he wriggled the jacket off of her, shifting it from her shoulders and kissing the skin along there, slipping the strap of her nightgown just off it. "You just lit a fire didn't you? Oh, and the one in the cave too. You smell really good, just so you know. Like the elements, and sweat. Which I don't mind. I'm a caveman after all."
Liana moaned at his ministrations. His lips, his breath, his words set off a second fire she was not wholly prepared for.
"Tenran... you know we're not safe here." Though safer then where they were before...
"And what's so bad about right now. It's the most rest we've had in ages. We ought to make the most of it, no?" he murmured.
She whimpered at his words. "Yes, but this is not resting," she quipped, smirking up at him, her eyes shining."But I guess you never did like to see me rest when you were around. Always putting me to work."
"Make you work? What's that supposed to mean? I thought you enjoyed sex? Or was I wrong all this time?" he asked, puzzled.
Liana gave a laugh.
"I think I enjoy it too much," And she silenced him by wrapping her arms around him and kissing him hungrily upon the lips.
"Well that about answers my questions," he murmured and went back in for more. He peeled off the jacket he'd given her and with it the night gown.
She smiled through his kisses and just let him undress her, shivering once the clothing was off, but as she worked at peeling off his clothing as well, the heat from his body as she drew him near was enough, and she moaned softly and kissed from his lips down to his throat and shoulder, hands smoothing across the scars and muscles and firm skin of his back.
She coaxed him out of his clothes and his trousers were just a tad too close to the fire and soon he could smell smoke. Tenran yelped, pulling away from Liana for a moment to snatch his pants from the flames and he immediately dashed them out. "Dammit!" he grimaced, as he extended a partially burned pantleg, burned just partway up the calf. "Bah!"
Liana laughed and rolled over top of him, away from the fire and smothered him with kisses.
"Stop getting so distracted by the smoke when the fire's right here.."A nd she began to kiss down his chest. "Mmmm, you need a bath," she murmured against his skin.
Tenran looked at her pointedly. "It's not like I buy a new pair of pants everyday," he growled lighly. But it soon dissipated into breathlessness as she kissed his body. "I agree. I didn't get much of a chance at one when you hogged all the water."
She smiled as she kissed across his chest.
"I suppose I'll let you get a bath first next time. But... it was in my house," she murmured.
"You could always join me if you wanted," he smiled, laughing lightly. Her kisses sent sparks dancing across his skin and made his heart beat heavily in his ears.
"I'm not really worried about that now," she spoke, voice against his body as her kisses continued to go lower and lower, planting down his chest, to his abs, as her hands smoothed down his thighs.
He moaned softly, feeling the trail of heat left behind by her kisses and aching his back up against her. "God, Liana. Your lips are so soft," he breathed, finding his teeth sinking into his lower lip.
Liana kissed him again, even lower, nearing the tuft of hair before his sex, and there she paused, her lips growing into a smile against his skin. Trailing her lips back up his body, they found their way back to his lips and pressed against them needingly as she crawled over top of him, knees on either sides of his legs.
Soft moans emerged from his throat, except when she neared his sex. He gasped, looking down at her, flushed, eager, hopeful. But when she came back up to face him, he laughed. "You tease," he murmured, kissing her with fervor, wrapping her in his arms and adjusting his hips so that he could feel his sex to hers.
Liana smiled.
"I could accuse you of the same thing." And she gently rocked her hips, the soft wet folds of her sex lapping against his member.
"Gods Liana," Tenran breathed. He tensed and relaxed here and there, responding to the sensations of her sex, the way she felt around him, how she might yet feel. "Have mercy, woman," he practically begged.
"Mercy? But weren't you the one pulling off my clothes?" she teased, in both voice and body.
"It's just a figure of speech," he replied breathlessly. He moaned softly, gripping her hips hard and trying to move with her.
Liana gasped as she felt him move along with her, but somewhere in the middle of her teasing, he had slipped within her and he found herself moaning as she clung to him, both with her limbs and her sex.
"I don't recall ever fucking in a cave before. I don't know about you, but I quite like the change in scenery. It's refeshing," he panted as he moved along with her. She was so hot, it was almost maddening as he slipped through her warmth with such ease.
"Y-yes, I suppose it is,"s he said through a breath, smiling up at him and kissing him on the lips. "But just shut up and fuck me." And she moaned as she worked her hips along with his.
"You fuck me! You're on top!" he grumbled. "Besides doesn't your back hurt after a while?"
"You can still fuck me on the bottom," she quipped, smirking down at him as she rocked her hips ontop of him.
"I know. I just assumed you were content to do all the work," he laughed, a sound that moved through him. "But I wouldn't mind obliging. Even just a little." He smiled up at her as his hands took a sturdier grip on her hips and pushed her down harder onto him, just in tune with her motions. He undulated his hips, swaying them to alternate angles, remembering which ones she favored most and slowly nursing each one as he moved within her.
Liana's eyes rolled back at the sensation. Tenran knew her so intimately that their love making was a perfected art in itself. He knew what angles made her moan, and as he nursed at one of them, bucking up slowly beneath her, her moans came out from deep within her throat.
"Gods, Tenran," she said, clinging to him tightly, her body moving in tune with him. "You always know the right spots, the right angles.."
Tenran panted along with her as their bodies moved as one. "Of course," he breathed. "Why wouldn't I know them? Who else would've taken the time to learn them?"
Liana laughed through a breath.
"You have had how many years to perfect this?" she asked, breath hitching as she rolled upwards along his length before coming crashing down, his sex filling her up completely as she moaned and did it again and again.
Tenran laughed despite himself. "About ten? We were married for quite some time. I'm glad to know my efforts are appreciated," he muttered, moaning loudly underneath her. "Why Reese never took the time to please you? Properly that is."
Liana laughed again. She could have cried.
"No, not properly." She panted, moving quicker, her hips slamming into his, taking his dick in deep as her eyes rolled into the back of her head as her moans grew louder.
"He always seemed a little short. In more ways than one," he muttered. His hands pushed her harder on his hips. He met her with increasing vigor, sliding through her like a scorching knife.
Whining, Liana closed her eyes tighter, leaning over her lover, clinging to him and moving faster.
"Gods.." She breathed, feeling the fire inside her rise.
"What's the matter?" Tenran murmured. "Cat got your tongue?" He teased her, he knew, but bucked his hips even faster anyway, feeling the fire she wanted stoked. His hands gripped her tighter, despite the sweatiness of his palms and he gripped her possessively to him.
"Gods, Tenran," she moaned, feeling his sex slam deep inside her, reaching the peak of her desire and then, throwing her over the top. Her scream came out from deep within her throat, buried hotly against his shoulder as she shivered and writhed and cried out his name until at long last she was spent for the moment and collapsed over him- soaked... in more than one way, as their sweat and sex blended and her mind and vision turned into white bliss as she whimpered into contentment against him.
Tenran panted hard beneath her, gripping her sides until his trembling ceased. "Gods is right. That was positively divine. Geeze. We need to fuck in the wilderness more often," he laughed. But the moment was warm and the fire still blazed hot beside them. He kissed her temple, and her cheek. He smiled against her, remembering the familiar warmth of having her in his arms. "Will you really marry me again?" he whispered.
"Again?" She murmured, still too exhausted to move but she managed to lift her head. "Tenran, I.... " Her words caught in her throat, a panic coursing through her. "We've only just got back together." Even though one could argue it was longer than that.
Tenran laughed. "Don't worry. I'm afraid of it too. I know we didn't really get along as a 'married' couple. But being together and being married are two different things. I only asked because I thought you should know I'm not exactly...eager to put the ring back on, if you will. Not because of you. But because we were already married. I just want to be with you, and I don't really care if it's legally declared or not."
"I think we need to figure this out first. And I'm still engaged to Reese..." Which was problematic until she could break it off officially. But being Reese was swept off to fight in the war, who knew where he was now or if he'd even come home. "And we're still stuck in this cave," she informed him, forcing a smile. Though at present, they were making the most of it.
"I know, I know," Tenran said, expression grim. He rolled his neck, cracking his neck a little and relaxing against the floor. "We'll figure this out in our own time."
"Yes, but for now..." she went on, shivering as she lay over top of him and nestling in. "For now we should rest. We have to figure out what to do with ourselves now that we're displayed. Well... now that I've been displaced." She sighed. "And we can't keep traveling like this. It's not safe... and Tufkins..." she peered out into the darkness, and whens he spotted the two glowing eyes of their cat, she smiled. "Well, we can't keep lugging hte cat around like it's a sack ofpotatoes."
"Oh I think he likes being lugged around. This is the most he's seen of me in a while. And maybe it's just sentiment talking, but I think he takes comfort in us being together," Tenran said with a solemn gaze, watching the fire consume the kindling she'd rebuilt. "I think the first order of things is to get away from this damn war. If that's even possible. I could send messages out, scout where people have moved away and maybe find a safe haven."
Liana gave a small smile.
"He is more amicable when you are around." But then she sighed at his last comment.
"But our small town went under attack and it was of little consequence." And when she spoke, it was evident in her half choked words she was about.to cry.
Tenran didn't know what to say to that. 'Our' small town. It had stopped being his town when they separated, when the divorce was final. And the only real home he had known since then was the road, and any inn or back alley currently vacant. The alleys were the worst of course, but he was too proud to beg.
He let her words vanish with the soft sigh of wind and snow outside of the cave and huddled closer to her.
"Let's sleep now," he murmured. "We'll think of a better plan in the morning."
OOC: They lug Tufkin's around likea suit case lol
-----
Liana released a heated breath and gave a nod in his direction.
"You're right. We should get as much rest as we can." And turning to the fire, she sat up, placing some more wood on it before curling in close to his side.
"Good night, Tenran." And though it took some time for sleep to take her, but eventually it did, and she only awoke to the chill of the morning, and the mousy breath of Tuffy. Wrinkling her nose, she groaned and brushed away the cat's sniffing, tickling whiskers.
"Tuffy.... Gods... what have you been eating?" she groaned, raking a hand through her hair.
Tufkin meowed at Liana before stuffing his body against her face, purring loudly and turning the other way to brush against her nose and mouth, purring some more. "Mrow," he cried and resumed his affections until she had a mouthful of his tail.
Liana gave a snort, trying to brush away his tail,a nd spit out the fur now in her mouth. But the cat didn't want to move, so she picked him up and dumped him ontop of Tenran's chest before groaning and trying to cuddle back up against Tenran for extra warmth.
It was Tenran's turn to get a faceful of tail. He sputtered, shoving the fat cat away from him, but Tufkin settled for laying sandwiched between Liana's belly and Tenran's. He proceeded to purr loudly.
Sighing, Liana put her arm around both the cat and Tenran and continued to nestle. If anything, at least the cat was soft and warm.
