Spirits of the Earth

Almost six months had passed since the fateful day Lanister and Nevayah met for the first time. After their final capture both had decided it was time to move on. This is how they had found themselves in La'Marri. Known as a sanctuary from the world tucked away in the Niahi woods the two could not think of a more perfect place to settle down. It was here they had managed to acquire a small bit of land to call their own with the savings they had mustered together over the months. Having been here for almost two months now they had both managed to not only establish a home, but lives.

Knowing that within the hour Lanister's shift at the local tavern would be completed Nevayah buckled the last metal buckle on her boot. Standing up straight she brushed her hands down her shirt straightening up her appearance before heading out. She could not help but glance at the folded remnants of her old attire sitting on a shelf near the bedroom. No longer in Essyrn lightweight clothes were almost too thin for La'Marri. Now instead Nevayah wore a simple long sleeved blue shirt made from a thicker material than plant fiber. Beneath that she wore a white collared shirt with a bit of lace at the bottom. Instead of her shorts she now wore a gray knee-length loose fitting skirt as well as a thin belt around her waste. The only clothing that was the same seemed to be the buckled boots she fell in love with that first night she spent with Lanister. Nevayah had even gone so far as to abandon her precious red scarf all to avoid being recognized as the girl she once was. Her scars all still remained but hidden by her now more covered clothing.

Heading out Nevayah closed the wooden block which resembled a door to their home. Although it was basically run-down she could not help but show a glimmer of a smile as she looked back at it. This broken, beat up and weathered home was beautiful in her eyes, because it was theirs. Their home was only a short distance from the village. A small trek through the woods, no more than 20 minutes, and she would arrive just on the outskirts of town. As she walked she held her hands clasped in front of herself silently walking the beaten path. It was so different here, no fear of being seen or captured. No one knew who Lanister and Nevayah were here, she didn't even think they had ever even heard of a Tainted. There was one thing that remained with her though and that was the distrust of anyone but Lanister. Nevayah had grown almost cold to those she did not know, not able to bring herself to open up anyone else just yet. Too many times had she been taken advantage of or used, so now not only was her body scarred, but her heart as well.

Lanister would have had to notice by now that she was not warming up to others as he was. When friendly townspeople approached her she would only acknowledge them with cold eyes and look away. Like fire and ice their personalities were growing ever more distant. On the rare occasion she did decide to acknowledge someone her smile was obviously fake. A perfect example being as how the moment she walked into the tavern she kept her gaze downcast, careful not to lock eyes with a single patron. Those that did recognize her as Nevayah 'Lanister's wife' often offered her a warm smile or gesture of kind heartedness. Some even attempted to get her attention for some friendly conversation as she made her way to the bar, only to be met with silence. From the outside she would seem like a cold individual... that is until she set her eyes on Lanister. The moment her beloved came into view Nevayah transformed into a blushing vibrant girl. The smile now laying upon her face accompanied by the crimson blush on her cheeks. Her eyes even seemed to be more alive as she followed his figure within her line of sight. Sliding onto a stool she sat quietly watching him work without wanting to disrupt him. Like a young girl fawning over a dreamy night she leaned her chin onto one of her palms watching him as her elbow rested upon the bar top.

Lanister's job at the local bar had been nothing less than an intense effort. It is said that being a barkeep was an easy enough job: Memorize the drinks and the patrons, listen when they talk, and sort out disputes. Sounded like something someone like him would love doing! Clearly, whoever set that idea out there had never been at a bar at happy-hour. Patrons were everywhere, drinks sliding this way and that down the smooth wooden counter of the bar, carefully distributed force keeping the contents from spilling out of their flagons. He was careful to keep the drink from spilling on the apron that covered his front, knowing that that the intense alcohol would bleed through the old thing into his white, laced shirt. The boy's hands were a blur of foam and drink, making sure everyone was getting exactly what they ordered not long after they ordered it, keeping the peace. It was only during one of those quieter moments when the alcohol had started to take its effect did Lanister think back on his history with his beautiful Nevayah... It had been nearly Six months together and they were almost completely unrecognizable compared to who they once were.... In the land of La'marri, the sanctuary of the mages, Lanister had grown to be a fruitful member of the community, the kind of person that the locals here knew and loved. Not only was he the guy that gave then their drinks, but he offered an ear as well, an opinion if desired and honesty when required. He was laughing and smiling more than he ever had in his years in Eyssern. Well.... except with his wife.

Nevayah had been such a beacon of hope and a wellspring of love and companionship after everything they had gone through. Though whenever she was out, she acted cold and distant, he sometimes got to see those radiant flames light up in her eyes, especially when she looked at him... Despite everything, they had beaten the odds, conquered demons and lived to have a normal-like life... They had a home of their own, no matter how ragged, their own land, jobs, it was paradise truly paradise... Until paradise walked right into his tavern. It was near the end of his shift when Nevayah stepped into the bar, the regulars who recognized her beckoning her to their circles for a chat or a drink, but, as usual, Nevayah was her regular anti-social butterfly... Lanister was still hustling around to meet the demands of the patrons as they came and left, but by the time his wife sat down on one of the free stools, business was slowing down. All the better too. Once everyone was happy and drunk, the boy moved over to where Nevayah sat, leaning over the bar, supporting his weight with his arm. His face was only a few inches away from hers, his eyes blazing brightly with a silent passion. He could see the same thing in her eyes as well, the love, the vigor, a complete transformation from the girl she was when she first entered the place. The boy smiled as he felt all her emotions boil and turn in his stomach pleasantly.

"So, beautiful lady.... What can I get you...?"

With a smile on her face Nevayah fluttered her eyelashes at Lanister as he spoke. Slowly she leaned in a bit more towards him almost completely closing the gap between her face and his. The edges of her lips brushed his skin as she responded to his question. "How about a...." but before she could finish her statement she felt two arms wrap around her waste and pull her backwards from the stool. Letting out a faint yelp as she was lifted. "Nevayah! Such a difference when Lanister is around eh?" The patron was a man Nevayah and Lanister had come to know quite well. His name was Maximus and he was known as one of the many shop owners in La'Marri. Playfully he swung Nevayah's small frame in a circle before setting her back down on the stool.

Still in a bit of a state from the sudden unwelcome whirlwind of a man Nevayah crossed her arms in front of herself almost pouting at the fact she had allowed Maximus to escape without a swift smack to the face. Figuring the best course of action would be to ignore him she turned back on her stool towards Lanister. It was simply a failure as Maximus came up behind her and rested an arm over her shoulder. He meant no harm, in fact to anyone else they would know he was just trying to be funny. But to Nevayah, it was unwelcome and unappreciated but nothing new. Ever since people had begun to get to know Lanister and Nevayah some had tried to unlock her cold exterior with all sorts of tricks. It felt as if everyday someone was trying to get her to laugh, or to surprise her or just to get her to simply give a kind warmhearted smile.

"Maximus... I have told you time and time again not to touch me. You are bordering on my last nerve..." her expression grew ever more agitated as Maximus then proceeded to remove his arm and instead patted her on the head. "Oh come on now Nevayah... don't be so harsh. We all just want you to smile for us like you do for our buddy Lanister." Maximus then winked at Lanister as more patrons began to chime in.

It was only for a fraction of a second, probably not noticed by anyone that the corner of Nevayah's mouth lifted just a hint before falling back to its grim state. Deep down she really did want to smile and laugh and carry on with them all. But she couldn't, because that would leave her open to trickery again. Nevayah trusted no one but Lanister, and as such refused to allow anyone else beyond the walls she had built up. "Not in a lifetime...." she mumbled as she reached up to remove Maximus's hand from her head. It was almost a game now, people would try and make Nevayah laugh, and Nevayah would try to push them away.

Lanister only laughed as his wife was abducted from the stool where she once sat and slung around by a familiar and jolly fellow, a respected member of the merchant (and general) community, Maximus. Guy wasn't even drunk yet and already was he was already slinging Nevayah around like a doll. Still, the boy did not laugh because he took delight in his partner's misery. Quite the opposite, he couldn't stand it when she was wrecked. No, Lanister laughed because of the noise she made when she was plucked from their moment together, the little *squeek* in surprise as Maximus wrapped his arms around her torso. She could be so gods-forsakenly adorable sometimes... When she was eventually placed back in her seat, Lanister wasted no more time and quickly stole a kiss, leaning over the bar quickly and pressing his lips against hers softly, meaningfully. Of course, Maximus would say nothing, simply staring down at the pair, silently smiling and enjoying the show. In Lanister's mind, Max would make a good friend... He was smart, generous and kind of heart... he knew when to back off and when to take a stand... A person after his own heart really. Though, much like his wife, Lanister kept people at an arms length, not allowing for any real deep, meaningful relationships to form between them. Sure enough, the farthest he would ever willingly go is a good, comfortable working relationship where smiles and jokes were abound and the tone was always merry, but he just... couldn't... make those connections form. Fear, most likely had a hand in that as he suspected with Nevayah... They knew eachother too well NOT to know... Maybe one day, when this place as earned their trust, they'd start letting new people in. For now, the only people they REALLY needed were each other.

Lanister pulled away after several moments of connection, smiling softly, lovingly before pecking her lips once again and pulling away. From there, Nevayah would comment how Max's touching of her was getting on her last nerve, only seeming to egg the bigger man on. He moved his hand from Nevayah's shoulder to her head, laughing off her comment with a statement that he, along with everyone else in the bar, wanted to see her smile like she does for him, to see her retract such hostile and chilling barriers and join them in their comradery. Lanister's smile only grew a bit when she brutally shot down Maximus' request, prompting another kiss from Lanister, this one softer and far longer. Luckily, Ms. Boss woman was off taking care of her sick child and left Lanister in charge. He could only imagine her face with him being so.... Unprofessional.

"You heard the lady..." Lanister whispered as he pulled away slowly, still staring into Nevayah's beautiful blue eyes. Knowing when enough was enough, the large Maximus conceded, plopping down besides Nevayah, that friendly air about him never fading for a second.

"So, how can I help you two?" Lanister asked, already reaching under the table for a pair of glasses. "Liquor, wine, or water?" Of course, there was always a food menu and more non-alcoholic choices on the board behind him. Those three just seemed to be the most frequent.

The warm smile returned again as Lanister asked Nevayah once more what she wanted. Alcohol was out of the question, as it did nothing for Nevayah anyways. No matter how much she drank she recovered too quickly from the effects. Of course she could become drunk, but for a very short period of time and only if she drank heavily. Therefore it pretty much made it a pointless feat, so instead she opted for the alternative. "Water would be fine my love." Her voice had changed so drastically from how she spoke to Max. With Lanister her words were soft and kind, clearly full of love with each syllable.

By now Max had ordered an ale and was on his way to a table full of other patrons where they all laughed and carried on like the jolly group they were. She turned her head to look back at them for a moment before turning back towards the bar and her love. "How much longer is your shift? You can't kiss me like that and not expect for me to want to rush home with you." Her statement was bold but in every sense true. Every time Lanister touched her no matter where the place the hunger within Nevayah grew. She would never grow tired of him, never grow bored of his touch and most certainly never not be filled with desire from the mere sight of him.