Then Tuffy began to scratch at his fleas like crazy, getting up and turning the other way to get comfortable, then scratched again.
And that's when Liana shoved the cat back ontop of Tenran before sealing herself against her ex-husband burying her face into his shoulder with a tired groan.
Tuffy meowed loudly at the shove and clawed into Tenran's stomach. He jerked and yelped. "Tuffy!" he howled then glared at the cat. The cat in turn glared at Liana shortly before jumping onto her side.
Liana let out a cry when the cat landed back on her, and rolled over so the cat would lose his balance and went jumping away. Groaning, she buried herself back against Tenran.
"Why did I save that cat?" she mumbled, wishing to get back to sleep.
"Save? Or shave?" he muttered, half-asleep.
Liana gave him a shove.
"Oh, wake up, Tenran!" she groaned, now sitting up, her blonde hair a matted, half mess, sticking up all over the place. "Or I'll find a way to shave you!"
"You better not!" Tenran growled, turning over and pulling one of the coats over his shoulders to keep warm. "Then my face would be naked."
"And the top of your head," she quipped, and moved to yank the coat from his shoulder. "Come on. We should try to get moving while there's some daylight."
"Bah I almost forgot how spiteful you are," he growled as he sat up. He rubbed his face free of eye boogers and sleep and shook it until he was thoroughly away. "All right. Get dressed. I woulda thought you'd at least have some breakfast made by now."
"I already am dressed," she told him, giving him a dead pan look. "If I were dressed in much less I'd freeze." And she gave a shiver as if to make her point. "Though I guess I should put my boots back on. But I don't know what we could possibly eat for dinner. Maybe we can look around the cave for something to cook on the fire, or hope we run into a village along hte way. We've been on the run and with all of the snow about, I think my sense of direction is off as to where we exactly our."
"Food can be scarcer in growing winter. We'll have to eat those eggs sparingly I guess. I don't mind them raw." He took one and cracked a small hole before sucking the yolk out of it and slurping it down. He only made a soured face once and threw the eggshell on the ground, one that Tuffy promptly began to lick at. "We'd best get on then. Maybe we can have some fish in a stream that hasn't frozen over yet."
Liana made a face at raw eggs.
"I suppose it's better than nothing." And she accepted one with a sigh before slurping it up and making a face.
"Definitely much better cooked." Brushing some blonde hair aside, she peered about the place and then handed her egg shell to Tufkin's to sniff and lick at.
"I suppose we ought to start moving. You want to carry Tuffy this time? He does like you better.."
"No, no," Tenran shook his head. "You'll need the warmth more than I. Just bundle up good and make sure he pees before you hold him." He stretched and dressed and pulled his soldier's coat right over his shoulders, raising the collar high. Thankfully the snow outside was just a gentle drift right now but there was no telling when or if it would pick.
Liana gave an anxious sigh, but did not argue, rather she waited for the cat to be done licking the egg shells before scooping him up and tucking him into her coat.
"I think feeding Tuffy eggs was a bad idea. Now his breath is foul" she said, moving to step outside the cave.Peering around at the snowy.world, she sighed.
"So which way?" And she stood there, adjusting Tufkins weight in her arms.
It took a moment for Tenran to consider their direction, something that would get them out of the path of soldiers and finally he decided when he saw a deer crossing just east of them. "This way," he said and helped her along the snowy path. His boots crunched underneath snow and rock as they walked on through the trees.
The air was not as brisk as it was the night before, but it was still a touch cold and Tenran shivered as they moved.
It seemed their march in the cold was endless, and as the hours carried on, she was in so much pain, she knew she could no longer walk.
"Tenran, we have to rest. I can't walk anymore. The cold... and all of this walking... I need to rest. Just for a bit."
Tenran was shivering and turned back to Liana when she spoke, the cat huddling, shivering too, within the confines of his coat. "You're-you're right," he said, staggering a little in his footing. He was very tired, and felt like he hadn't slept in days. In fact, he suddenly slumped on his knees and fell face first into the snow.
Liana gasped and rushed to his side.
"Tenran!?" She was on one knee and shaking his shoulder. "Tenran!?" And with as much might as she could muster, she yanked him up from the snow and peered into his face, helping t brush off the snowflakes that clung to his dark brows and lashes and the crevices of his face.
"Tenran! Tenran are you alright!?"
Tuffy leapt out of the jacket with a loud meow, and pawed at Tenran's face. Tenran's eyelids fluttered open and closed and he shivered harshly. "It's so cold," he muttered through chattering teeth. "We need to find shelter."
Liana released an exasperated sigh.
"That's what I've been saying," she croaked. She could have cried, but it was too cold for that, and she too, shivered beside him. "Find shelter... rest..." She groaned and attempted to look around, but all she could see was snow, snow, snow-
But even during her fruitless search, eventually something appeared at the end of the meadow- a grey figure of a house.
"Tenran.." she breathed the words as they floate dout in white puffs from her mouth. "Look..."
And even from here, she could tell it was some sort of a mansion, and because there was no smoke from the chimneys, it appeared, even from this distance, it might be abandoned.
But Tenran's responses were languid as he shivered and Tuffy meowed with worry, pawing at his beard and trying to purr, rubbing against his face. "Oh...Tuffy...your breath...smells like eggs...." His voice was exhausted and he barely register Liana calling his name.
He struggled to find the will to move and eventually he sat up, but reached his arms out to help him stand. "What...that house? God it looks painfully far."
Frowning, she looked from Tenran to the home.
"Do you think you can make it there if I help you walk? That place is our best bet to get somewhere warm and safe."
"I...I think so," Tenran muttered and leaned against her. Tuffy lead the way, bounding hurriedly through the snow.
Liana was having great difficulties aiding Tenran through the snow, but tried to keep the conversation light and brief as she breathed hard.
"Tufkins always acts more like a dog than a cat," she said, shaking her head as she smiled a little. "Who's other cats do you know that can lead it's masters through the snow? It's as if he knows where we're headed."
Tenran gave a tired, sheepish laugh just as he saw the cat bounding off toward the house. "Only Tuffy. He's a smart cat," he muttered, exerting all the effort he could in getting there. After some time they were before the old graying house. "Who do you 'spose lives here?" he asked, huffing.
"I don't know, but if they're home, let's hope they're friendly." With a sigh, she moved with Tenran towards the front door and gave the great big door knocker a swing. It didn't make much noise at first, but affording more effort, she could hear the knocker inside echoing in the grand hall.
After a few passing wind chills cut through the pair, and Liana and Tenran were left standing, teeth chattering but no one answering the door, she released a sigh and turned.
"I suppose we could show ourselves in. It seems no one is home. No smoke in the chimney's indicate as such, and no one has even come to the door."
Moving forward, she took a hold of the great big door handle and tried to pull it- but the damn thing was locked.
"Damn." She huffed and moved away, white breath spilling from her lips.
"We might have to find another way in."
"Window," Tenran coughed, huddling in hos coat. Tuffy jumped onto the porch bench and pawed at the window, meowing loudly. The window was slightly parted, as if someone had forgotten to close it all the way.
It took some effort, but after a few tries, Liana was able to shove the frozen door open. Getting it closed would be another story, but that was hardly any concern for now. Peering over at Tenran, she looked up at the sky.
"More clouds rolling in.."s he murmured. That meant more snow. Sighing through a puff of white breath, she turned to her ex-husband and offered a hand. "Come. Let's get inside and find a way to get warm."
Tenran struggled to stand and find the strength to walk into the house. He kept his weight on the solid structure of the house and staggered inside. Tuffy meowed and rushed into the house, happy to be out of the cold.
Tenran fell down onto a dusty sofa and stayed there. "There's a fireplace. Be careful...probably cobwebs and spiders in it."
Liana sighed and dusted herself off as they entered the place.
"I'm not worried about some spiders. Just stay here. I'll look for some wood to burn. Do you have something we can use to start a flame?" she asked, raking her fingers through her hair. Ugh, she needed a bath.
"Cigars and matches in the jacket you're wearing," Tenran huffed in a weak laugh.
She felt against the breast pocket and smiled while shaking her head.
"Old habits never die."
"I could use a good smoke," he murmured. He found some strength to stand and wandered over to the door, nudging against it until it closed shut and the only draf that came through it was from the bottom.
"But I heard it ain't good to smoke on an empty stomach," he laughed, walking back to her as the fire began to burn in the hearth.
"I heard it ain't good to smoke at all." But she still afforded him a lopsided grin after she collapsed onto a dusty couch herself once hte fire was prepared and began to get comfortable. It was still too chilly to remove much clothing, but at least the room was getting warmer now.
"You know..."s he said, after a time as she craned her neck in his direction. "As much as I tried to chastise you for smoking, I was always fond of how you smelled after smoking a cigar. Reminded me of home.... our home."
Tenran coughed a little. "Oh yeah? Well, I didn't smoke that often. I still don't," he laughed. "But I like to enjoy a good cigar once in a while. Don't think I never caught you smoking one!"
Liana laughed.
"You SAW me smoking one!" she told him with a shake of her head. "That time up on the mountains... you know, after we had all of that great sex out under the moon."
"Oh I remember that!" Tenran rubbed his hands together, sitting by the fire now and shrugging out of his cold jacket. "Well, after all that. You needed a cigar. I didn't want to break you in half of course."
"Didn't want to? I'm pretty sure you tried!" she told him with a laugh, and moved to sit nearer to the fire, she too, discarding her jacket as she shivered as the air reached through her sweaty clothing to her skin.
"You're sweating? It's freezing out," he asked. He rubbed his hands together and huddled into his own embrace. Tuffy meowed loudly and leapt into his lap, purring and trying to impart some body heat.
"Well, we did just trek several miles to get here. And despite the cold, even you're sweating too. Wool doesn't exactly breath easy," she said with a soft laugh, her eyes going down to the cat as she found herself reaching out to stroke his head.
"I'm surprised I don't have icicles forming in my armpits," Tenran said with a snicker and showed her his pits under his shirt. He laughed and put his arm around her. "You know, I don't really know where we are going. I don't really know where we are, but I'm not worried. Are you?"
Liana sighed and gave a shake of her head and nestled in against him.
"I am a little," she admitted, sighing a second time as she peered over at the fire. "But I think I'm more tired than worried."
"Why? Because you had to lug my big behind through the snow?" he asked, snickering. "Say do you think this house has any food? It looks like maybe it was abandoned by the advance of troops. Could be some salted meats here, maybe some cheeses."
"It's possible, yes," she said through a sigh as she remained nestled against him. "But perhaps we can check after I rest. I really am exhausted, Tenran."
She did complain about the exhaustion hours ago.
"If anything, I could go for something to drink."
Tenran nudged her a little. "Well there's snow outside. And there's a fire going inside. Take a bucket, scoop out some and there you have it. Water."
"I know.." she said, but sighed exhaustedly. "Maybe after I nap?" And she closed her eyes and sighed again. She felt like lead.
"You just want a real man to do it," Tenran said, puffing out his chest and grunting like a manly man.
"Yeah, but there's not one of those here," she said, eyes closed as she was nearly asleep.
With that he moved and she dropped to the ground, going to the door and collecting a bucket of snow. He came back, staggering a little as he set it before the fireplace and resumed his seat beside her, pulling Tuffy back into his lap.
"Tenran!" she shouted, when he left her to drop. She made a scowl at him before pulling herself back up onto the couch, where Tuffy was now lying in her spot. She sighed and moved to sit on the opposing side of him before glancing over to where Tenran had returned.
"You didn't have to do that," she told him, smoothing her blonde hair from her face.
"Ohhhh, quit whining," he laughed and snuggled a purring Tuffy, as the cat tried to climb inside his shirt. "I wish they had some wine, is what I wish they had. Or maybe some whiskey."
Liana nestled back down into the couch.
"I don't care what they have, I'm just glad for the shelter," she said with a sigh. "But Tenran, please... I want to rest. We've been walking for miles. I thought you were tired?" And she peered over at him curiously from where she was half wilted into the couch.
"So what do you want me to do? Snuggle on the couch with you?" he said and sat up, sitting on the arm rest. "Everytime we cuddle, we somehow end up having sex anyway."
"Sex?" Liana wrinkled her nose. "No, I just want to keep warm,"s he said with another exhausted sigh and draped a tired hand over her eyes.
"Good, then you should hold Tuffy. He's getting too pawsy and I know he wants to sleep. I'm going to look around," Tenran said as he stood and laid the cat on top of her. Tuffy meowed in protest before curling up on Liana and Tenran laid his leather jacket on top of her as he went about looking through the house.
Liana just groaned when the cat was given to her, but Tenran wasn't even gone five minutes before Liana drifted off to sleep, a purring cat upon her lap.
Tenran came back with some food in a bucket and a bottle of wine he'd found in the kitchen area. It didn't seem the house had been abandoned long enough for the food to spoil and there was only a slight amount of dust on the bottle. The cups were clean and the plates had been washed. Food consisted of some good cheese, bread and spiced meat and Tenran ate while Lianan slept. The wine chilled with some snow in the bucket.
It was several hours before she'd awaken, and when she did, she groaned.
"Ugh, I think my legs are asleep." And so was Tuffy, still purring away. "Come on now, Tuffy. Get off. I need my legs to walk you know." But the cat did not want to budge. Liana's lap was nice, warm and comfortable. Sighing, she looked for Tenran.
"Tenran!" she called out. "Tenran! Come get your cat! He's put my legs to sleep and won't move!"
"He's not that fat," Tenran said, waking up from his spot on the floor and groaning. At the sign that he was awaky, Tuffy jumped off Liana and immediately huddled with Tenran instead.
"There's meat and cheese and bread if you want some."
Liana sighed and stretched on the couch.
"Yes.. maybe some food would be nice. But ugh, I feel so groggy. And I'm not sure I can stand."
"Ugh, you're so lazy," Tenran huffed and went get her the food he'd found. "There's wine too if you want some," he said, handing her a plate. "And water if you don't."
"Lazy? Your cat put my legs to sleep!"
Tenran sighed exasperated and shuffled over to her, gesturing to her legs. "And what would you like me to do with them then? Massage them?" he asked.
She gave him a narrowed look.
"Don't patronize me. You don't have to do anything. I just have to wait for them to come back." She sighed and threw her legs over the side of the couch and began to rub at the calves as she wiggled her toes. She wrinkled her nose. "At least the feeling is coming back. Feels like pins and needles."
Tenran rolled his eyes. "At least he didn't make you fall to tears," he said and smirked at her. He rubbed at her thigh before giving her her food plate and threw scraps at Tuffy as he meowed for attention.
She sighed and continued wiggling her toes and moving her legs as she looked from the food, then up to Tenran.
"Thank you. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until I smelled the food." And she stuffed some into her mouth, moaning lightly through puffy cheeked chews.
Tenran sipped back some wine. He quirked a brow at her and said, "Do you really have to make that sound?"
"What? Of course I do! This food is heavenly!"
"Oh come on! It's not that great!" Tenran said with a derisive sneer. "It's just...food!"
"WHen you've been running for your life for days and all you've had to eat is raw eggs? Yes.." she went on wtih a smirk and nodded. "This is what I consider heaven now." ANd she handed over some scraps to Tuffy, who purred and happily ate it.
"I just hope the cheese sits with him and he doesn't start farting," Tenran said. Tenran pet the cat and stroke his little head. "He needs a bath too."
"He doesn't fart with cheese he.."
And then the cat started to gag, doing this a few times before spewing out an enormous, orange cheese looking turd from his mouth.
"He... normally... pukes," she finished with a sigh. "Milk and cheese don't normally sit well with him."
"Bleh!" Tenran sat up and reached for some old rags he found to clean it up. "Well don't give him anymore then!" He spat and cleaned the mess then wiped it down. He offered Tuffy water to help wash it down and sat back down. "Bad Tuffy! You knew you couldn't eat cheese and you didn't tell me!"
Liana rolled her eyes.
"It's not like it was a secret, Tenran. Unless you were ignorant to all of those years of cheese colored vomit on our floors.... and bed."
"I guess I'd just forgotten," Tenran shrugged. "It's not like I'd been around much in the last few years."
"No," she said, then added quietly. "You haven't." She was still rubbing at her tingling legs, and curled her toes a bit before sighing and going to stand. She began to pace around, which helped stimulate blood flow, but her legs still felt funny.
Tenran watched the snow flutter out the window down onto the ground. It was so beautiful, and peaceful. It set his mind at ease for the moment, thinking back to when they first met, when they first married and Tenran found himself asking Liana, "Where did we go wrong?"
Liana's back was to him when he posed the question, and she tensed, freezing in spot.
"I... suppose it was a lot of things..."
"Yeah...I know. But from your side of it, what's the first that comes to mind?" he found himself asking.
She frowned and looked at the floor.
"Do we have to talk about this now?" she said, and looked over at him. It was evident she appeared to be fighting back tears. She didn't want to start sobbing now. They've gone through so much already. She was just happy the two were both alive.
Tenran rose then, rubbing his arms and saying nothing for a time. He slowly approached her and put a hand out onto her shoulder. He didn't know what to say really and just slowly put his arms around her and squeezed her to him. "I love you," he said, softly, barely just above a whisper. "I...I guess I just missed...us. You know?"
Feeling his arms around her, she tensed at first, then melted at his words. She couldn't contain those tears and pressed her face into his shoulder, and shook as she sobbed. She knew there was nothing she could do to change the past but...
living with this guilt, this shame, this emptiness for so long and confusion had done a number on her. So she just continued to cry.
Tenran held his eyes shut tightly, holding back tears. They trickled out of the corners of his eyes as he clutched her to him. Tenran didn't shake, however, remaining steady as he could, to support Liana.
"Gods... we've messed up so much of our lives," she murmured, breathing against him as tears still flowed down her cheeks. "And here we are again, but this life... what sort of life is this, Tenran? Will we always be running? What has become of our home land? This is like hell..." She found herself choking on a sob as she buried her face against his shoulder again.
Tenran kissed her cheek and temple multiple times and squeezed her to him. "We can find a new home. I'll get you out of here. I'll keep you safe, I promise."
She peered up at him with tearfilled eyes for a good long while, before simply cupping his face and kissing him soft, warm and sweet.
"I love you."
Tenran always loved the way her hands felt along his beard. He leaned into her kisses. "No, I love you. You were always too patient with me," he muttered against her lips.
Liana smiled against his kiss as she kissed him back.
"Are you arguing with me if my love is more or less valid than your own?" She kissed him again and looked at him quizzically.
Despite the solemnity of the moment, Tenran chuckled. "Maybe," he murmured. "Only foolish youngsters do that though. We're not as young as we used to be."
"Yes, but you always acted crabby from time to time... like an old man," she teased, wrinkling her nose at him as she kissed him again and moaned softly, contentedly.
"An old man with his old lady." He chuckled, amused, kissing her back.
"Hey!" she laughed through a kiss. "I'm much younger than you!"
"Sure sure. You might have to speak up thought, I can't hear you over the creaking in your joints," Tenran said as he kissed her again.
"Maybe next time we're out," she said through a smile and another kiss as she looked at him through half lidded eyes, her smile widening. "I'll buy you a hearing horn. And when you're done listening with it.." and here she wrinkled her nose playfully and whispered, "We can try some other fun with it, too."
"You're so raunchy," Tenran said, playfully pouting. "Unless you mean fill it with beer. I could use a cold one right about now."
"No," she said, and almost sputtered a laugh into his face. "I'm going to shove it up your ass!"
"Well, if you're going to be that frisky, you better make me dinner first," he spat back.
"Oh!" she went on, and clung her arms around him tighter, adoringly. "Go eat Tufkins if you're so hungry." But before he could respond, she kissed him longly, deeply.
Tufkins gave kitty litter kicks in Liana's direction to let her know what he thought of that before bounding around the house to see what he could find.
Tenran didn't reply and simply leaned in to kiss her deeply. Tenran felt his body start to heat up, even with the fire dying a little. He ran his hands down her back, pushing against her clothes as his kiss moved toward her neck.
Releasing appreciative breaths, she clung to Tenran and craned her neck for him, her own hands smoothing up his back as she closed her eyes.
Tenran wondered if he needed to shave. Ever since he could grow a beard, he kept his own, trimming it here and there where it got too unkempt, and relatively short. The only reason he never shaved before was because he was too lazy and it was always easier to not shave than to scrape away hair a little at a time.
He wondered that for a moment, but didn't speak of it as he scratched his beard against her neck, kissing down toward her collar bone.
If she were to listen in to what he was thinking, she would tell him 'No way!' At his idea to remove his beard. It was something she adored about him, even if it made her skin turn red. But it was just a little something else she enjoyed about him, something that made Tenran him, and as he continued to kiss her, she released more breaths as her fingers entangled into his hair.
"Liana," he murmured, half-breathlessly. He couldn't think of any other words to add other than soft breaths that escaped him and wrapping his arms around her. He lifted her clear off the ground before moving her toward the sofa, laying her on it and kissing her hotly, deeply. It was almost too ideal, the moment. Snow billowing down around them, the fire dying low, the war tearing across the land. If there was ever a moment Tenran wanted to live in, it was now.