"Where is the boss lady anyways?" Nevayah's head turned from side to side as she looked around the tavern for Lanister's boss. She had to be somewhere far away for Lanister to kiss her as openly as he did. "I hope all is well?" Knowing Lanister had other patrons to still tend to she would wait for him to answer. After all he was still working...

"Coming up..." he hummed almost dreamily, taking out one cup and a bottle of ale. Retrieving Nevayah's water with a few cubes of ice, Lanister handed Maximus his ale and Nevayah her glass, watching the large man saunter back to his crowd before the two turned back to each-other, alone again for the moment. When she asked when his shift was over, noting how she wanted to run home with him after their kisses, Lanister snickered again, tempted to kiss her once again to see just how much it would take for them to lose their senses together here. Of course, though he restrained himself (barely), their lips hovering just a good couple-of inches away from one another. Their warm breaths ran across their chins and down their throats as they spoke, a tingling, arousing sensation the boy lapped up ravenously.

"Soon, my love... very soon... only another..." He glanced around her at the clock on the far wall near the door before returning his gaze back to hers. "10.... 15 minutes and I'm yours for the rest of the day..." He smiled softly, sighing in contentment. It was all he could to to not kiss her again... Sometimes, when their lips met, he wished they didn't need to breath, just so their lips could be locked for as long as they wanted, forever until they wanted to stop... What he would give to hold her one night and never let her go... Nothing would give him greater pleasure than to have a whole day with nothing but him, her, and all the time in the world to do with as they pleased... and in a place without slavery... When Nevayah asked about his boss, Lanister's smile waned a bit, turning more into a sympathetic frown,

"Her kid came down with something.... a bad cold... From what I heard around town, his fever was.... intense. Boss left the bar with me for the day so she could take care of him." For a moment, worry seemed to splotch the irises of Lanister's eyes as he thought about the little bed-ridden child, one so filled with life and energy just a few days before... He had never gotten sick, Lanister... He could never afford it with his stunted healing... He could only imagine the horrid pains the poor child was going through... But then, his vision faded back into focus and Lanister was once again met with the gorgeous blue orbs of his wife and whatever negativity that could be seen was washed away. Slowly, he began to drift closer and closer to his lovely Nevayah, slowly, almost cautiously, reaching out a hand and placing it on her pale-white cheek. Her fair skin was like velvet in his hands, soft, gentle, alluring.... something his own skin ached all over to rub up against, even here and now.... His lips drew ever closer, almost threatening to colide with hers once again.... before a glass flew past their heads, shattering against the wall behind them with a large *CRASH*. Immediately, the barkeep's head snapped back to stare at the shattered glass before looking back where it had came, his eyes falling upon that group of once Jolly men. With Maximus seemingly as drunk as he ever could be, the group of intoxicated males threw heavy-handed punches, glasses and even chairs at eachother as they fought in some stupid, mindless rage none of them would remember. Immediately, Lanister's face hardened as more and more of the patrons were pulled into this brawl, some in an attempt to stop the fighting, others to join in. He glanced at his love before stepping out from behind the counter and rolling up his sleeves, revealing slightly tanned, tone skin, hardened by seemingly incredible physical labor. Yes... Lanister had worked part-time down at the smithy as an assistant... and sometimes, assistance counted as finishing hammering a sword for your master who was drunk off the bottle he bought from your tavern. With his time hammering steel and constantly carrying massive full flagons of beer to the patrons, Lanister had grown quite toned over the past month. It would seem that this fight wasn't going to be cleaned up nicely....

Just as Nevayah was about to close the distance between herself and Lanister a glass came flying past them shattering on the wall. After they kissed she was about to suggest an idea she had been holding in the back of her mind for some time now. But instead she pushed it back as Lanister made his way around the counter. Max and his group had caused quite a stir and it was beginning to explode throughout the tavern. In complete shock Nevayah froze on the stool before the sight of Lanister coming out from behind the bar caught her attention. Immediately as he rolled up his sleeves she jumped up not really knowing what to do.

If Lanister got hurt... if he started to bleed... it would spell disaster for the two. She knew she could not stop him though, it was his job to take care of these kinds of situations. "Lanister!" she shouted above the commotion. She didn't need to say anything else, the concern in her eyes should have been enough for him to realize what she was thinking. Bending down she picked up a shard from the broken glass hurled in their direction and gripped it in her hand ready to cut if the situation called for it. If for some reason Lanister was hurt and began to bleed the only way she could salvage the situation would be to immediately place her blood upon his to cancel it out. None of these people would survive the effects of his blood, and most importantly none of these people needed to know what he was.

Deciding to take same action into her own hands as well Nevayah began with the smaller groups of patrons fighting with deadly stares. One man she even went as far as grabbing his ear and tugging him down to her level. "Enough!" she yelled at him before releasing her pinch on his lobe setting him free. Having learned from mistakes she knew better than to place herself in the middle of the bigger brawl at the corner of the bar, it would only make the situation worse. If Nevayah were to get hurt in some way, Lanister would lose it, and that was the last thing they needed. But if the situation absolutely called for it she would. Unlike Lanister who had been working at the smithery and gaining muscle Nevayah had been working at home. Between the cleaning and attempts at home improvement on her own her body had taken more shape than the malnourished form she had before. By no means was she 'buff' but her arms did have a bit more muscle to them than before. Her curves were more defined, stomach more firm, thighs stronger than before. All of which were hidden under her long sleeves and skirt along with her scars.

Amazingly Nevayah seemed pretty calm about the whole situation even after the initial shock of it all. If a silly bar brawl was all her and Lanister had to worry about this would be a breeze. Of course there was the chance of accidentally killing them all should Lanister happen to get cut, but other than that a breeze. She could not help but let her gaze turn to Lanister every few moments to see how he was doing. Even through all of the chaos she could not help but note how remarkably striking he was. She had always thought him to be handsome, but the tan and tone from working at the blacksmiths sure didn't hurt. Caught up staring at her love Nevayah was bumped into by a man who had been shoved. The thump caused for her to lose her footing and fall back landing on her bum. Thankfully the glass shard she had held in her hand did not cut her hand but instead skidded a few feet away from her. Sitting there on the bar floor bewildered by what had just happened she did not even realize her skirt had hiked up a bit on her leg showing one of the scars on her thigh the curved around the muscle of her leg.

Hurriedly she pulled her skirt down hoping no one had noticed and she scrambled for the piece of glass. Holding it once more she stood up brushing herself off with a bit of a humph. "That's it!" she yelled walking right up two men who were throwing punches at one another. Stepping in as if she were their equal Nevayah grabbed a cup from a table and smashed it over one of the men's heads. "That is enough!" she screamed loud enough for the entire bar to hear followed by a thump of the now unconscious man hitting the floor. "Take it outside if you feel like tearing apart at one another!" Her stance demanded respect as she was proud and standing tall (even at only a measly 5ft 2 inches).

Lanister paused as Nevayah called his name, the look in her eyes expressing everything he needed to know. If he was hurt here and somehow his blood was exposed to the air, this whole bar would go up in flames. He stared silently at his wife for a few moments, deciding what to do, before giving her a little cheeky wink and continuing his way back towards one of the circles of fighting drunkards. Nevayah was probably right... he should be hiding behind the counter or getting the town guard rather than gambling with his life and everyone else' in here but then, who would keep Nevayah from getting hurt? Who would Boss thank for keeping her establishment in order? At this point, probably no one, but he couldn't simply leave his job like this... While Nevayah herself went to deal with another group of fighting men, Lanister went over to Maximus' group, eyes steely firm, seeming to demand attention.

"Hey!" he yelled over the far larger men, in a failed attempt at grabbing attention. The group simply ignored the smaller man, that was, until Lanister struck one of the shorter ones with his fist, right across the chin below the cheeks, the force of the blow caused the bulkier man to stumble back in shock and pain, falling over a chair, unconscious, the drink consuming him. The noise attracted the attention of another man, this was far larger, but not quite as bulky as the first. He slowly connected the dots as to what happened, from Lanister's clenched fist to the bruised chin of his companion. It took a good minute before everything came together, a sense of sobriety seeming to wash over his face. Clearheaded enough to know he would end up the same, the man took two more of his buddies from the brawl (as well as his bottle) and scurried back out into the town, probably off to find another joint to fight in.

Occasionally, as Lanister caught or dodged the occasional drunken blow, He would look back and check up on how Nevayah was doing, if she was being threatened in any way. To his surprise, she actually got actively involved, doing her part to neutralize the battle on the other side of his bar... He smirked and chuckled, having more respect for his wife than anyone in the world right now... She was such a beautiful, powerful figure in this moment, even as she was being towered over by men at least a foot larger. She fearlessly forced herself into the crux of conflict and was actually getting through to the patrons faster than he was! He sighed dreamily before ducking under a viscous hammer of a hook-punch, one that would have spelled death for everyone involved.

It was when Nevayah's roar spread across the establishment did the fight actually stop, the authority and strength in her voice cutting through even the most drunken of stupors. The fights seemed to end on the spot, all heads turning their attention to the little 5'2'' girl with a cup in her hand and an unconscious patron lying at her feet. It was at this moment of peace did Lanister really have the time to observe how beautiful she really was in this moment. In her new dress and her confident and powerful attitude, Nevayah was a far more imposing figure than the girl he had bet 6 months ago, but also far more attractive to say the least. She had grown far more toned and full of form with the intense exercise of home improvement... Intense home improvement... He found himself staring at her as well, but with a far different gaze than the rest of the patrons, one that was hungry for her, a gaze that held the most intense attraction yet for the little girl that had somehow stopped a fight that would have gone on for another hour, most likely, if he was here on his own. When she demanded everyone go outside, to leave, a few of the patrons stepped forward, drunkenly laughing at the absurd little sight of this girl telling them to leave.

"Get out of my bar." Lanister growled as he worked his way through the crowd to stand by his wife. "And if this place isn't free of you in the next 5 minutes, you'll wish the guards had gotten here first." With his time here, the tainted blood had built up a reputation, one for taking no nonsense, especially when it came to his bar. Even half-dead and still drinking, every single person in this place knew what kind of barkeep he was and none were drunk enough to challenge that reputation. One-by-one, each and every one of them slunk outside into the sunlight, eventually leaving Lanister alone with his wife and and a surprisingly clean (if a bit disorderly) bar. If Nevayah hadn't stepped in when she had, he would have needed an entire night to clean up this place... Speaking of which... The first thing Lanister did after the fight had cleared, was turn to his partner and place a real, passionate kiss upon her lips, one that last for as long as he had breath... an introduction to the "thanks" he would display after his shift here was over.

"Did I ever tell you how much I love you...?" He whispered as their lips disconnected. He'd kiss her again, this one perhaps even more passionate, but far shorter before pulling away again and returning back to his job. There was a bit of broken glass around here, not to mention behind the counter and several chairs and tables were misplaced... "My lovely, beautiful wife...." Lanister coo'ed softly, his fingers gently stroking her soft, pale cheeks. "Would you mind helping me clean up a bit...?"