It didn't take long for the moment to grow, for clothing to be shed and more kisses spared. Their breaths joined in unison, as did their bodies, as she rolled beneath him, reveling in the sensation of his sex as it slowly, painfully, and wonderously moved into her- deep, thick... and slow.
Tenran wondered what the hell either of them were thinking when they parted ways. What cruelty did the gods have in mind when they allowed such a thing to come to pass? No one could understand him like she could, and nobody could put up with her like he. What was she thinking choosing to moving to a stick in the mud like Reese?
He knew her! He knew her sighs, her shudders, her breaths and every way she wanted to be loved. Tenran hated the thought of any other having her. She was his, couldn't they see that? As he was hers in the way only two people could belong to each other. He made love to her with that in mind, with that sensation driving him onward, plowing through her.
It was different than those past times they had joined, this time he took it nice and slow, and she felt the long strokes within her as it warmed and tickled her all over. Pools of pleasure were building, and just as it always had been, he knew exactly the right way to move, the right stroke to make, and before she could control herself, she was screaming and screaming his name.
Finger nails raked over his back as she lay there, red cheeked and breathing hard. But nothing could erase the smile from her lips as she peered up at him, hair a mess about her face as she breathed, "Gods, how I love you." She whispered and captured his lips with her own, a hand cupped behind his head as she moved to smooth a hand down his hip.
Tenran smiled and kissed her gently. He remained connected to her. He could still feel her flushed with hot seed and he remembered all the times they had tried for children and never took. He didn't care anymore, it didn't matter like it once did.
"I love you too," he murmured. "I always will."
She melted at the words as she looked up at him, her face softening as she replied back, "And I love you too." ANd she kissed him. "And I always will." And her eyes searched his, hoping he'd be able to tell she really meant it. There was no going back now. She wanted to be with him forever.
There it was and it made Tenran still in thought. He found his eyes glazed over, but he blinked it away, taking her into his arms and squeezing her tightly. He remembered her at her happiest, her smile and he clutched her all the more tightly against him. "I'll take you far away from here. Wherever you want to go, I'll go with you."
Liana saw his expression and knew what he thought, and knew the sort of pain their divorce had on them. But were they fools? Perhaps so, but they were fools in love.
"Anywhere is fine so long as its with you. Maybe we can head north, or even somewhere south and exotic. And who knows..."And here her smile grew sad. "Maybe in this new life together we can finally have a child."
Tenran smiled, leaning his forehead against hers. "Maybe," he said. "It'll happen if it's mean to be. And even if it doesn't, it doesn't matter. We belong together."
Liana's heart melted.
"Yes, at least we know we are meant to be." And she moved a hand to cup is face as she kissed him, softly, sweetly.
"Hey, let's take the wine and drink until sunrise. We haven't done that in forever, have we?" Tenran suggested, smiling against her lips. "We can talk about old times. Or new times, or the things we wanted to do. Or anything at all."
Liana gave a small smile, which she tried to.tuck back.
"Do you think that's wise?"
"We are alone in a war ravaged land with little food and nothing else to do while it's snowy out. I don't see why not. Or did you have a better idea?" he asked.
"No..." she said with a smile and sighed through her nose. "That sounds lovely."
"Very well. Allow me to relight this fire, please," he said and went about stirring what embers remained and threw in a few more pieces of kindling. He struck the tinder and slowly the fire grew and began to crackle.
He returned to her and poured her another cup of wine. "What should we toast to?" he asked.
Liana thought for a moment then lifted her glass.
"To new beginnings. To happiness, to forgiveness, and to our life together." And her eyes shined. "As we promised each other when we took our vows. Let not war or death or petty arguments break us. Ever."
Tenran clinked his glass to hers. "I couldn't have said it better," he said. "Cheers." And drank.
"So, Miss Rose. Do you come here often? I come here all the time, but I believe this is the first time I've seen you in a seedy bar like this. A pretty girl like you should never be without company."
Liana smirked as she leaned in to tell him, "I don't think I'm alone. Not since I've found you. Or are you already spoken for? I believe I saw Miss Tufkins, could you possibly be her date?"
Tenran laughed. "Oh? Miss Tufkins? She can't be as ravishing as you are. You're eyes are impossible to leave."
Liana blushed and cast her eyes down.
"Then perhaps..." She went on, tucking her hair behind her ears. "You havent seen her eyes to compare?" And she lifted her gaze.
Tenran smirked and tucked a thumb under her chin, pulling it up to look at him. "I wouldn't even want to look elsewhere."
Liana's eyes sparkled, but before she could even reply...
Speak of the devil and the devil shall come...
Tufkins gave a meow, leaping in between the pair and snuggling in close to Tenran. Though it didn't last long as Liana gave a shout, for the cat scared her immensely, and in turn, her shout scared the cat as he leaped away in a hurry- tail all a puff from fear.
Tenran jumped up when Tuffy found his way into his lap. After the scramble, however, he clutched his gut in the ache of laughter and he was rolling onto his side. It was always hysterical when Tuffy got scared, but not the clawing so much.
"You shouldn't have done that," he said, regaining his breath. "Now he's going to find ways to scratch a mustache on you."
"And you say that as if it could be helped!" she huffed. "Tuffy will just have to get over it."
Tuffy kicked his feet again at her, meowing indignantly and licking down his poofed fur.
Tenran laughed still and pulled Liana in close to him. "And that's why no one else can even compare," he said and kissed her firmly on the lips. He smiled down at her and pinched her chin lightly.
Liana smirked before kissing him back.
"Don't let Tuffy hear you say that," she said, moving a hand through his hair. "Or he'll remove that beard of yours."
"No! Not the beard! Anything but the beard!" He chuckled lightly and ran a hand through it. "What do you think if I trimmed it a little more? Maybe took off the sides? Or took it all off?"
Liana looked at him, appalled.
"Then I'm afraid I'd never recognize you!" And she leaned in to kiss his precious beard.
Tenran laughed. "Do you really love this beard on me?" he asked. "I've had it ever since I could grow one. I thought it'd make me look more manly."
Liana smirked as she stroked it.
"That it does." And she kissed his lips, a hand to his cheek. "But if you shave it now, I'm afraid you'll look like some boy! And what will the others think? And Tufkins- what if he gets confused?"
"Tufkins might claw my face in sheer fright!" he laughed. "I think I might look dashing. Like a young general." He smiled again and kissed the inside of her palm. "But if you like the beard, the beard'll stay."
She gave a triumphant grin.
"Good. You had me worried for a moment."
Tenran smirked and kissed her cheek. "You honestly love this beard? Even when it scratches your face?"
"Especially then," she told.him with a loving smile.
Tenran peered keenly into her eyes and pushed her hair back. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Obviously you'd find me again," she said with a soft laugh.
He chuckled and scratched his beard. "I'd track you down like wild game," he smirked and leaned into her again. "When you feel more rested we could travel on again. I'm going to check outside." He got up from the floor and walked toward the window, but his expression fell when he saw the drifting snow outside. "It's flurrying outside," he commented and moved back to Liana.
"Looks like we'll have to stick around for a bit longer."
She gave a nod in his direction.
"This place is as good as any. They did say this year the winter was predicated to be the worst one we've had in a good long while."
"I was hoping to get a headstart, but that's all right. More time to spend with you," he said with a smile and leaning in to kiss her brow. "We'll just have to make due with what we have for the time being."
Liana smiled.
"I think I could handle that."
Tenran smirked down at her. "This is the life. You know, aside from the war and the house being shot up, and being on the run. This is the life."
Liana shook her head before kissing him.
"I couldn't agree more!"
Tenran fell in against her lips, kissing her back with intensity. When he pulled away, his lips and body were warmed and he smiled down at her. "You still know how to make me shiver."
And she stared back at him, nearly dizzy from his reply.
"I could say the same about you."
Tenran would awake the next morning feeling more rested than when he would wake on his own bed. Admittedly the sofa was lumpy and left much to be desired. In the wake of losing everything they had just days ago, however, Tenran wasn't going to complain. He felt something warm on top of him and his hand crept around it feelingly, wondering if it was Tuffy or..."Liana?"
Liana only mumbled, half asleep, in reply. But the egg breath clearly identified it was Tuffy.
"Meow."
He was hungry and wanted to be fed.
And then it happened. "Tuffy!" Tenran suddenly bellowed when he smelled the cat fart and pushed the cat off of him. Tenran held his nose and shook his head fiercely.
"Tuffy! You know you're supposed to warn me before you do that!" he said.
Groaning, she have Tenran a shove before grumbling, " Cut that out! I'm trying to-" But then she got a whiff of it too and almost gagged.
"Ahhh! Tuffy! That's gross! You know you're only supposed to do that outside!"
Tuffy meowed and wanted out, swerving toward the door until Tenran got up. But when he opened the door, nearly a foot of snow came sloshing through and he jumped backwards. "Holy hell," he gasped.
Liana pulled the blankets up over her head, turning her back to Tenran as she sleepily grumbled and tried to go back to.sleep.
Tenran smirked and reached down, compacting a small ball of cold snow and throwing it on top of her head.
"Tenran! What do you think you're doing?! You're going to get the blankets all wet!"
Tenran burst out laughing, Tuffy meowing indignantly after coming in from the snow, shaking little icicles from his feet. Soon he closed the door, pushing out what snow came in through the door and kicking the rest aside.
"I needed something to wake you up," he laughed and moved to clean the snow off the couch and blankets.
"Well, good luck with that!" she snapped, and nestled in deeper beneath the blankets.
Tenran sat beside her and brushed snow from her hair. "Oh come now. The morning is here and you can't possibly be that tired are you?" he asked, laughing a little.
Liana just grumbled in reply.
"It's too cold to get out of this blanket." But her voice was muffled, as her face was completely hidden from view.
"Could I join you in that blanket?" he asked, leaning down and taking a peek underneath.
She yanked it from him, hiding herself once more before snapping, "NO! Now stop letting in the cold! Besides, someone needs to feed Tuffy!"
As their cat was mewing like crazy, wanting something desperately to eat.
"Fiiiiine," Tenran groaned and took Tuffy into the kitchen looking for scraps. What remained were a few hunks of dried meat and a small clay bowl. Some milk remained, cooled in a snow-filled trough underneath the floorboards and he tasted it before giving it to Tuffy and some scraps of meat. The milk had yet to spoil, thankfully and Tuffy ceased his mewings.
Trying to get back to sleep, she found herself tossing and turning too much. So she abandoned that and threw off the covers and rubbed sleepily at her eyes.
Tenran moved back to Liana and sat on the armrest of the sofa. "Wakey wakey, sleeping princess," he said, smiling.
Liana merely glared at him and moved to stand, running a hand through her tangled hair with a groggy sigh.
"So.. what's for breakfast, knave?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to be happy with the same slop I just fed Tuffy with," Tenran said with a frown. "Though I guess we do have some eggs left from our long and arduous journey here."
Liana gave a groan.
"I suppose we can't be choosy." And she nestled into the blankets again as she sat there and looked around the place.
"Perhaps we should look around this place some more. We might find some more things to eat. Like another pantry tucked away somewhere, or a smoke house."
Tenran shrugged, content with sitting down beside the fireplace. "You get up and look around. I'm fixing this."
"Very well, " she went on with an irritable sigh. She was hardly a morning person, and she hardly felt well rested- still on edge after all that had come to pass. Even with her ex-husband so near stating he'd protect her, the very real nightmare of this war was just too heavy to digest, and as she found herself searching around the place, she saw more effects of the war as she gasped and cried out for Tenran-
For there, before her, in the master bedroom on the top floor, was an entire family- hung from the neck and blue with death.
"Liana!?" Tenran bolted for the stairs, after hearing her scream out his names. He rushed up them, their cat following in curiosity and when he found her staring at the dead bodies that hung from the rafters, he immediately pulled her against him, covering her with his arms. He couldn't have protected her from that, no matter how much he might have wanted to.
She might never unsee what she witnessed, but he pulled her away from the door and held her at arm's length. "Are you all right?" he asked gently. "Oh, Liana! You scared me!"
She was ghostly white, and still paralyzed at the shock. What horrible things must've happened for these people to hang themselves? Or... had they been forced to hang by another? She clung to Tenran, her heart beating so fast it was hammering deafeningly inside her ears. And after a moment, she finally felt his warmth and just clung onto him, burying her face against him as she sighed, "We... we should move on as soon as we can."
Knowing there were dead people in one of the rooms upstairs... let's just say she wanted to get away from that, and the nightmare now burned into her memory, as quickly as she could.
Tenran pulled her away from the scene and downstairs. "There isn't another settlement for miles. Let's just say that room is off limits," he said, pulling her far enough to look at her. "I'll give them a proper burial."
Tenran brushed her hair from her face. "Are you all right?"
Liana looked into his eyes as she trembled.
"No... but... but I'll be alright. I just..." she placed a hand to her chest and grimaced. "I... I've never seen death so close before- so ghastly..."
He squeezed her shoulder, his expression no less filled with concern. "You stay down here with Tuffy and I'll check upstairs for anything useful, okay?" He leaned in to kiss her forehead.
Liana released a shivering sigh when he kissed her, and numbly nodded. It seemed Tuffy understood she was rather stressed, and mewed and came up to sit next to her on the couch where he now took homage on her lap, purring softly.
Tenran came back down a few minutes later with blankets and pillows that were beaten clean, and a box of trinkets tucked underneath one arm. "Tuffy keeping you warm?" he asked.
By the time he returned, Liana was hugging the cat as it purred and remained in her lap. So at Tenran's question, she nodded."well, he does have a nice fur coat. I'm just surprised he wanted to share. He doesn't normally stay very long on my lap,." She went on, petting the little furry beast .
"Indeed. You know he loves you right? I mean when I was away, he had no one else to feed him. Naturally love follows a hearty meal," Tenran said and pulled out a coat that was just Liana's size from inside the rolled blanket. He sat beside her and set down the trinket box and took some of them out. "I'm surprised the soldiers didn't take any of this stuff."
"Yes, well I'm sure they werent here for long. There was too many things left behind."
"Or maybe they weren't here at all," Tenran said thoughtfully. "A pack of mages could have just as easily passed through here. "
She peered down at Tuffy as she pet him.
"You make it sound like the mages are some sort of animal."
"War makes men into animals," Tenran said. "Eventually we're all just scrambling to survive."
Liana nodded, still remaining quiet before releasing a breath.
"We.. we should move on. At least to another town. Figure out what's going on, where the army has gone..."
"We could. We'd have to take some of these supplies though. We can leave if the snow ever lets up," Tenran suggested.
Liana gave a nod, nervously tucking.back some of her hair.
"At this rate we.'ll be stuck here til winter," she said with a forced smile before sighing as she dropped her gaze.
"Wouldn't that be jsut more time to cuddle up?" he asked with a grin.
Liana gave him a sharp look.
"How can you think of cuddling with the war booming all around us?" But truth be told, she did like and need the idea.
"Don't act like you aren't starved for it, Liana?" he said, teeth flashing through his beard. "You said it yourself Reese isn't much in the sack. In times like these, we need each other as much as ourselves. I need you. I know that much."
Liana cut him a look. Did he have to bring up Reese? She was cheating on him, and with her ex-husband no less! But really...
Was it her fault he technically left her? She told him not to go to war...
Tenran said nothing more on the matter and just gave her the look.
Liana sighed frustratedly and looked away and in doing so, tried to hide any smile by his comment. But once she composed herself, she shook her head.
"You only remind me how much my life is messed up..."
And again, she sighed at that fact before looking up at him, appearing quite tired.
Those words might as well have been a slap in the face for all the good it did. Tenran slowly felt himself grow numb, and his shoulders felt heavy as all that had happened between them had been his fault.
"Right. Well, then allow me to refrain from further obstructing your view," he said with a nod and smiled tightly, before venturing upstairs.
His reply stung in equal measures, though she had no idea he'd interpret those words in the way he did. She had meant how messed up her life was because of her choices, but she supposed Tenran did fall under the category of something that was her choice. But confused and as hurt as hew as, Liana moved to drop onto the couch, where she sighed and bent over it, burying her face into her hands.
Tenran busied himself with wandering the upstairs, keeping away from the room where they had found the bodies. There was nothing in there for them anyway. He did find a few things of interest, some paintings and a small, half-frozen journal. He tucked it under his arm and came back downstairs, moving some pillows to sit comfortably by the firelight in order to read.
And when he'd return- Liana was no where in sight. But Tuffy came meowing on up to him, begging for attention.
Tenran idly pet the cat, abosrbed in reading.
Liana needed to get fresh air. Despite the weather, the war and the fact this house was rather vast, she found herself soon outside and walking around the manor. She bundled up, naturally, as puffs of her breath trailed behind her as she walked and observed the yard.
Tuffy kicked his feet at Tenran, meowing loudly. He purred, rubbing against his owner and kicked his feet again before running toward the door. "What's gotten into you?" Tenran asked. "Stinkin' cat." He sighed and took his coat, pulling it over his shoulders before venturing out the door and spotting Liana in the yard.
He watched her from afar, watching Tuffy bounding through the snow and meowing loudly after her.
She stood beneath a snow powdered tree. From all she could deduce, it was probably a cherry tree, and she tried to imagine how it might look come spring. Her mind continued to drift away, until she heard a faint rumble and turned to look at the horizon, and found herself freezing in place. For there, like an ocean wave, was a sea of men approaching-
ANd from the wag that flew over head, they were soldiers.
[Because all soldiers carry wags.]
Tenran was too far away to run toward her, instead, he called out. "Liana! LIANA RUUN!!"
OOC: Phone typos are the best typos :P
Liana was frozen in place, too horrified to most at first. But once Tenran's voice broke across the valley, she turned tail to run. But as she did so,s he had to wonder...
Where could they go? Back to the house and hide in there? She had seen those skeletons..
And she did not want to become one.
Tehran didn't waste any more time with telling and ran off toward Liana as the flags came closer in the distance. He stuffed Tuffy into his shirt and ran full force, trying desperately to snatch onto Liana. He yanked her arm when he reached her. "We've got to get the hell out of here!"
Liana was thoroughly freaked out. Her grip returned with equal desperation as she exclaimed, "Angsar's name... how can we out run an army?"
"Not for long," Tenran answered, exhausted enough from just running through the snow toward her. He continued to pull her along however and would continue to do so until a man abruptly appeared before them in the treeline and laid prone on his belly, his rifle heavy in his hands.
But all Tenran heard was the crack of a musket ball, and his eyes widened. And he stumbled headfirst into the snow, red painting the frost along his left side.l
Liana exclaimed, "Tenran!" And was quick to drop to his side, eyes darting around to see where the gunman was and if he was aiming to get off another round.
And that was when three men popped out from the snow, and one held out his rifle to her head.
"Hold your fire!" someone called out from behind them. "Hold your fire!" And a troop closed in around them.
Liana clung desperately to her husband, fear in her eyes as the men completely surrounded them.
"They look like civilians."
"But ain't that what most rebels try to pull off?"
"Yeah, but there's only two of them. Not like they can do much against a whole army."
One of the men cleared their throat.
"Explain yourselves. And keep in mind that to lie is a direct violation against the Grand Duke himself and the punishment is death on the spot."
And for the life of her, Liana wished she could reply, to speak, to say anything when she was suddenly yelping as a very terrified Tuffy scrambled out of her arms and rushed off.
"Tufkins, no!" And at the rifle blast of a shoulder, Liana's heart clenched as she was frozen in fear.
Tuffy... no..
Did they....
Was their cat dead?
Tenran inhaled a sharp breath when the men moved him, the wound had debilitated him but not yet killed him. Seeing that he was barely alive, the men moved them both to the the middle of their camp, a small temporary guarded clearing.
The captain that halted their execution slammed the gate to their cage. "The major will have a word for you when he comes around. As for your friend, you should probably plug up that wound."
Liana was shaking so bad as she was left to tend to Tenran. Though she should have assumed the Grand Duke's army would leave civilians to tend to their own, even if it was their fault for the wound. But knowing she had little else to use, she worked quickly and hesitated not to rip the hem of her skirt and began to press it over Tenran's wound while tears blurred her eyes and began to roll down her cheeks.
Tenran slipped it and out of consciousness, and he moaned softly within the confines of their cage. The bleeding, somehow, had stopped, though the pain that remained was evident.
"Liana," he croaked hoarsely. "Liana....are we dead?"
"Shh.. don't move too fast, you'll reopen the wound," she whispered, a hand stroking through his hair to calm him.
"Oh, good. How lovely," he muttered, coughing and wincing at more stabbing pain in his side.
He could barely breathe. "Liana. Where are we? I don't like...the not knowing. That's the worst part."
That was debatable. For the truth was revealed, as she felt she should not keep such a fact from him.
"Tenran.... We're in a military camp." And she tightened a grip on his hand as she added, "Reese's military camp."
[And how could she possibly know that they were in Reese's camp? That wouldn't make sense. She's never been there. And being always on the move, a military camp wouldn't give away locations in letters or other forms of communication.]
"I'm dying then?" he mumbled. "I can feel it." He looked paler than normal and he gasped for breath, or tried to but breathing was becoming more and more difficult. "I need a doctor...or some kind've healer. But...we're in a cage Liana. I'm going to die. And you're going to rot. That's -" He coughed hard "-how these things work."