Standing proud of her beloved Nevayah watched as Lanister also commanded the attention of the tavern. His demand that everyone leave went on without fail, each and every single patron obliging. By no surprise when Lanister turned towards her once more and planted a passionate kiss upon her lips she was more than happy to return the gesture. During the kiss Nevayah slowly backed into one of the tables and promptly jumped up just a bit to sit on the edge of it. When Lanister pulled away from their kiss to go on with their usual ''I love you' banter she simply giggled at him. "Only every single day my love." And then he was kissing her once more just as passionately as the last time. This time Lanister pulled away quicker than Nevayah had hoped for and then he went on about looking around at the damage in the bar. Turning back at her he asked if she minded helping him clean up a bit.

Nevayah took a minute to pretend as if she had to think about the question. Tilting her head a bit to the side she brought a hand up to cup his that was already stroking her cheek. "Of course..." She bit her lip a bit before taking action into her own hands and leaning forwards a bit to plant a kiss of her very own on Lanister. This was her chance to show him what he did to her when he kissed her, how when he ended it, it was like taking all the oxygen from the room. Passionately she caressed his lips with hers before snaking her hand around his neck and pulling at the back of his hair a bit. Her lips then trailed from his own to across his cheek and to his ear where she whispered. "But only because I want to go home." She pecked his ear once more before sliding off the table and maneuvering herself around him to retrieve a rag from the bar top.

"I will get all the glass" her point being she did not wish for Lanister to cut himself. It was only glass, so if she were cut the effects would be far less catastrophic. Along with the rag Nevayah was able to find a bin to throw all the broken shards in. From there she walked around the bar bin in one hand and rag in the other as she picked up the glass from the floor. Delicately she was able to pick up each shard without injuring herself. From there she took the bin and placed it on the bar top and then continued wiping up the spilt ale all over the floor and tables. Every now and again she would look over her shoulder or across the room at Lanister, stealing moments of watching him happily working.

Lanister grinned as he read that mischievous thinking face Nevayah wore as she sat upon one of the only non-flipped tables. She was playing with him... he could see that in her beautiful azure orbs. They always liked to tease each-other back and forth when they got this way, making an already very enjoyable experience even more so with their mild humor. The boy was caught off guard when his wife leaned forward quickly, planting her own, powerful kiss upon his lips, practically sucking the remaining breath right out of him. Her lips forcefully and purposefully pushed against his as she viciously dealt her pay-back, easily regaining her pride from earlier and perhaps taking a bit more. Of course, that didn't mean Lanister would make it easy for Nevayah to beat him at this game, fore his kissed her back with all the failing strength he could muster, attempting to match her seemingly rising strength with his own. While Nevayah's free hand ran through his hair, tugging at it just enough to be noticeable (and highly arousing), Lanister's free arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer and closer to him, threatening to steal her from the edge of the table. The pair simply stood there together, kissing and feeling, just a mere step away from what they had already planned for later, the tiniest scrap of restraint keeping them from going that extra distance. Just as Lanister's head began to grow fuzzy, Nevayah's lips eventually ceased their brutal attack, only a thin strand of saliva connecting the pair's lips as they stared deeply into each-other's eyes. Slowly, seductively, she maneuvered her head so that it rested on his shoulder, her breath tingling his sensitive skin around his ear in a way that drove him wild. She had agreed to help him, but only because she wanted to "go home." She pecked his ear delicately before pulling away from his grasp once again, leaving the former-slave/Barkeep to struggle with himself, to exercise restraint for the sake of everyone concerned. Still, It was an incredible struggle in it's own right to let a fully clothed Nevayah go fully clothed after a kiss like that... even if he was in his place of work.

Getting right too it, Lanister's most wonderful companion declared she would pick up all the glass and their contents, one of the many smart moves he had come to expect from his dear Nevayah... That left him to straighten all the tables, flip some back onto their legs and place the chairs back where they belonged. He glanced back at the alcohol shelves behind the bar, letting out a sigh of relief before going about his work. Some of Boss' best brews are up there and if they were to be damaged... Needless to say, Lanister would have been out of a job... Boss was very particular about her drinks... On occasion, he stole glances across the bar at his love, half the time catching her stares back. Each time their eyes met, he'd smile knowingly, suggestively, letting her know they were on the same page of this ever-growing story. After about 30 minutes, 15 of which was spent staring at each other dreamily across the establishment, Lanister and Nevayah had cleaned the bar back up to acceptable standards, at least enough to leave little for Lanister's replacement to clean up. Speaking of which... he was late... and it wasn't typical procedure to leave a bar open with no one running it... Still, his shift was 15 minutes overdue and he had already scheduled some.... "Overtime" with his wife already. If the replacement didn't show up, then Boss can fire him. The sanguine-eyed boy slipped back up to Nevayah as she finished her half of the cleaning process, taking one of her hands in one of his, hands that could be magic, but also be a deadly weapon.... like something from a dream.

"Care to go home, Nevayah...?" Lanister smiled wider, still getting used to the fact they legally owned land now. He couldn't remember quite when he was happy like this... He had a wife, he had a home, he had lands and rights and guardsmen willing to protect them rather than capture them... It was almost as if this couldn't be real... and if it couldn't it was the longest, best dream of his life that he wished would never end.

Of course almost every time Nevayah attempted to sneak a look at Lanister he was already staring at her. And with every single stolen glance her love for him only intensified. This was why she loved him, because he was always so sweet and compassionate. He shared the majority of her views on the world and respected the ones that differed.. and then there was the blood bond in itself. Never could she share that kind of connection with another being magical or not. Even is bewitched by some form of magic Nevayah could never feel as deeply as she did for her husband, he was everything to her.

It almost seemed like no time at all before Lanister himself had finished doing his part of the cleaning up process. As he grabbed her hand she instantly felt the intensity of the bond they shared, how even the simplest of touch kept her mind on one thing and one thing only. "I would love nothing more than to go home." Shooting him a wink she continued on out the door hoping he would follow suit. The walk alone took a few minutes and that seemed like an eternity most days. On days when they were walking home together the distance was an obstacle in itself as all she could ever think of was being alone with him in the comforts of their own home.

In a futile attempt to get her mind off the growing hunger within her she resurfaced the idea she had pushed back at the bar. "So her kid is sick...." she looked down now as she walked trying to think of the best way to propose the idea. "I know that the last time we shared our.... gift that it did not go over so well. But I still cannot help but think I have a bigger purpose. I have been working on it for a while now so that I had it all prepared before I asked but do you think we could sell my blood again?" She had by now raised her head and was watching him intently as they walked. "But not as blood... I have found a way to dilute it and add herbs to completely mask what it really is. The effects diluted with it so that it only helps with minor healing. There would not be any of the strengthening side effects to it.. I think, or well I hope. If this works I could sell it as a tonic of some sort. Make the people believe that its just some ancient family mixture passed down from generation to generation. If I have diluted it to the correct ratios it should heal your boss's child in due time, perhaps over a few days or so. Seemingly natural and non magical."

From there she had said everything she had rehearsed in her head over and over again. Now it was only a waiting game as Lanister decided. Of course if he said no, she would immediately shove the idea aside. At the end of the day it was what was best for them, not just herself. If in anyway he felt this could raise suspicion of their true identities then the idea would be instantly tossed. "It could also cut the amount of times we have to travel out of town to sell our blood discretely."

Lanister and Nevayah walked out of the bar, hand in hand, making their way back home. Of course, being anywhere near his wife made the walk seem to go far slower as he grappled with his own restraint. For a (seemingly) long while, all they did was just walk together, letting the emotions of their blood-bond flow back and forth between them, their radical and steadily rising.... erotic emotions for one another relaying back and forth, back and forth, growing to such a remarkable degree, even Lanister, whom had been sleeping with this girl for over 6 months now, was starting to blush. A light red flashed across his cheeks and nose as his mind instinctively passed images that matched the ever rising feelings, each one getting more intimate and "dirty"... just by being in the presence of his wife. What seemed like hours were only a few minutes before Nevayah finally spoke up, expressing her desire to sell her blood once again. Lanister flinched the moment he processed her request, the idea of his wife, who had been drained and wronged so brutally, selling her blood for profit was still a touchy subject for him. Knowing exactly what she had been going through with all the violation, the blood-loss, the overwhelming sense of domination... Sure, doing it willingly yourself for the good of everyone wasn't quite the same thing as the abuse the pair had gone under, but still.... Giving up blood for others was just... sickening too him... And yet, Nevayah seemed to insist. She informed him she had been messing around with different mixtures of herbs and blood concentrations and that she was confident she could just pass it off as some sort of familial recipe passed down through the generations. She tried to justify her reasoning for doing this, for giving her blood away, but ultimately, it wasn't up to him. It was her blood, her body and her decision... More or less, asking for his approval was nothing more than a courtesy, but one he appreciated very much nonetheless. Lanister stopped right there, placed his hands on Nevayah's shoulders, spun her around so that she faced him, and planted another, deep, meaningful kiss on his wife's lips, one that almost seemed like he were sharing a part of his soul with every moment they stayed in contact. After several long, wonderful moments, the boy would pull away slowly until they could feel the breeze between their lips, never once his eyes breaking contact.

"Thank you for asking me, my love.... I appreciate it so much, you know that....? I'm perfectly okay with whatever you decide to do." He let out a dreamy sigh before pulling her into a soft hug, wrapping his arms around her neck as he held her close. Lanister had started to hate the sight of blood, especially that of his beloved and his own because it only spelt out pain and death, two things about his life he too started to hate. But what could he do? Forbid her from going through with her plans? Why? She wants to help people using her natural talents! Who was he to take that from her because seeing her with a needle made him queasy? After a moment, Lanister would let go, take her hand once again and continue their walk. It was not long from this point that they came across their humble little home, a wreck-of-a-place to be sure, but it was their wreck, the wreck he and Nevayah shared.... Lanister turned to his wife and winked softly. And then they went inside.

She could tell by his initial reaction that Lanister was not a fan of her idea. She expected an outright no from his stopping in his tracks only to be surprised by him spinning her around and planting a kiss on her lips. It was then that he graced her with a kiss so passionate and full of desire she nearly forgot they were standing on the path a short distance from their home. The action alone made the hunger she always had for him grow stronger than her self restraint. Instinctively she wrapped her arms around him pulling at the bottom of his shirt. If he had not broken the kiss when he did she would have surely began undressing herself right there for all to see.

The mere centimeters of distance between their lips as he stared into her eyes was cause enough for her to want to push forwards once more, but she did not. Instead she listened as he thanked her for asking before acting on her own. And then surprisingly, he said he was okay with whatever she wished to do. She was then pulled into a soft hug in which he wrapped his arms around her neck, mirroring his actions she did the same. From there they withdrew from one another and walked hand in hand to there humble home. Every time she looked at it caused a well of emotions inside. Although it wasn't much to look at now it was beautiful in her eyes. She did not see the broken shudders or weathered siding, but instead a place of freedom and future.

Following Lanister inside she immediately closed the door behind them before pulling her sweater off and neatly setting it on a shelf in the main room. The inside was warm and cozy due to a fire she had fed just before she left, and in front of it was an all too familiar pot they had managed to bring with them from there hole in the ground cellar in Essyrn. They had actually managed to get quite a few of their belongings by packing them into barrels, loading them onto a cart and making the journey to La'Marri. The horses and cart were so graciously given by a fat man who seemed more than willing to let them leave their pasts behind, no doubt so no more trouble would come to him... or death threats. Caught in nostalgic thought Nevayah's eyes scanned the inside of their home as they did many times before. In the corner of the living room was an oil lamp sitting on an old barrel, placed only to remind them of where they had come from.

Snapping back to the situation at hand she then locked her eyes on Lanister remembering the many kisses they had shared in the past hour. Slowly she reached down unbuckling the top of each of her boots before kicking them off and letting them thump to the living room floor. From there she reached up to her white blouse and unbuttoned it one button at a time, slowly tracing her fingers around each button before unhooking it. The entire time her eyes remained locked on her beloved, showing the deep desire for him in them. Taking a few steps backwards she was now leaning against the bedroom door frame her back pressed against it. Standing there wearing only her unbuttoned blouse and skirt she bit her lip staring at him.

The interior of of their home seemed to heavily resemble the cellar back in Eyssrn, the place where the two little tainteds had really gotten to know one another. So many of their old items were here, from the pot from which they'd shared their first meal, from the lantern atop a barrel that used to sit by their bed every night. He smiled softly down at Nevayah as she looked over the nostalgic setting of their home, happy to see (and feel) they were in agreement. Then, as if sensing his grin, Nevayah's eyes flicked back to his and whatever nostalgia they were feeling at the time was gone, washed away in the sea of arousal that'd sprung up between the two. The tension between the two hung in the air like an anvil on a rope, threatening to fall as each thread snapped under it's weight. And, only a moment later, the anvil did fall.

Nevayah had already taken off her sweater, folding it neatly and slipping it onto a shelf as Lanister slipped off his work-apron and hung it on the ancient hat-rack near the door that had, no doubt, belonged to people that had guests long ago. When she kicked off her shoes, he did as well. She unbuttoned her shirt, he undid his. It was as if they mirrored every move the other made, opposites, but also quite the same, existing in tandem and wanting nothing more than to come together at last... Though, Lanister was the first to break the symmetry, closing the distance between him and her, gently pressing his exposed chest against hers as he closed in to steal another kiss, this time, one far more gentle. His slips seemed to slip around hers, gently grazing and tickling her rather than meeting her with force. While he distracted her with the maneuverability and sly misdirections of his lips, Lanister's hand had risen up and placed itself on her shoulder, gently slipping the unbuttoned blouse from her shoulders. Never once did his sanguine eyes leave her Azure orbs, never once would he allow such a powerful connection between the two to break. Slowly, gently but purposefully, the boy began to press into the girl with his lips, maneuvering her into the bedroom, the stroking of his hands across her barren sides and upper chest intent on quelling any sort of playful resistance. Eventually though, they would reach the rim of their bed, sitting down on the rim and beckoning Nevayah to do the same with one powerful, long-drawn kiss. Their bed was definately far larger than the one in the cellar, perhaps queen or even king sized... The old one forced the two to say together, to force their battle for dominance to remained confined to the small space. Now, however, the battle-ground was far larger and with that space, they could try newer things...

The boy would start to work on her skirt (if she didn't discard it herself already,) a quick barrage of kisses keeping Nevayah occupied above while he subtly attacked from below. his fingers slipped under the rim of the article, his skin gently brushing against her lower torso near the underside of her legs. Gently, but also forcefully, Lanister forced the skirt down from where it once sat, effectively stripping Nevayah bare, but also leaving himself open to do the same.

Like magnets drawn by the natural pulls of the earth the two pressed against one another with both their lips and chests. As Lanister reached one hand up and slid her blouse off her shoulders she did the same to push his shirt off as well. The tingle from the skin to skin contact caused the need for more to grow at an alarming rate. And then Lanister was pushing her in the direction of their bed by means of only kissing her more passionately. Leaning over him she allowed for him to pull the rest of her shirt off before he slipped his fingers under the band of her skirt pulling it down to expose her and all her natural beauty. Even as bits of his skin touched her lower torso and legs from removing the skirt it sent chills down her spine.

No longer was Nevayah ashamed of her scars when it came to Lanister, each one told a story of the past they both would do anything to escape. She had placed them in her mind as an eternal reminder of what she had endured and battled through, both of them so that she may never forget. Reaching down she herself slipped her fingertips under the band on his pants before pushing them downwards to expose him just as she was. After both of them were essentially completely nude Nevayah then placed her palm on Lanister's chest and pushed him downwards if he allowed it. She then placed a knee on either side of him pulling herself onto the bed atop him. Her hand that rested on his chest then slowly lifted so that only her fingertips were touching them. Tracing them along his collarbone she leaned in to kiss him, but unlike her normal kisses that showed how much she hungered for him it was light. The length of time she rested her lips upon his was long and she kissed him as delicately as she could.

She wanted nothing more than to begin ravaging him with her lips, but instead she showed how tender she could be. How loving, soft and kind he made her when it came to their love. This kiss had more emotion in it than she had ever expressed before. As she was leaning over him, her fingers tracing his chest as she delicately kissed him a tear formed in the corner of her eye and then fell, rolling down Lanister's cheek. It was not a tear of sorrow or regret, but a tear formed from the joy that lingered in the depths of her heart. Pulling away she sat up on him staring into his beautiful eyes taking in every sight she could. This boy had done so much for her, he had taught her to live again and taught her how life should be. Without him she would still be a nothing, a nobody... a shell of a girl.

Lanister sighed happily in between kisses as Nevayah stripped him down as well, the skin-on-skin contact being something he was looking forward too all day. The boy had managed to push Nevayah onto the bed, but before he could take any further aggressive action, his partner tenderly placed a hand on his chest, gently pushing him to the bed. With as little resistance he gave, he might as well had been love-wrestling with a super-human. He didn't have to wait long for his lover to come to him as Nevayah shamelessly straddled Lanister, her fingers running all along his chest and collar-bones as she lowered her face down to his and kissed him once again. Unlike the powerful, passionate blows he had dealt just a little while earlier, Nevayah's kiss was gentle, long, as if telling the story of their time together in just those moments of contact. It was angelic the way she kissed him and Lanister was practically incapable of defending himself against this kind of divine assault. He gasped for air in between the meeting of their holy lips, a light red blush running across his mouth and nose as his arousal spiked to new heights.

Lanister's hands ran along her spine and down her lower torso and legs as she so delicately traced his lips with hers, practically shivering with the amazing precision of each and every one of her maneuvers. Normally, they were on equal footing each and every one of these encounters, but he had been on his back-foot from the moment their bodies fell on the bed. What stopped his advance on his end, however, was when a single tear fell from Nevayah's eyes onto his cheek, running down his face as if he was the one who shed it. Slowly, his wife pulled away from her obvious domination, staring down at his with eyes that could only be described as the prettiest thing he'd ever seen. They were so full of love, emotion, thanks and so much more, Lanister couldn't stand even being an inch from her. He sat up not long after she did, smiling with a sligh confusion as he pecked her lips as gently as he possibly could.

"What are you doing up here...?" He murmured softly as he pressed his lips her hers once again, forcing her back down onto the matress. Now he was on top and was now in control, his hands running as tenderly as her lips had along her ribs, spine, breasts and the inside of her legs. He pressed into her, kissing as deeply and as emotionally as he could, before pulling away suddenly, a long trail of shared saliva snaking out with him. He took a moment to catch his breath before he planted his lips back on hers again, losing himself in the love that they made.

Happily Nevayah complied as Lanister rose and forced her down on the bed with his kisses. She was so taken with his hands exploring her body and his lips caressing her own that her entire body tingled from the sensations. Out of pure reflex her muscles tensed and her fingers dug at his back as he explored her body. It was almost too much, all of the feelings that were coursing through each vessel in her body sending her mind into a dazed state. Despite the fact that they had both participated in this type of fornication many times this time was different, it was more emotional, more passionate... more everything.

-x-

Afterwards Nevayah simply laid in the bed staring at the ceiling above them. Her body was still half intertwined with Lanister's not covered by anything. Rolling to her side she looked at Lanister, placing her palm on his cheek. "I love you..." her voice was tired yet sincere. She truly did love him and this was one of the only ways she knew how to show him. Her lips then twisted into a smile as she scooted herself a bit closer to him taking her hand from his cheek and placing it over him, resting her head on his chest. "I wish we could lay here forever like this...."

It was a long and incredible challenge, but somehow, Lanister was able to make up for lost ground and end the struggle with a draw. Lying side by side now on the bed, Lanister stared up at the ceiling with his wife, his breathing heavy-ish but feeling better than he ever had before. Despite the actual physical trails Nevayah had put him through, the sex they had shared, he couldn't have possibly felt more relaxed and renewed! Well... unless he was back kissing her once again... They remained intertwined as their chests rose and fell heavily, not a single scrap of cover obscuring their bodies as they stared at the blank, old ceiling of theirs, possibly picking out every last wrinkle and crack in the wood above. Nevayah rolled onto her side placing her sweet pale hand upon his cheek, declaring her love for him as if she hadn't just a moment ago. Still, Lanister smiled sweetly, placing his own hand on her cheek, drawing in just enough so their foreheads pressed together in his own gesture.

"I love you too.... forever and ever..." He whispered back, his sanguine eyes gleaming with immeasurable quantities of affection for the girl whom he shared his bed. Gently, Nevayah scooted closer to the boy, resting her head on his chest as she moved her from his cheek to wrapping around his torso, pulling him even closer to her. In response, Lanister took his arm from her cheek and placed it on the back of her head, gently holding her against him as he rubbed his cheek against the top of her head. When she whispered her desire to just stay here, Lanister smiled softly, thinking the exact same thing...

"Then..." He whispered, kissing he head softly returning his cheek to her soft black hair. "Why don't we....?" And with those words, the sanguine-eyed boy began to drift into the world of the unconscious, the world of sleep and dreams. Slowly, as all sensations seemed to fade from the world, the one that never left him was the feeling of a warm, naked body against his and the soft, rhythmic, familiar breathing of the girl who laid down beside him. The last thing he did before he fell asleep was wrap his other arm around her lower body just above her butt, flipping over on his side as well, but still holding her head against his chest. They would sit curled together like a yin and yang, two opposites that couldn't comprehend a life without the other, that wouldn't stand for a single moment without their partner with them... Lanister certainly wouldn't... he'd hold onto her forever...

Happily Nevayah slipped into a deep sleep cuddled with her beloved. From there she fell into a slumber not caring it was the middle of the day. Dreams of Lanister and Nevayah building up there home took place in her mind. Images flashed of Lanister working on a fence for future livestock while Nevayah hung clothes out to dry on a line. The lumber on the outside of their home had been repaired and properly sealed between the logs to keep the cold winter air out. Another image of Lanister and Nevayah playing in the snow hurling chunks at each other as they playfully frolicked on their property in the winter months. Even more images flashed by so rapidly before her eyes as if flipping through a picture book of their lives. So happy, so full of meaning... so peaceful.