OOC: To add more drama, I had it be that it was the regiment Reese was from :|
Liana kept his hand in hers and squeezed it.
"No... no, you're going to be just fine," she told him, tears slipping down her soiled cheeks. "My... my husband is part of the regiment heading from the West. He'll be here soon. And once.. once he is, they'll let us out of here and you can see a doctor, a real doctor." She swallowed the knot in her throat and tried to suppress her shaking body, but her nerves were shot and she too, feared the worse.
And she couldn't help but think no matter what happened now- they were both damned.
[But it doesn't make any logical or tactical literary sense. :U]
Tenran didn't have words to speak. Because he could feel his consciousness slipping and the hand that held his wounded side was weakening.
He closed his eyes, and slowed his breathing. And the only sound he heard were those of the boots of an officer walking toward them. "What rot is this? A woman on the field of battle? And .....Tenran Cyneran, dying in a cage!? I never thought I'd see the day. You were dismissed. And yet here you are?"
Tenran opened bleary eyes to the speaker. "Major MacGavin?"
Liana's heart leaped into her throat when Tenran spoke again. She had been so fearful he'd certainly die. But at the sound- the name, even she recognized it as she turned and gave him a desperate look.
"Please! He needs a doctor!" Liana pleaded.
"That's General MacGavin," he replied and looked at the woman again. Then his eyes widened a little. "Liana, what are you doing here? What the hell happened to the both of you? I'm not sure we have a doctor to spare. Just keep pressure on that wound. Corporal! Get your ass over here!"
Liana couldnt believe this.
"What do you mean no doctor to spare?!"
"Boys are wounded bad. Burned, roasted through. But I'll find someone. Don't you worry," MacGavin said. When the Corporal arrived, he directed him to unlock the cage and both of them were allowed out. Tenran was pulled out by two men and held with care.
"Don't worry Liana, we'll do the best we can." And Tenran was dragged away.
'Do our best' wasn't good enough for her. This was her husband! Well.. her ex-husband.. though she still cared for, so did that make him her lover? Whatever the technical detail was, it didn't matter. She cared too greatly for him to let him out of her sight, and moved along side him as the men carted him away.
"Just stay with us, Tenran. Just hang in there," and she squeezed his hand lightly, eyes shifting back and forth constantly from him and the snow.
MacGavin reached out and pulled Liana aside. "Let them do their work. There's nothing you can do for him right now."
But Liana pulled away, glaring.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
MacGavin grit his teeth. "You'll just be in the way!"
"And who's the judge of that? I'm more than capable of helping."
MacGavin stood in front of her. "Liana. Please! If you want to help him, let the doctors do what they can."
"Then what of me?" she shot back. "Am I to remain idle when Tenran could die?"
MacGavin remained firm. And would remain such until one of the doctor's approached the General. "He's asleep, sir. We removed the round, but only time will tell if he will live."
It was only then Liana interjected, having remained silent for as long as she could.
"Can I see him?"
MacGavin was about to protest, when he soon nodded and let Liana past the doctor.
She wasted No time, passed the doctor and went straight to the bed where he ly. And he looked so pale. It made her eyes water.
There Tenran remained still, asleep. The doctor moved beside Liana. "The bullet was in deep, and he lost a lot of blood."
"I can see that," she said, tensing. Her eyes remained to Tenran's form. "Is there anything I can do, to help him..." she turned to the doctor. "Or even to help you. You don't know how much it means to me that you helped."
"Make sure he doesn't lay on his ribs. And pray. He'll need that most of all."
There wasn't much Liana could do, but as the hours passed on, she remained diligently at Tenran's side, even as the army's commotion remained constant around her. The war wasn't her concern anyway, nor were the soldiers who were groaning in agony. No, her heart, her prayers were going out to the only man she could love, and prayed to Ansgar he wouldn't take him so soon.
Soft groans erupted from his mouth, as his body felt cold and clammy, yet he was sweating bullets. "Gods, Liana...I...miss...you," he said. "Don't...marry...that....idiot."
She was elated when he stirred, but as his words she looked at him curiously.
"Tehran?"
He was delusional largely. And still asleep by the sound of his grumblings. "I never...stopped...loving...you."
A small smile crept across her lips as she took his hand.
"I know. And I've always loved you."
At the feel of someone touching him, Tenran stirred and his eyes flickered open weakly. "Liana?....How can you be here with me?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. He was alive, if only barely, and his side throbbed something terrible.
But something in him grew relieved at knowing that she was here with him.
Giving his hand a gentle squeeze, she tried to calm him.
"Shh.. don't worry about all that. I'm here now. And I won't leave you. You need to rest, and gets lots of it. You've... been through a lot." The day had been too long.
"I want to stay awake. I want to see you," he said with a wry grin. "You look like crap, darling. It doesn't suit you."
Liana smiled back, a few tears rolling down her cheeks as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"You always were a flatterer."
He weakly squeezed her hand back. "I love you," he murmured and weakly pulled her hand up to his lips, kissing it back. "But...really, where are we?"
Her eyes sparkled as she smiled.
"I'm not sure you want to know."
"All right then," he answered, grumbling a little and sniffling. "Can you scratch my nose?"
Smiling, she moved to scratch the tip of it.
"You're so much like your son, Tuffy." But recalling the cat and what... might have happened to him, made her expression turn somber.
"Tuffy is my son all right. And yours too," he said with a pained chuckle. "Where is he?"
And just then there were shouts of men rolling through the camp. Or rather a pair of soldiers trying to shove people aside. "Move! Cat on the loose! We're gonna eat good tonight boys!"
And a meow not far off ahead.
"I..." her voice choked, eyes tearing but before she could even utter her fears, the cat was there, jumping onto Tenran's belly.
"Tuffy!"
But as soon as the cat landed on Tenran, the animal was snatched back up as the soldier caught up with him. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed, satisfaction twisting his haggard features.
"You're going to be delicious tonight friend!" he cackled. "Hm, you don't got that much meat on your bones, but you'll do."
Tufkin hissed savagely and when he was close enough the slashed the soldier across the cheek. The man howled and tried to wrangle with him but the cat was not having it. Tuffy bit his hands until he let him go. "Why you little!"
Tuffy poofed up, hissing again in warning and resuming his position on Tenran.
Tenran groaned and looked up at the soldier. "I hope you don't plan on eating that cat,' he croaked out "He's mine."
One of the older men did a double take.
"That voice..." Blinking, he leaned in closer to examine Tenran's face and suddenly his eyes lit up.
"Tenran!? Tenran Cyneran!?" The man barked out a laugh. "Well light my whiskers on fire, I didn't think you'd ever try to join the army again!"
Tenran looked at them with hard bleary eyes. Though he was weakened, he didn't back down. "I will light them on fire if you try to touch my cat again," he growled.
The man laughed.
"Yep, same old Tenran." And when the man turned and saw Liana, his eyes went wide.
"Liana? Little Liana Rose?"
Blushing, Liana nodded and looked from the bearded man over to Tenran.
"Yes?"
THe man laughed.
"Seems you don't remember me, but who could forget a pretty thing like you? But it has been... wow, probably two decades almost? Hell, I don't fuckin' know anymore! But it's me, Samuel Grayson!"
"You're old as dirt, Sam," Tenran grumbled, less than enthused to see him.
"Pfft. War's hard on us all."
"But apparently some more than others."
"Yeah, I'll say. Last I heard you two were in a bit of a rough patch."
And at Sam's comment, Liana felt sick as her eyes went to Tenran.
"We did.." She squeezed Tenran's hand. "But nothing in life is ever easy. Especially marriage."
Tenran just laughed. "Tell your grunt here to keep his paws off my cat."
Sam smirked.
"You hold onto that woman of yours. Kinds like her are hard to come by."
And he laughed about the grunt and the cat, and gave a 'hard look' to the offender before shaking his head.
"Don't worry." He went to pet Tuffkins, but the cat mrowled and bristled. "Your pussy is safe here!"
Sam departed, leaving Tenran room to breath at last. The tension in his body had only made his wound ache all the more, and he was pretty sure some blood seeped through a little. Or maybe that was just the sweatiness of his palms.
He sighed and looked at Liana. "How did you ever suffer military life? I thought you were tired of it?"
Liana grew quiet.
"Maybe I was. Maybe I still am." She sighed and kept her gaze dropped. "It... it's never an easy life."
"Then why did you come back to it?"
She lifted her eyes.
"Come back?" she gave a small, sad smile.
"I think I can't escape it. It's more like it found me."
That much was true. "When all this is over, let's get the hell out of Connlaoth."
An expression faltered as she looked down at him. And despite the situation, she gave a laugh.
"Oh? Where you aiming to run away to? The tundra?" she joked. However, most Connlaothians had little choice. that was the easiest route to take to get away from laws, and quickly.
"I am sick of the cold. Sick of the wet. Sick of the humidity. I'm thinking...green. Serendipity? Maybe even Adela. I hear Adela loves Connlaothians," he said with a weakened snicker. "So you're saying you'd run away with me?"
She was laughing with him. But at his last statement, the laughter faded as she looked into his eyes.
Tenran just stared back, searching her features.
"Don't give me that look," she whimpered. "I think after a look like that, you got me pregnant..."
Tenran's expression softened. Taking her hand, he threaded it into his own. "I'm not going to pressure you into anything. Whatever you choose, that's yours to keep, Liana. I care for you, and I want only for you to be happy."
Drawing in a breath, she slowly exhaled.
"I know... Hell, any place does sound better than here, huh?"
Tenran chuckled. "Sounds like something you'd say," he murmured and felt along his side. "Take a look at that willya? It doesn't feel too good."
She made a face, still managing a smile.
"Tenran, I already know it's bad." She paused. "It'll take time to heal."
Tenran sighed and withdrew his hand. "I know. I guess I'm just tired of being useless. I don't know. I want to be out of here. I'm not sure if us being found by a bunch of soldiers is fortunate or the worst thing that could happen to us."
She knew what he meant, but kept quiet.
Tenran closed his eyes in that silence and slowly fell asleep. There wasn't much more he could do.
All night she remained at his side, one hand holding his. She fell asleep, bent over his form- and not even the loud noises of the busy, temporary war hospital could ruse her. Though rumors spread about the pair, it seemed to only remain for a short time. After all, this was war-a nd the army had more to worry about than the pair of them. However, Liana had been awakened by a gentle shake to her shoulder.
It was someone she didn't know, or couldn't recall.
"There is tea. Would you like some?"
Sitting up, she nodded, and felt the stiffness in her back and neck. She moved to stretch, to crack any of her stiff bones she could before taking the offered steaming cup of tea. Gently she sipped it before returning her attention to Tenran. It seemed like he was sleeping like the dead. But by the way he was breathing, it made a small smile touch her lips. He was one tough soldier-
Or rather, ex-soldier.