Then it all changed a strange image of red. Nevayah could not establish where she was or what she was even looking at, all she could hear was a heartbeat. Then another... two heartbeats rapidly beating in a sort of song. Waking up from her slumber no doubt from the confusion in her mind Nevayah's eyes traveled upward to Lanister who seemed to still be blissfully dreaming. All doubts from her dream vanished the moment she felt his chest rise and fall beneath her head. Carefully she kissed his chest before sliding over him and climbing out of the bed. Walking into the living room she grabbed her sweater from its shelf and slipped it over her head, not really worried about the blouse she normally wore below it. Feeling slightly nostalgic she then reached up to the shelf were she kept her old clothes from Essyrn and grabbed her shorts slipping them on. They were no longer in Essyrn where walking around nude freely was a common thing, this was a different type of culture.

After making herself 'somewhat' dressed she made her way over to the kitchen area and grabbed a jug of water she had set out that morning. Taking the jug she walked over to the fire where their special pot hung and she poured some into it. Going back to the kitchen area she dug around a few different shelves before pulling out an assortment of jars full of dry spices and herbs. Setting them down on the table she picked up two and opened the jars sprinkling some of the contents into the pot. From there she grabbed a piece of parchment they had wrapped around some preserved beef the previous day. Taking the beef she slid it into the pot and then threw the paper into the fire causing the flames to rise just a bit. Nevayah went on like this for a few minutes also grabbing a few vegetables and slicing them before tossing them into the pot as well.

After completing her concoction she turned her attention to the remaining herbs on the table. Raising a finger to her chin she stared at them for a moment before going back into her working mode placing a bit of each into a bowl. From there she ground them and poured the bits into a single small jar. Next was the hard part...

Fumbling through another shelf Nevayah pulled out an all too familiar instrument, a syringe. Sitting at the table she rolled up one of her sleeves and carefully punctured her skin withdrawing the crimson liquid from her arm. She did not wince or even blink at the action, as this never really bothered her. Taking the liquid from the syringe she pushed it out into the jar and then placed the instrument back in its place on a shelf. Rolling down her sleeve she then grabbed the jug of water once more and poured a bit into the jar with her blood and the herbs. Securing a lid atop the jar she lifted it and lightly shook it in an attempt to mix it all well. Once she felt she had mixed it appropriately she popped open the lid and grabbed a wooden spoon from their wash basin. Dipping the spoon into the now brown liquid Nevayah studied how it looked making sure it was not too watery, chunky or thick. Playing with ratios a bit more she perfected how she felt it should look before plopping the spoon into her mouth.

To her surprise Nevayah had succeeded in hiding the blood taste in the mixture. However, as soon as she swallowed Nevayah dropped the spoon and grasped at her stomach. Crying in pain she fell to her knees on the floor bracing herself by placing a hand on the floorboards leaving the other wrapped around her stomach. She then began to feel immensely nauseous and scrambled to find something to vomit in. Luckily a clay pot happened to be laying a few feet from her where she managed to drag herself and hold it under her mouth. Her vomit is what scared her the most, as it appeared to be straight crimson.. Nevayah was vomiting her own blood. But this blood looked nothing like the tonic she had just swallowed, it appeared fresh as if it came from a cut on her body. Not knowing whether Lanister was already awake or if her cries of pain had awoken him she shouted hoping he would come. "Lanister! Help me please!" She was not quite sure what he could do, but surely his presence alone would be enough to calm her nerves. She hurled once more, her shoulders tensing at the reaction as more of her blood poured from her mouth.

Lanister smiled happily in his sleep as his wife gently pressed her lips against his clavicle, still somehow vaguely aware of what was going on in the real-world despite the deep, dreamless sleep he was currently enveloped in. What really woke him though, was when Nevayah slipped out from their envelopment, trying to be all sneaky as she maneuvered herself into the living room. Perhaps in the earlier days of their relationship, the boy might have reached out a hand to stop her, to playfully tug her back into bed with him so they could share one last glorious kiss before being forced to face the world... But now, with 6 months worth of love, knowledge and care under their belts, Lanister just didn't. He quietly watched her go, smiling tiredly to himself as he stared at his wife's naked behind saunter out of the bedroom, rolling his eyes before getting up himself a moment later. He sat up on the edge of the bed, looking back on their little adventure just an hour or two ago. They had some memorable moments between them, Lanister and his wife... Every time they made for the bed was a truly memorable moment, but today's display was certainly up there near the top. For sheer stuff done in a matter of time, this one certainly took the cake... Even now, they were still learning ALL the different ways they could please each other and Lanister knew the price of learning a few more of Nevayah's was high fore she had stolen a good many of his own little secrets as well. Secrets like...

Suddenly, he heard a guttural groan from the living room, followed by Nevayah's panicked, strained, pained voice calling out for him. Snapping into action-mode as if a switch had been flipped, Lanister slipped on his pants as quick as his wife's life depended on it, before rushing out into the living room, witnessing his wife curled over a clay pot, retching into it as if her stomach was coming out through her mouth. In a flash, the boy was at her side, a hand on her back, rubbing it soothingly, and another rubbing her toned, cramped stomach gently as she vomited yet again in some vain attempt at making her feel better. However, it was when she pulled away from the pot this time did he have the misfortune of examining it's contents: It wasn't digested food or water or anything like that.... It was the sanguine lifeblood of all mortals... Nevayah was vomiting up blood.... Lanister's heart seemed to stop at this sight, the whole of his body seeming to freeze in time, completely, struggling to process what he was seeing. His red eyes flicked back to his heaving wife and tears began to sprout up under his eyes... Not because he thought she was going to die, because that was impossible,  but it was the sheer agony she was going through at this moment that seemed to agonize the boy... He could feel it himself with their bloodbond, but just watching her suffer there on the floor was enough on its own...

"Oh my gods..." he whispered, his eyes wide as tears flowed down his cheeks. "Nevayah.... are you okay...!?" It was a stupid question to ask, along the lines of asking a choking kid he was choking, but... he had to ask... It was only a few droplets of blood in the pot anyway and maybe he was just overreacting... He hoped to the gods up in heaven that he was overreacting.... He placed a gentle, shaky kiss on her jaw below her ear as she sat there heaving on the floor, trying desperately to give her some sense of comfort in all this...

Only a matter of moments passed before Lanister was at her side, his hand on her back and another on her stomach in an attempt to soothe her. Miraculously though it seemed to be working, calming her and therefore her stomach. Deep down Nevayah knew Lanister would be just the ticket at helping her through this. Wiping a droplet of blood from her mouth Nevayah turned to him smiling as best she could. "Actually.... I think I am okay." She herself was astonished at how quickly her body recovered from whatever had just happened.

"I have never ingested my own blood before. I didn't even think about it when I tried it... I just assumed nothing would happen." Leaning into Lanister Nevayah rested her head against him for a minute before continuing. "I'm sorry I worried you, I have just never... what's it called... never vomited before." It was true, Nevayah never got sick. Of course she could still be poisoned or drugged but the effects were always very short term. Then there was just common illness that she always seemed to escape. Infections and viruses alike always seemed to be made into nothing simply from the power of her blood. Anytime something was strong enough to effect her, a few hours sleep always seemed to cure it. Recalling the day she was captured in the market while retrieving sweets Nevayah was bludgeoned and tranquilized, all of which made into nothing after sleeping only a few hours.

Using Lanister almost as a crutch Nevayah stood up wiping her mouth once more before making her way towards the jug of water. Grabbing a cup Nevayah poured in some water and then opened up a jar of ground ginger still sitting on the table. Pulling a bit with her fingertips she dropped it into the water and swirled it with her finger before taking a sip. "I remember ginger water helped an old master when he was sick." She then carried on as she was never on the floor spitting up blood moments ago. In truth Nevayah wanted to forget it ever happened, it was a lesson learned not to ever consume her own blood again. Turning around she just noticed how upset Lanister was from the situation. "I am so sorry my love, I did not mean to worry you. It's just as I was freaking out the only thing I could think of was to call for you. I knew that even if there was nothing you could do at least your presence would comfort me." she shot him an endearing smile. "Now then lets forget that ever happened. I learned my lesson and will never do it again. That feeling is awful!"

Grabbing her spoon Nevayah walked over to the pot that had been cooking for a few moments now and stirred it before placing the lid back onto it. The entire house now smelt of beef and vegetables just from lifting the lid. In an attempt to completely turn the subject from what had just happened Nevayah instead prompted Lanister about his boss once more. "I was thinking after we eat we could take some of that to your boss for her child. Maybe even some stew if we have some left over." By now she was acting as if nothing happened but instead as if they both had woken up and were just continuing on with their normal lives.

After a moment of pause with Nevayah catching her breath, she gave him a soft, shaky smile as she, indeed, confirmed that she was okay. Still, Lanister was not satisfied... Someone didn't vomit up blood and was just "okay" after that... It seemed that he had forgotten what Nevayah's powers were for a moment as he checked around the exterior of her body, running his fingers along her skin with a slight pressure in purposeful strokes, a far different gesture from that of the sex they here having earlier. She explained that she had never ingested her own blood before, that she assumed nothing would happen that she didn't think about it... Lanister wanted to chastise her so bad, to freak out or something, to get angry that she had gotten hurt experimenting with her own blood... But more or less, he was just happy to see she wasn't retching up her own blood anymore... He smiled when she leaned forward against him, laying her face against his chest as she apologized for worrying him. He leaned back a bit and took Nevayah's chin between his forefinger and thumb, tilting her head up so she could face him once again. Ah... those eyes... He was quickly becoming addicted... Slowly he lowered his lips to hers, doing his best to emulate that little angelic kiss she had given him a while ago, gently tracing the outline of her full, beautiful lips with his. When he pulled away, and with the faintest taste of blood in his mouth, Lanister held his wife against his chest once again, one last tear rolling down his cheeks.

"Its okay..." He murmured, his love for Nevayah spiking suddenly. "Just don't do it again, please... I hate to see you like this..." He softly kissed her forehead before letting her go. Offering to use himself like a crutch, Lanister helped his wife to the table, grabbing a jug of water and a thing of ginger. Being the budding alchemist she was,  Nevayah mixed the two ingredients into a certain tonic known as Ginger water, something, she claimed, helped one of her old "masters" when he was sick. After a moment of silence between them, Nevayah turned to her husband, shooting him his favorite, loving smile before apologizing yet again for what happened, saying that she had been freaking out and that she needed his presence. The boy smiled wider and sighed happily at her, wanting so badly to take her back to the bed and lie down with her. Of course she wouldn't be in the mood for that kind of intimacy after what she'd just experienced, but he thought a little bed-rest would do her some good.... especially besides her partner... but still, she was a stubborn one... Its one of the reasons he loved her so damned much... No longer needing him as a crutch, Nevayah walked over to the stew-pot she had set up to cook earlier, stirring the (wonderfully smelling) concoction in such a way that made Lanister's mouth water... She was always a better cook than he and in this case, he was thankful for it. However, he snapped to attention when his wife suggested that they go and take some tonic to the his Boss' sick kid and maybe some of their left-over soup as well. She was such a sweet-heart... He smiled with more endearment than he ever had before, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, resting on her love-handles as he hugged her.

"You always come up with the best ideas..." He sighed before kissing her on the cheek.

And so the evening turned into night as the two lived out their now peaceful lives. After dinner they would head to Lanister's boss's to deliver the tonic that would no doubt save the child. Everything went smoothly and neither the mother or child noticed any particular taste in Nevayah's special tonic. Miraculously her tonic did just as she had hoped it would. The effects were subtle and slow acting, but after a week of daily doses the child began to pull through its illness without any other side effects.

Other things seemed to progress throughout the week as well. Of course Lanister and Nevayah lived their lives in the normal routine they had set for themselves. At day break Lanister would set out for his shift at the Tavern while Nevayah stayed home to tidy up and experiment further with herbs. Every other day or so Lanister would then go to the smithery to work as well before coming home to a clean home and dinner cooking. One thing did change though, and that was on the days Lanister only worked at the tavern that Nevayah did not take her usual stroll to meet up with him. She had begun to act as if she were coming down with something, which was impossible for Nevayah.

The way she felt was similar to when she was drained every day for blood and not fed a balanced meal. Run down, weak and exhausted were the best ways at describing it. At first she thought it may have been from using some of her blood in the tonic, but the amounts were minimal compared to what she used to give back when it was taken unwillingly. Instead of partaking in her usual activities Nevayah slept past the time Lanister awoke with the sun and was only just starting her day by late morning. In the afternoon she now napped and even that did not quench the need to sleep as the sun left the sky. Even so she refused to believe anything could be wrong and chucked it off as her body adjusting to a less stressful life.

It was the other signs that she did not notice though that were concerning. Surely Lanister had picked up on the way she no longer had the hunger to ravage him everyday, or the fact she had grown intolerant of the smell of onion which used to be one of her favorite things to add to food for taste. Her overall being seemed to be off axis somehow, something was definitely not right with her.

As mid day approached Nevayah began to tidy up knowing Lanister would be home any moment from the Tavern. Today she had promised herself she would leave to walk with him home but then felt simply too tired. The small 20 minute trek seemed too long and distant today, just as the days before and she simply did not have the will power to push herself to do it. Instead after neatly organizing their bedroom and sweeping the floor she made her way to the kitchen to begin preparations for dinner. Sorting through her spices she picked up a jar of salt and set it out accompanied with some cilantro and basil leaves. Digging through the numerous spice jars she had collected she kept on whispering to herself trying to find the last ingredient. "Thyme... where is the damned Thyme!" finally she found the jar labeled with a charcoal label and withdrew it to find it was practically empty. "Dammit!" she screamed hurling the jar across the room towards the fire in the living area.

The empty jar was soon followed by nearly every spice jar the two had collected over the months. Some landed in the fire, others broke off the walls of their home or shattered against the brick surrounding the fireplace. After she had practically wiped out their entire stock of spices and herbs Nevayah moved on to simply throwing anything she could get her hands on. From outside it probably sounded like a tornado was unleashed inside the quaint home... but no.. it was just Nevayah.

During the passing week, Lanister did his best to keep in good humor, letting back in all the drunkards he had tossed out, lowering the price on their drinks just a bit, and he even forged a particularly choice dagger one so good, he even earned a nod from his elder Blacksmith! Really, this week was quite a good week, for him and yet, he didn't seem to notice... All he could think about was his wife and how lethargic she had gotten... It reminded him of the day he had found her, those blank, emotionless stares... She stopped walking him home from work too and often times he'd find her either cleaning up the house or passed out on the bed, more wasted than he had ever seen... Lanister didn't understand what might have happened to her, what could have forced a change like this in his beautiful Nevayah... One day The boy walked home with a few things in hand: One, a bouquet of flowers, Two, a small box of varied chocolates, and Three (which he had strapped to his back), a broad-sword he had forged, imperfect and hardly a noble craftsman's work, but it was functional and it was his... As he approached the house, however, his eyes widened as he heard Nevayah's enraged screams and glass shattering, a MASSIVE change from her painful silence earlier that week. The boy rushed inside, narrowly ducking under a plastic bottle of Cheyenne spice that bounced off the wall behind him.

As if acting on instinct, He tossed his gifts on the nearby table and rushed over to her, grabbing her wrists before she could toss anymore of their stuff. Spice was everywhere... on the floor, in her hair, on her hands (and now his) and in the air. The smell alone of all these powerful cooking ingredients caused his eyes to water.

"Stop!" He demanded, matching her struggling strength with his own, barely able to hold her back from hurting both herself, him and the house. And yet she still resisted him seemingly intent of smashing every last bit of spice and... everything else that stood in her way like the tornado she was. "I said STOP!" He roared, getting in her face with an angered, glare, using his (very slightly) superior strength and (slightly) superior height to wrestle her to the floor, pinning her to the ground by her arms.

"What has gotten into you!?" He demanded, staring down at Nevayah with both concern and frustration. He had never seen her act out like this... On a few occasions, she got angry... sure, he understood getting mad, but this... this was something else... He glanced back at his surroundings, letting up a bit of the pressure on her as he surveyed his home, now covered in the reds, oranges and yellows of their spice-rack...

Lost in her fit of rage Nevayah did not even notice Lanister who came bursting through the door. Her attention was only broken by his scream to stop. Even then that barely detered her from throwing yet another bottle across the room. Once again Lanister screamed for her to stop before grabbing her and wrestling her to the floor. The action alone was enough to snap her out of it, not to mention the look in his eyes. By the time he had gotten to asking her what had gotten into her she had already returned to her normal state and was practically flinching at his every word.

Slowly he released the pressure on her wrists as she watched him look at there home. She herself took a moment to turn her head to the side to see the sunset hues of powder everywhere. "We were out of Thyme..." she replied having nothing else to really say. Looking at it all now she felt so foolish for allowing something so minuscule to cause her to destroy months of hard work. Despite the feeling in the pit of her stomach though she did not cry, not even a tear faltered in her eyes. "I.. I was going to make dinner and I couldn't find it... but then I did and it was all gone. It ruined everything..."

Turning her head back to him she took in a deep breathe, even though he was still on top of her. "I will clean it all up and replace everything. Just let me sell the last few bottles of tonic I have made and it will be more than enough to compensate." It was weird, her voice was as if she were talking about just taking a stroll through town as if it were a warm splendid day and nothing had just happened. A normal Nevayah would have reacted one of two ways, both of which completely opposite of how she was acting now. She would have either turned this into a play of dominance and it all would have ultimately led to them both in the bed only moments later. Or she would have glared at him for doubting her reasoning behind it, neither of which she was displaying now... she was simply covering it up with excuses and solutions.

Turning her head once more to look at the jars broken and strewn about on the floor Nevayah's mood switched once more. Her eyes went from their wide open state to slightly tired. "Just let me up and I will clean it all up. I'm sorry I went on a rampage over a stupid bottle of spice." This sounded like the normal Nevayah, the one who was beating herself up for acting so stupid. "I'm so sorry Lanister. I don't know what got into me." Assuming he allowed her to get up Nevayah slid out from under him now sitting on the floor. Lifting her hands she brushed them through her hair causing a cloud of orange dust to release into the air before falling onto the floor boards. She then held her hands in front of herself as she brushed them together removing the dust from them as well.

Looking towards the still flung open door she saw the flowers and candies sitting on the table beside it, this being when tears began to form. Her poor Lanister had came home with gifts in hoping of surprising her only to be met with a crazy wife having a rage over a stupid spice. "Oh Lanister I really am so sorry!" Shifting her body to face him she held out her arms for a hug while pleading with her eyes hoping he would reciprocate the action and forgive her.

Lanister smirked at her explanation for that moment of madness despite himself, thinking it was some kind of joke. When her expression didn't change and when he didn't see even the tiniest bit of impishness in those azure eyes of hers, Lanister's smile fell like a rock. He stared down at his wife, still on top of her, trying to work out some logical reason she would wreck their house... simply because they were missing an ingredient.

"W-we were out of thyme...." He repeated, trying desperately to wrap his head around this. It was as if someone else was laying underneath him, someone who was Nevayah, but also wasn't quite... When he stared down at her, he couldn't tell if she was telling him the truth or not, if this whole fiasco was over a single spice, that it was worth tearing up their home for... She stated that she would clean everything up and replace what they'd lost if she sold her tonics as if that would make everything okay. He could tell she was trying to make up for what she had done... trying to make it as if nothing ever happened. Ultimately, Lanister couldn't care less about the spices, their ruined dinner or ultimately even the house if it were destroyed. All he ever cared about was her and her wellbeing. Everything else, even himself, came second to his wonderful, beautiful wife. And so, he didn't move from on top of her as she seemed to fail in realizing that fact. He stared down into her eyes, but once again, her azure orbs refused to meet his, looking off to the side as she repeated that she'd clean it all up, and that she was sorry she destroyed their spices. It was only when she tried for struggle herself free did Lanister actually release his grip on the girl, standing up in front of her, still staring at her, confused. It was when she saw the flowers and chocolates on the table did she realize what his initial intentions were and when real, substantial emotions seemed to come from her at last. Tears bubbled up from the side of her eyes as she opened her arms, begging for a hug from her husband. Before she could even finish her statement of sorry, Lanister had already wrapped his arms around her, hugging her as tight as he could (without it being painful). He buried his face in her shoulder as he held her tight, his own tears starting to bubble up.

"Nevayah..." He whispered, pulling away just enough to look into her eyes. "I don't care about the spices, we can always buy more. I don't care about the house, we can live somewhere else. I care about you and only you... you're my wife... my lover.... my friend..." He kissed her forehead softly, only slightly amused that it tasted of curry and garlic. "I love you, Nevayah... and something like this..." He waved his hand around them at the spice everywhere. "...doesn't matter... I'm not angry... I'm happy I got to see you again..." He smiled softly, pressing his forehead against hers. "A life without you isn't a life worth living, after all...."

Nevayah herself held Lanister as close to her body as she could. He always managed to ground her when she felt things were spinning out of control. She listened as he told her how he did not care about anything but her. That all the things she had just destroyed were simply material items and then... he told her the phrase they often repeated to one another. Also looking as deeply into his eyes as he did her she blinked causing the tears that were welling in her eyes to fall. But she was no longer sad or feeling anything awful, she was simply in awe of her wonderful husband.

"It surely isn't" she smiled at him not to only reassure him she was okay, but herself as well. "Please let me sweep all of this up, I don't want you to cut yourself on my behalf. Afterwards maybe we could go into town for dinner. I really do need to deliver this tonic to your boss and clearly I cannot cook anything now." lifting her arms up to his shoulders she placed a palm on each one as she continued. "Plus I think it would be nice to get out of the house"

Pulling away from Lanister she walked to the corner of the kitchen area and grabbed an old straw broom. From there she began sweeping up spices and broken jars alike pushing them all into one pile. With each swish of the broom a small cloud of dust rose and then settled.