Except he stopped. And he really was dead. The end.
Just kidding.
Tenran roused at the sound of a voice nearby, and opened his eyes to a young private that stared down at the pair of them. "Is there something you want?" he croaked out.
The young man stirred and blushed furiously. "N-no, sir. I-I-I was merely offering you tea."
Tenran considered him for a moment. "What's with the 'sir' thing? I'm not your superior. I'm not a soldier either. I'm just a fool who wasn't lucky enough to die with the rest of them. But other than that nonsense. Yeah, tea would be fine."
Hastily tea was given,a nd once they were alone again, Liana gave him a look.
"Just an unlucky fool?" she questioned.
"It was just for his benefit I swear," Tenran said with a grin.
"Hrm, an unlucky fool who just might be wearing my tea soon.."s he went on, giving him a playful glare. But her gaze soon softened.
"So... unlucky fool, how are you feeling? You've slept for quite a long time."
"Alive. And feeling all the pain to show it." Tenran groaned and gestured to his side. "Could you look at the wound for me? It feels a bit better, but not by much. If it looks well, help me stand. I wish to be free from this place."
Liana frowned.
"If I look at it or not, I don't think it's a good idea for us to leave just yet. The body takes time to heal..."
[A thousand posts! Somehow they made it this far. ]
"You're right. I hate that you're right. But you are," Tenran said. "War camps like these always made me nervous. You always wondered who it was you weren't ever gonna see again."
"Oh? I suppose that's a good reason, but we're only here temporarily." she patted his hand. "And once we're gone from this place I'm sure we'll both laugh about it." And that's when Tuffy meowed.
Meowed loudly for pets, food, and something that seemed to unsettle the cat. At that Tenran managed the strength to sit up. "What's the matter Tuffbottoms? You look anxious boy."
Tufkins meowed loudly again, pawing at Liana, and rubbing heavily against her.
Liana sighed, petting the cat.
"I think he's as antsy to get out of here as you."
"Maybe he's hungry. He's been traveling with us forever," Taladan said with a sigh. "Poor boy. You ought to try finding him some food if you can."
She gave a small smile as she nodded.
"I suppose you're right." She moved to stand. "It would do us all some good to get a bite to eat. I'll see what I can do." And she turned to leave.
Tuffy followed closely behind her to make sure she didn't forget his hunger was the priority. He jumped up onto her arms when he was within range, clawing and clinging to her clothes.
It took some time and some direct lying to procure them some food. By then,s he had worked up quite the appetite herself, but couldn't ignore Tuffy's cries for more as she fed him the stale bread that was offered.
"He'd be better off hunting in the woods," she went on with a sigh. Too bad it was too dangerous for that. And it seemed the cat was wise enough to remain close. For that,s he was thankful for as she gently stroked him.
Tenran fell asleep back by the doctor's cots and he had remained largely undisturbed.
Tuffu grew comfortable beside Liana, purring contentedly and meowing only at the absence of Tenran.
Liana had moved to Tenran's side, sighing as she watched him sleep. The cat ate the majority of the bread, the rest of which she pocketed in her sleeve. She knew Tenran would need his rest, and she herself got as comfortable as she could and eventually found herself beginning to drift off into a restless sleep.
The night fell into an otherwordly peaceful silence. The soldiers patrolled the outskirts of the camp were on their toes, wary and disliking the silence that fell heavily upon them.
Tenran awoke to what sounded like a snapping twig, although it must have been far off into the distance. He was not completely healed, not by any means, and when he rose he noted Liana beside him. He shook her slightly. "Liana, wake up. Something's wrong. We need to leave."
Liana had fallen in and out of sleep several times before succumbing to it more deeply. Her dreams were rather unrealized, a strange mixture of her pass and playing 'make up' after another 'break up' with her - at the time- husband. So she was a bit sweaty when she awoke, and jarred a bit before she realized just where she was and she turned to Tenran.
But then she noted the quiet.
"Is something happening?" she whispered, moving to stand closer to his side- their cat doing the same, and moving to stand at the foot of the bed.
There was another pop in the distance, one that made Tenran look up and around them. He heard a whistling sound, something that sounded like it was getting louder and louder. "We've got to leave," he whispered. Gathering up Tuffy, he put the cat in his shirt and despite his wounds, he went about moving on toward the edge of the camp.
And before long a fireball came screaming down from the sky.
The shriek was stolen from her throat long before it could be heard, the ball of fire smashing into the ground, blasting the pair into the air. She wasn't sure what happened next, because everything hurt, and her ears were ringing. She couldn't hear. There was smoke. It was hard to breath, even after trying to recuperate from being winded.
Tenran? She tried to look around, but she felt so numb. Where was Tenran?
"Liana!" Tenran called out, to no answer in the confusion. "Liana!" Tuffy meowed aloud and the fact that either lf them were even still alive in the growing chaos was a miracle. But he had to find Liana before another fireball came down upon them.
Soldiers screamed, some dead laid at his feet as commanders cried out and fought to regain control.
She heard his voice, but it seemed so far away and thick smoke clouded her view.
"Tenran?" she coughed, barely able to get the words out as she crawled forward. "Tenran?" her voice was barely louder than a croaking frog.
Through the faint noise and the ringing in his ears, he heard a small voice, and he kept calling out even as the screaming worsened in the area. There was a lump on the ground. His heart dropped a moment. Gods. "Liana!" And he rushed forward.
Gods, the smoke was so thick. She couldn't stop smoking and it burned her eyes. She was practically choking on it, so when Tenran appeared out of no where, she gasped at his sight, and went into another coughing fit again.
"T-Tenran, where... I..." she winced. Everything hurt, and her ears were still ringing. "What happened?"
But as she began to look around, she knew.
He wasted no time and plucked her up onto her feet. "The camp is being attacked. We've got to escape. I'm not losing you to war again," he said and kept them both going.
Within a few seconds fire was tearing through tents and sending men left and right. Musket fire rang through the air as did the acrid smoke of burning flesh.
"A horse! We've got to get to the horses."
Adrenaline had her moving fast, nearly blind as she barely registered what he had said. Horses.. horses. yes, getting to a horse would help assure that-
And something blasted nearby.. so close it wrung her ears and threw her forward. She must've screamed, her throat burned, but she couldn't hear and something was painful and wet and-
somehow she was on the ground, shaking and clutching onto a pool of blood that used to her foot.
"HOLY FUCK!" was what Tenran heard someone with his voice scream out loud when the explosion went off beside her. He stopped only a second and pulled her up from the dirt, and ran for the life of them both.
He clutched her too him and didn't care that the pain in his knee was escalating with every step. They would not die here, not this way. Maybe he would in some other time, but she deserved to grow old in a warm home, safe beside her own furnace. And he would see to it that she did.
With or without a foot.
All she felt was pain that robbed her of any thought, any emotion or ability to move. The world around them was in chaos, and she herself, not realizing how she clung To Tenran. Shock. It could cost her more than her foot, but what would it matter if the both of them died?
Tenran would blackout what happened next. And somewhere in the chaos of it all, an explosion erupted beside him, although not directly upon him, threw him off balance and he tumbled, landing hard on his back. Dirt covered the pair, and they looked dead amongst the bodies of the soldiers and mages...
They all were doomed, damned as was the rest of the world. Tenran was content with dying then and there if only the gods were kind enough. He closed his eyes and let himself drift into darkness.
He thought it was the end. A voice echoed above him. "Hey. Are you all right?" a young woman's voice breathed. "Wake up!"
A meow... Tufkins. Tenran tried to sit up, except he was strapped down to a surface.
"Sorry. We needed to tie you down just to be sure. You're wife was in pretty bad shape when we found you. Lucky we got to you before those soldiers did," the woman said, seeming really sure of herself. "Don't worry, we're taking care of your wife."
"Li...Liana!"
Naturally, she wouldn't respond. Too much had taken it's toll on her and if losing her foot wasn't bad enough, the following explosion put her over the top.
"She's been asleep for nearly a week now, just like yourself," the woman went on, making a face when she heard the name. "Is that your wife's name? Liana," she repeated, and committed it to memory. "You gotta name too?"
"Y-yes," Tenran muttered. God, his head felt like it was going to explode.
'T-Tenran," he spat, coughing and trying to look past the woman that was now glaring over him. Sure, she probably saved his life. but right now he needed to know she was okay. "Please! How is she?"
She laughed, like he'd made a fucking joke! And he could feel himself burn with fury. "Yeah, she is! Don't worry so much. Name's Callas. Nice to meet you, Tenran."
His anger was through the roof.
"Come sit by her if it'll make you feel better. Just don't go over emotional, alright? You could do more harm than good to her, assuming she comes around anytime soon." She placed a hand to her hip. "She's been fighting off a fever for a while." Her weight shifted. "We're doing our best."
He could sit. He could move. That was secondary compared to the fact that they've nearly died too many times in the last few days, hours, seconds.
Tenran obliged however, as being hysterical would get him nowhere. He sat up, his body stiff with having been still for so long and he found himself thirsty and hungry. Still he asked for nothing as he staggered, limping slowly, along behind Callas as she led him to Liana's side.
He gasped, holding his breath and wondering, hoping she would wake up soon. No, don't look at her foot. Just her eyes. He sat down beside her and gently reached for her hand, eyes glassy but no tears came. "Thank you. Callas. If that's worth anything to you."
She nodded.
"I'll get you something to drink."
He was mostly left alone, tended to every so often; but it was seen he kept mostly at his wife's side. Or ex-wife, if they knew the truth of it. Who knew it had been another week, or a second, but eventually, the fevers seemed to die off completely and one morning, her eyes were no longer closed, and Liana was staring up quietly at the ceiling, breathing; but breathing soft and slow.
Somewhere in the waiting of it, Tenran's head had been slumped down against Liana's side. He hadn't eaten much in the time between now and first waking. He didn't dare leave her side though, and when she stirred, he carefully woke up, groggily.
Rubbing his eyes hard, he blinked at her curiously. "Li-Liana," he muttered, gently gripping her hand. "Liana, are you all right?"
The world was hazy, and though it was dry at first, she saw warmth and familiarity with those eyes looking back at her. The pain hadn't registered just his eyes, his expression.
"Tenran," the words were breathed and when she tried to move, the pain stole her breath away as she lay there, eyes closed tightly, stunned.
The question was moot, he knew. But Tenran kept firm a hold on her hand, gripping it gently although the desperation within, wanted to hold her firm until all she could feel was him. "Stay with me, Liana," he muttered. "Please."
It took her so long to form anymore words. She still hadn't a clue what was going on, or where she was. But she found herself easily clinging to Tenran.