"Okay..." he smiled, placing a quick peck on her lips before snatching a rag from the table, grabbing a fresh change of clothes and heading outside to get washed up. "Join me outside once you're done..." Suggestively winking. Where most houses might have had a bath or shower or something, All they had was a pump outside, veiled from the world by a series of thick towels tied to the branches of the trees outside. Hardly a four-star experience, but the tap always produced clean (and surprisingly warm) water that served its cleaning purposes well. That struggle with Nevayah had splashed Lanister with several different colors of spices, with yellow over his cheeks, orange splashed across his chest, and some mix of green and red along his hands. He couldn't go to town, much less talk to the Boss, without getting cleaned up! And so, Lanister began to crank the handle of the pump and on the third one, a steady, solid stream ran out onto the slick stones that acted as the tile floor. Once the water had gotten flowing, the boy began to strip, tossing his dirty clothes outside to be cleaned later. Completely bare, he stuck the rag under the water the cloth soaking up it's harm fluid almost thirstily. He took his time cleaning himself off, waiting for his wife to come out and join him, knowing full-well that she knew they would need to be presentable in both looks and smells. No one would bother to approach them if the smelled like they got into a fight in the spice-rack.

By the time she had gotten out to their little shower, Lanister was already about done with himself, but still, he smiled just as widely, holding the towel under the water again.

"Ah... What a pleasure it is for you to join me..." He snickered, walking up to her, helping Nevayah get undressed if she hadn't already. Once she was a bare as he was, Lanister began to run the wet cloth along her smooth, pale skin slowly, softly, careful to touch on all her areas. He had to be sure, of course, that he had removed all the spices from from her skin less people catch on to their previous engagement, so he went over her again, from all angles, enjoying himself all the while. After about 20 minutes of being ABSOLUTELY sure she was clean, he'd hang the cloth out to dry along the curved neck of the pump, unless, of course, she wanted to have a go at him as well.

Once their little bathing session was over, Lanister would get dressed in his clean pair of clothes, tossing his dirty ones inside the door to be dealt with later. Smiling back at his wife, he gestured back in the direction of town, ready to spend a romantic night with the only person who mattered in the world.

As Lanister headed outside Nevayah got down to cleaning with a bit more purpose than before. Sweeping up the last bit of dust and scooping it into a bin Nevayah carried it outside to dump out. Setting the now empty bin down she made her way towards the water pump where her beloved was waiting for her. Before she even attempted to undress herself Lanister had begun stripping her down. From there he delicately bathed her in a way that was so kind and delicate a gesture her heart fluttered with every touch. He was so meticulous at getting every single inch of her clean that she felt renewed when he was finished.

Without words she leaned in to plant a soft kiss on his cheek before following him inside. Inside the doorway she tossed her dirty skirt and sweater atop Lanister's attire. From there she walked into their bedroom and examined the few amounts of clothing she possessed. Taking into consideration the fact they would be presenting themselves in front of Lanister's boss and then going out on the town she pulled a dark red piece of fabric off of a shelf. Holding the scarf in her hands she squeezed at it a bit as if trying to push something out of the threads, a memory. Truly reflecting on how she had been acting lately she remembered how she was before with Lanister. How when they first bathed together in the bathhouse and she forgot her scarf. Or how many times she scooped it off the floor after being thrown beside their bed. Lifting the scarf to her face she brushed the fabric against her lips while closing her eyes as she took it all in. How could she tell him she knew something was wrong with her. Something was happening that was changing her and despite how much she tried to ignore it she could not.

Still standing nude she reached for another sweater almost identical to the one laying by the door except perhaps a few shades darker. Setting her scarf delicately on their bed she pulled on the sweater and then another skirt. Followed by stockings and then her boots. Lastly she grabbed the scarf once more and gave it a quick hug before setting it back on the shelf. "Ready" she called from the bedroom making her way around the wall to the living space. Taking her bag and strapping it over her shoulder she let it clunk to her side from the two bottles of tonic she placed into it earlier. Grabbing Lanister's hand she made her way out the door as he motioned in the direction of town.

While they walked Nevayah made a silent notion to herself to act as normal as possible for Lanister's sake. Even if she was exhausted and felt like she could cry at any moment from god knows what she smiled. Of course with their blood bond he would be able to sense some of her inner turmoil but she still tried. With their footprints causing the leaves on the ground beneath them Nevayah broke the silence. "I know something is wrong with me. Maybe though its just I have finally caught something. My blood could be... changing?" This theory and many more have crossed her mind when she was alone. Something had to explain why this was happening to her, the girl who before was practically immune to everything. "Nonetheless, I promise I am fighting it... whatever it is."

Even while they walked silently and while Nevayah attempted to act completely normal, Lanister knew exactly what was going on. Their bloodbond told the secrets they kept from each-other, both physical and emotional. Something was going on with her blood... something far outside the ordinary... he could feel it in his gut, the abnormal twisting... But he couldn't pin down a source. Nevayah seemed to acknowledge this herself as about half-way to the boss' house. She noted that, indeed, there was something wrong with her that her blood might be changing. Lanister stopped walking and stared at her, more concerned than ever. What if... she lost her ability to heal...? She'd still be in better shape than he was most of his life, but still, Nevayah would be significantly more vulnerable, hurt far easier... She declared she was fighting, whatever it was and the moment she did, Lanister grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her full on the lips, pulling away after a few seconds.

"Whatever happens... I'm here for you, okay...?" He murmured, gently brushing a strand of hair from out in front of her face. "I will never leave you... Not if we lose our blood-bond or if you lose your healing-powers. I'll always be here..." He smiled lovingly before continuing on, reaching the boss' house in only a few more minutes. Her house was in the center of town, a far wider, longer house then theirs and far better kept. Lanister knocked on the massive double-doors that lead inside, being met with silence for a moment before he door swung open. Standing in the door-way was a GIANT of a female, standing easily around 6-foot 11, with all the bulk to make it an even distribution. She had rough-ish tanned skin and long, curly dark brown hair and eyes, but besides her warrior-esk appearance, she wore a simple grey dress and leather boots, appearing far more house-wife than he had ever seen her. Nonetheless, Boss smiled down at the two kiddies, placing a hand on Lanister's head as if her were just a child.

"AH! Its good to see you two!" She declared, her voice surprisingly smooth and feminine despite her gigantic appearance. "My boy has been getting much better, thanks to you... I owe you two." She stepped to the side, letting the pair inside. The interior of the house was MASSIVE, at least 3 stories tall with high ceilings on each floor. A glass chandelier hung from the ceiling with several nicely scented candles burning in the foyer. If Lanister didn't know Boss, he might have thought she was living in royalty.

"Maybe you should let me take over the bar." He joked, looking around the house with polite interest.

"Yeah right. I'll die first before I passed it off to you..." She grumbled, obviously joking, but her eyes were now on Nevayah, seeming to detect the same problem both Lanister and she had noticed on their way over here. She stared knowingly, but whatever secrets she knew, Boss kept her mouth shut, leading them up to the second floor where her child awaited his medicine. Boss slowly creaked open the door revealing a sleeping child, small, perhaps only 5 or 6, with black hair and pale tan skin. He had been far worse the first time they had saw him, sickly and seeming like he was on the verge of death. Now, at least he seemed like he was coming out of it. As Nevayah went about her business distributing her tonic, Lanister noticed Boss Staring at her still, a concerned, motherly look that forced Lanister to speak.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" He laughed. Boss said nothing, only stared... Once Nevayah was done, Boss shooed them out of the bedroom and into the hallway before following them herself and shutting the door. She took a deep breath (for a giant) and looked at them both.

"I can give you two some tips... On becoming parents. Lanister's eyes shot wide as he looked around for someone else in the house, some other pair she might be talking too... Just them and the walls. Boss Judged Lanister's and Nevayah's expressions, smirking somewhat at their surprise.

"You didn't know? I suppose not... You see, parents get special powers and I can see it written on your face, Nevayah. You're going to be a mother. Lanister's gaze flicked from Boss to his wife, unsure of what to say or even think. "Which means... You can punch daddy for this..."

When Lanister stopped so did she. Turning towards him as he placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her in for a kiss she smiled. "I know" was all she could say to his declaration of being there for her. Afterwards they both continued onto his boss's house. Upon arriving she was just as blown away as the first time she saw it. It was so large and beyond extravagant compared to their homey little cottage. As the massive woman opened the door Nevayah made no other expression than a simple smile as she placed her hand upon Lanister's head.

Going on inside Nevayah went straight to the young boys room as she had a few times before. Reaching into her bag she pulled out the small bottle of tonic before popping the cork off the end of it. Then she lowered her hand to below the boys head and tilted it up a bit as she held the tonic to his lips. Slowly she tilted the bottle to pour the liquid down his throat. After finishing she placed the bottle back in her bag and sat at the edge of the boys bed looking at him for a moment. The thoughts that raced through her mind at this moment were enough to almost make her tear up, emotions already having been all over the place. "Maybe one day" she whispered before placing her hand on the boys and giving it a little squeeze before standing back up.

It was when she turned to Lanister's boss that her smile faded. She had caught the two of them staring at her and it creeped her out. Lowering her head a bit she walked out of the room and stood beside Lanister in the hallway before having her entire world turned upside down in an instant. The words echoed in her mind over and over again as if bouncing off the walls of her innermost thoughts. parents...parents....parents..... Speechless was the best way to describe her in that moment. Lanister's boss continued on about how she could just tell and then ended the statement with a pun about punching Lanister. Snapping her head in his direction her eyes darted all over his body as if looking for any trace of a joke. Surely they had planned this as a way to get her out of her funk.. yeah that's it.. it was all a game, or was it?

Lowering a hand to her own stomach as well as her gaze Nevayah spread her palm out and felt for something that was supposed to be there. Then in that instant the dream she had pushed back weeks ago came to light. The dream of two heartbeats that she could not understand. Her eyes then once again looked at Lanister as she shook her head from side to side signaling she refused to believe it. Her eyes were wide and scared, worse than anytime she had been held against her will and fought to survive. This was not something she could simply talk her way out of and escape... it was fate.

Her next action was so quick she gave no warning to the fact she was about to bolt. Turning on her foot she sprinted down the hallway and stairs before flinging open the door and running out. The way she ran would have made it almost impossible for Lanister to catch her at first. Running down the street and making a sharp turn she managed to tuck herself away in an alley behind a few empty barrels. Surprisingly enough it was the very tavern where Lanister worked that she found herself hiding behind. Leaning her back against the stone she slid downwards until her bottom was touching the gravel. She was not crying or screaming but simply staring at the wall across from her. She did not know if Lanister had followed her immediately or stayed to speak with his boss. She did not know if he screamed out for her or said anything for that matter when she ran, it was all a silent blur.

But now as she stared at the cold broken wall across from her all she wanted was Lanister there with her. To hold her and tell her it was all going to be okay. She needed to hear him say his boss was wrong, and that this was nothing but a bump in the road of their lives. Of course Nevayah wanted children one day... her and Lanister had talked about it before. But they promised it would be when they knew they were safe. They had only been in La'Marri for a few short months, not near enough to to completely be sure they were safe. And then there was their home and how unprepared it was. It was barely enough for the two of them, let alone a child. Then the image of the children from her dream months ago played, and surprisingly it made her smile.