"What happened? Where... why..."
Tenran's eyes grew hot, and he did what he could to keep those tears from forming. Just knowing she was still alive was a lot to take in. He leaned in toward her, caressing her cheek and pressing lips to her temple.
"The soldier's camp was attacked. We ran. You were hurt, and these people here, found us and saved your life. They're mages I think... Uou were asleep for a while, and I was here beside you the entire time."
Her mind was reeling. Seeing his tears brought about her own. She shook her head, eyes still uncertain.
"Attacked?"
And then she went to move, and the pain that shot up from her leg.. where her foot had once been, sent her screaming as she clutched onto Tenran suddenly and was breathing fast and in great gulps. She was shaking, a hand groping down her thigh, past her knee, down her calve to...
Nothing.
Tenran winced at her terror. The sheer nature of it, he couldn't even begin to fathom. All he could do was give her his support as best as possible, coaxing her into an embrace.
"I'm sorry, Liana. I am. It's all my fault all of this."
What could she say? What was she saying? She felt her lips tremble, hot tears bubbling uncontrollably down her face. Apologies, confusion, uncertainty, fear....
Eventually, she just buried her face into his shoulder, taking in what was familiar, what was safe and let herself sob, shake; as she clung to him.
That cathartic released, all they could do was let it all go, all that had built up in their years of misery, both shared and apart. Tenran wasn't going to let her go, he couldn't have even if he wanted to, the one person he'd shared more years of his life with than his own parents.
They were dead now, but Liana wasn't, and he clung to her her in her hour of distress, pressing his lips to her temple and brushing back the stray hairs that stuck to her forehead from the sweats. "Liana," he murmured. "I'm not leaving you. I'll be here for whatever you need me for. However long you need it. I love you. Letting you go was always my greatest regret."
She held onto him until the tears subsided. And she still didn't speak for a long while after. His words kept her latched to him, and the situation was overwhelming enough to keep her mute. After a long time had passed, she closed her eyes and buried her face against him again and whispered, "I love you too."
"I love you too," Tenran murmured again. He just held her too him, just happy to finally have her alive again, that she was with him instead of alone as he'd left her. Soft lips touched her brow and he sighed into her skin. "Liana." He just wanted to say her name, feeling it rolling off his tongue and a tear fell onto his tongue, tasting the salt of it.
She lay there with him for a very long time, and would have stayed that way forever if she could. But the coldness of reality sunk in as the tears dried and she lay there, now staring up at the tented roof from where they stayed.
"Do you know where we are?" It was small talk, really. Just something to start things off, to ground her.
"Riker fields," he said. That was what Callas said anyway. "She told me that after the battle she found us both and dragged us from the fray. They did what they could to heal us, but your foot couldn't be saved. But they'll do what they can to help us. They'll try and get us the hell out of Connlaoth."
It was only then she laughed, though weakly, at what was said. she looked down to where her ankle was wrapped and her foot- gone.
"I suppose I should consider myself lucky. I could have lost a lot more than that."
Her life.. or even his.
"The rest of the camp is a bunch of healers tending to the wounded. I don't know what happened to the soldiers. Tuffy.....is getting fatter I think. He's around here somewhere," he murmured, looking around.
Tuffy mewed lightly at the base of Liana's caught, standing up to be picked up. Tenran pulled him up and set him on the side of the bed. "I think he's happy to see you awake."
"Tuffy!?" The sight of the furrball put her to tears. He must really have nine lives, or twenty, for how much the damn feline survived in hardships along with it's owners. She fell over the cat, scooping him up as he mewed at the hug. He just looked at Tenran, as Liana sobbed into his fur.
That ball of fur purred madly at being embraced at last, knowing that Liana was all right.
Tenran bit back a smile, although it spread like wild fire anyway and it brought tears to his eyes. He wiped them with calloused hands and watched her hug the cat. "He missed you evidently. As he should," he chuckled as the cat continued to butt his head in against Liana's face, and licked at her cheeks.
"I swear this cat is indestructible," she went with a laugh, not able to stop hugging and cuddling her cat.
Tuffy continued to press his head against her with loud purrs and meows desperate for attention. But he didn't pull away but soon settled against her chest.
"I'm glad he's alive too," Tenran admitted. "I think he thought you were gone for sure."
"I guess I'd think the same if I saw Tuffy laying there for days and only breathing." She stroked his head before scratching little tickles under his chin. "Them again, Tuffy is a wise old boy now."
Tuffy settled onto his side, proceeding to become Flat Cat against her chest, purring loudly. Tenran stood up, hobbling more on his leg and he turned around behind him to find the tin cup of water and food that had been sitting there for him.
He sat back down beside her and offered her some water.
She noticed the way he moved, recalling his injury and paused to reflect on her own. But her thoughts were interrupted when he offered her some water. She bowed her head.
"Thank you."
Tenran grunted with some effort, bring forth a cold plate of food. Mashed potatoes and a thin sliver of meat. "Do you need help eating? Do you think you can manage the effort to keep food down?"
"Do I need help eating?" Liana looked offended, almost enough it seemed she might hit him. "I lost my foot, not a hand; or my stomach."
"Yes. You will need help with all the wiping and eating and dressing because you're my beautiful cripple," Tenran teased. He handed her the food, grinning with mirth bubbling in his eyes. And pulled Tuffy from her chest to let her eat.
She snatched the food from his hands with a huff.
"Don't call me that." her eyes narrowed. "Besides, you were the cripple, first."
"And yet you love me still," Tenran murmured, petting a curiously hungry Tufkins. The cat meowed, watching Liana eat and he tried to lean in to get a better look.
She was eating greedily, grump that Tuffkins wanted in and she tried to brush him away. The cat just shook out his whiskers and tried again, only to have Liana, as usual, give in and feed him a little from her plate. The cat shook his tail like a maraca, and meowed for more.
Liana could have easily eaten more for her fill, but the cat wouldn't stop meowing. Sighing, she stopped eating and just set the bowl down on her lap and let the cat eat the rest.
She wiped her mouth off on th eback of her hand and peered over at Tenran.
"When was the last time you fed Tuffy?" she asked, scratching behind the cat's ears as he purred.
Tuffkins could charm the feathers off a chicken and make them be glad to be eaten, Tenran grumbled a little as he watched Liana give in and feed the cat anyway. Tenran sighed and scratched at his beard.
"I'm pretty sure he just ate this morning," Tenran said with a chuckle. "But, ahh, I'll let it slide. He's a good boy and he was very attentive in watching over you, Liana. He stuck by you like a fucking hairball in his throat."
"And I take it my ex-husband did so as well?" she found herself asking, smiling at him despite the obviously title split between them. Ex-husband. But still something so much more.
Tenran blinked at her, frowning ever so slightly. Why did she have to say that? Of course it was true, but he thought it no longer needed mentioning. He didn't bother lingering on it and instead leaned forward against the bed and brushed a hand against her face.
"Of course. We took turns when we had to eat or pee. And when people tried to pry Tuffy away, he howled and sat right next to you. But I made sure to let them know that we're a family and we stay together."
He hunched over her and pressed lips firmly to her brow, then her cheek, than her lips.
She sighed softly at his kisses before looking into his eyes.
"Yes... We are a family, aren't we?"
Tufkins mewed, just to let her know how muhc it was true as he purred and moved to snuggle them both, shaking his tail like maraca.
Somehow in the war, through all this fighting, Tufkins managed to stay healthy and furry and large and when Tenran was near Liana, when they were both close enough, he flopped against Liana's chest and pressed his fat head against Tenran's beard and purring loudly and mewing and trying to soak up as much attention as he could.
When he was like this, Tenran kept close and briefly looked from the cat to Liana, to her eyes, and wanted to feel sorrow of the family they once had. Of the family they hadn't had. And he took time to carefully wrap her in his arms, pressing her face against his chest and cradling Tuffy as well. Tuffy meowed again, finally easing when he found a space between Tenran's neck and Liana's chest, resting his head just beneath her throat and purring there.
Tenran just held Liana to him, and he wrapped an arm around her side. "Liana, I'm sorry," he murmured, blinking hard. "I'm so sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" She asked quietly, finding her eyes wet with tears.
"Just...for everything," he whimpered and clung to her. "I love you so much. I should have fought harder for you. I will fight harder for you. I won't let you go again."
Liana clung back, silent but her tears and the loud purrs coming from Tuffy.
"I suppose its only human we'd make mistakes," she went on, using a hand to brush back her tears.
Tenran pulled back and reached his hand up to brush away her tears, tilting his head in to kiss her deeply. The floodgates were opened and he moaned softly into the kiss, happy simply to be close to her again. He plucked at her lips, pulling away just an inch from her. His hand rested on her face, thumb brushing away any stray tears from her eyes.
Whimpering as he kissed her, she closed her eyes and just ignored her tears. He had seen her cry too many times for her to really care any more. But when he stopped his kissing to pull away, she opened her eyes partially to look at him, cheeks flushed before her own hand lifted to his cheek before she leaned in to kiss him soft, then to kiss him deep.
The powerful throes of lips against lips, mouth to mouth, and Tenran whimpered at that kiss. Because it had been years since she kissed him like that, since the waning years of their marriage. He actively sought that connection and remained by her side until he was breathless and his head pounded for want of air.
And then Tuffy came along and snuggled their chins. Liana pulled away, petting the cat and burying her face into him. Now was not the time to get all bothered. It wasn't like they had much privacy where they were. People were already beginning to stare.
Tenran pulled away, face flush and he scratched his beard. He chuckled, snickering at their display as if they were young lovers first exploring the passion between them. He sat back and took the finished plate of food and took it back to be cleaned up.
When he returned, Callas was beside Liana, and the mage looked at Liana's foot. "That's no good," she murmured. "We'll have to make it grow back. That'll be unpleasant."
Liana made a face and grew defensive.
"G-grow back!?" her exclamation startled Tufkins, who jumped from her lap and hid behind a nearby table leg.
"Depends on how much you'll want having a foot back," Callas laughed at her reaction, not even realizing Tenran was behind her.
"What the fuck do you mean, make her foot grow back?" he hissed. "That's impossible."
"Hm...depends on what sort of 'impossible' you mean." Callas shrugged and set the blanket down on Liana's legs. "You don't have to be an invalid. Nobody here of course will treat you like one. However, you kind of need your feet to get around."
Liana's face twisted in anger.
"Tenran.. get Tufkins. We've stayed here long enough and I'm well enough to travel." She knew it was silly to ask, for she probably should keep resting- and how was she to get around now? Either way, she knew she couldn't stay. Even if...
No. She didn't even want to consider magic, or even how she'd deal with this.
"Others have lost a whole lot more than I have. I'll manage." She always did.