Lanister jumped in surprise as Nevayah bolted from the house, practically falling down the stares before running out into the streets. Lanister followed soon after as Boss looked on, shaking her head, somewhat worried for the pair. Lanister may have been a bit stronger, but Nevayah was always faster than he was and was unable to catch up to her before she disappeared among the crowd of people out today. Still, his blood-bond with her allowed him to track down her position, but that didn't make him slow down any less. All he could think as he ran in Nevayah's direction was Oh my gods... we're going to be parents... Just the thought of having children with them, their own offspring, never really seemed real... Yes, they talked about it and made plans to have them when they were sure they were safe but... now that Boss had confirmed Nevayah's pregnancy... what seemed just a dream flowed into reality and somehow, it lost just a bit of it's dream-like luster in the process. Lanister swept through the town with a vengeance, showing little concern for anyone who got in his way...

Eventually, he got to his wife, finding her in an alley, tucked behind a few barrels, just silently staring at a wall. Somehow, this unnerved him the most. If she was crying or screaming or having some form of outward reaction, Lanister would have known how to make her okay, how to help her recover but that silence... that staring... It gave him nothing... Slowly, cautiously, the boy sat down beside her next to the barrels, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as a tiny grin curled up on her lips. He said nothing for several minutes, just holding her if she let him and staring at the wall alongside. Eventually, though his gaze did turn back to her, his eyes glowing dimly in the shadows of the alley. He held her a little tighter to him, contemplating his next words carefully.

"Nevayah...? Are you okay...?" He'd ask, his voice having a certain edge of fear grafted on, but he did continue. "We are safe.... Boss is here to help us and... La'marii is nothing like Eyssrn... M-maybe this was meant to be...?" He spoke as if he were trying to justify this situation, as if this thing were entirely his fault for putting her in such a position. The boy didn't dare kiss or hug her any more than he already had for fear that silence would erupt into a volcanic anger like back home, or a chilling passive aggression like she had the first time they met. He just looked upon her face for any kind of acknowledgement or... emotion... something that would give him a sign of what was going on inside her head... Anything would be good...

"Nevayah...?" He repeated, the fear-pitch in his voice rising.

She did not react when Lanister finally found her. Even when he sat beside her and wrapped his arm around her she remained silent. She sat there just staring at the wall as if she would get what she was looking for by glaring at it. Lanister continued to try and talk to her, she could hear the fear rising in his voice. Feeling his eyes on her did not deter her from continuing to stare. "We are going to be parents..." she responded with no emotion in her voice at first. From there she tilted her head forwards before tapping it backwards on the wall behind them. Not with enough force to hurt herself, but enough to make a light thump.

Finally she turned her gaze to Lanister unsure of what to say. "Should we be happy about this? Are we ready for this?" pausing she lifted a hand to her chest. "Am I ready for this?" her voice was full of question and concern as she spoke. "Parents...." she whispered one more time before turning her head back towards the wall to stare at it. "Essyrn or not we still have to hide who we are. How will we explain to our child why I cannot wear shorter sleeves or dresses? What if you got hurt around our child? What if it is not immune like I am?" her eyes then narrowed as the tried to put a few pieces together. "And what do you mean your boss is here to help us?" her tone had changed a bit to an accusatory one. "Did you tell her what we are!?"

Turning her body towards Lanister her eyes were full of negativity. "You told her didn't you!? How could you!" and so began the irrational anger of Nevayah once more. If only she had a few spice jars laying around right now... but no it was only her, Lanister and the gravel. But instead of taking it out on Lanister her mind suddenly clicked into a bit of a hysterically crazy state. She went from worrying about being parents to Lanister's boss and then... the most random thoughts of all. "I need to go to the market and buy some Thyme."

Sounding almost like a crazy person she continued on listing spices she needed. "We will also need some Cinnamon, cloves, basil, oregano....." Nevayah had probably listed about twenty different spices by the end of her statement.

"I.... I don't know if we're ready..." Lanister confessed, his gaze falling to the floor, already blaming himself for all of this. "But I think we'd be great parents! You're a wonderful person already, my love! I think our children would be just as great!" As he mentioned Boss, Nevayah's gaze flicked back up at him, nothing but burning wrath in her Azure eyes. Immediately upon seeing this drastic change, Lanister fell back, Nevayah seeming to tower over him now. She roared that he must have told Boss who/what they were and demanded to know how he could have done this. How DARE he tell someone what kind of person they were...? The sad thing was... she was right. He had gone and told Boss what they were: Tainteds. Of course, like he figured, she didn't even know what a Tainted even was and he had to explain it to her as a result. Though, unlike what Nevayah was thinking right now, Boss was nothing short of an honest person, not a smige of shiftiness or secret-spilling about her. And on top of that, she was a mother as well and knew what it was like to want to protect family... At least, thats what he said to himself to justify jeopardizing his wife's trust in him. Even if it had paid of and he had made a reliable ally in Boss, it seemed he had shattered his relationship with the one he loves most, along with his own heart... Lanister looked like he was going to burst into tears right there when Nevayah's anger seemed to blink out of existence once again, her voice becoming monotone as she remembered they still needed to buy all of their spices back, starting with the Thyme. Through misty, tear-filled eyes, he stared at his increasingly unstable wife before he flung himself on her, holding her to him with all his strength as if that would retain her sanity.

"Oh my gods Nevayah..." He whispered, his lower lip shaking as he spoke. "I'm scared..." It was not often he ever showed this kind of weakness, this kind of... vulnerability, even to his wife, but here in this moment between her apparent hate for him now and her growing attention-shifts, he couldn't keep up a facade of strength any longer. He stared up at the girl he clung to, tears running down his cheeks.

"I'm afraid I broke your trust in me... that I've hurt you... I'm so... so sorry...." he mumbled before going silent. Of course, he was referring to getting her pregnant, spilling her secret, everything that had caused her to become like this... It was all his fault and he knew it. And he hoped she was going to forgive him... Lanister didn't even have the RIGHT to hope, let alone beg for forgiveness... If he was any kind of decent man at all, he would have just up and died right there to make up for these horrid sins... but then, he never claimed to be a decent man.

"Please forgive me..."

Lanister interrupted her going on about spices by flinging himself at her. He was worried he had broken her trust and begged forgiveness from her. She almost slipped back into a state of rage before remembering the amount of times she herself had to ask for forgiveness from him. "Lanister calm down. You have not broken my trust and you have not hurt me." her face had gone serious once more, she was acting like herself.

Hugging him back she kissed his neck in an attempt to break his emotional state. "I know that at the end of the day you would do whatever it takes to save me. I know that you would give your life for me, just as I would you. That is trust... So much so that I trust that if you told Emilra our secret it was for a reason." Pulling away from her she was now the one looking at him seriously, perhaps staring at the wall did do her some good. "First thing is first, we need to go eat before I die of starvation. Second, we need to go to the market and replace our damned spices. Last, you need to talk to Emilra about what I can do to not be so damned tired all of the time. We will get through this and we will make beautiful children. We will fight to keep them safe and happy, and if we are lucky they will live normal lives." squeezing his shoulders with her hands she continued her small scale speech.

"Then we will have to get to work. Our child will need a good home that is safe and happy." she sent him all too familiar smile before leaning in to give him a heartfelt kiss. "I love you"

"I... I love you too..." He responded, kissing her back with as much passion and love as he was capable, practically pressing her against the wall with the force of such an act. Nevayah had responded with everything he dared hoped she'd say, that he hadn't hurt her or broken her trust, that they will make beautiful children together and they they would fight to give them normal happy lives. Even as he pulled away from their kiss, he stared at his wife with such love and amazement, he might as well had been staring into the divinity of the gods themselves. He sighed softly and kissed her again just to make his point, subtly growing more aroused just being in her presence, but again, he decided not to push it past this point. Slowly he pulled away, slightly breathless before helping Nevayah to her feet, smiling wider than he ever had before in his life. When he stared into the beautiful, pale face of his partner, he saw not a tainted-blood human like himself, but something far beyond, something holy and divine in both body and spirit. When he looked into those azure eyes of hers, he was staring into something far better than he. Lanister felt humbled, but in a good way... Being in the presence of the smart, wise and determined girl he loved made him smile and wonder how he ever got to be so damned lucky...

"We're going to be parents..." He whispered, still trying to wrap his mind around the idea. Only half a year ago, they were just slaves in a cage, never knowing that it would eventually come to this... It was hard to believe they had came this far so fast... he talked to some people who dated their wives for several years before getting married, some even discarding their previous partners in favor of another but Lanister and Nevayah, they were something else... something different from the rest of them... Maybe it was because they were bound by their blood or that something biological/faithful bound them together but, if Lanister knew anything, he was going to stand by his family (Nevayah and his children) forever and ever... He loved them with everything he had...

"Lets go get something to eat, honey..." He laughed, pecking her lips once more before heading out into the stores once again. There were definately several places to choose from in the market-place. Grills, Inns, a few smaller (hardly competitive) bars sitting around that served food. He was growing hungry as well, just looking at the options...

"Where do you feel like going, Sweet-heart?" Lanister snickered again, using all the husband/wife-isms. "I think the... "Drunken-Boar grill seems appealing." Lanister pointed at the stone, castle-esque architecture of the grill through the crowds of people out shopping. "What are you in the mood for, baby?" He simply couldn't stop himself.

Nevayah giggled at Lanister's adorable remarks calling her honey, sweet-heart and baby. Her eyes followed where he pointed at the Drunken-Boar and so she decided. "That sounds perfect baby" she smiled scrunching her nose at him. Grabbing his hand she walked towards the grill and pushed open the door. Inside the wonderful aromas of meat and ale all filled the air surrounding them. The grill was busy tonight, lots of clambering glasses and laughing voices reverberated off the walls. With Lanister's hand still in hers she walked right up to a table for two before sitting down and finally releasing his palm.

Within minutes a maiden approached them so that they may place their orders. Nevayah mumbled something about wanting smoked pig before turning her attention to the other patrons of the establishment. Many familiar faces sat in all the seats enjoying their evening. Some even waved and smiled at her as they caught her eye. Most surprisingly though was that Nevayah smiled and waved back. The evening went on like this even as Lanister ordered his food and they waited. They made small talk about plans for their home and how Nevayah wanted Lanister to add more shelves to the kitchen for collecting herbs.

For some reason now that she had accepted they were having a child she saw a much brighter and more solid future. Even as they finished their dinner and began walking back home she talked with him about adding another room for their child and finally oiling the floors in their house. "We have nine months if I remember correctly to get all of this done." she finished just as she was reaching for the door handle to their humble abode. Stepping inside she could not help but notice the house still had a bit of an earthy smell from all of the herbs thrown before they had left.

Nevayah had gone into full blown mother mode as she picked up their previously soiled clothes they had tossed aside earlier and placed them in a washing bin to fill with water in the morning. "I wonder what it will be.... or who it will be. Boy or Girl, Tainted or not. Most likely it will with both of us being one." In all truth she would be happy with either, as long as it was the child of her beloved's that was enough alone to make her love it forever. Turning to Lanister she walked up to him wrapping her arms around his neck and snaking one of her hands up the back of his head grabbing his hair just a bit. From there she rested her check against his collarbone and closed her eyes just trying to take in as much of him as possible. "I know I have been crazy and my mind is everywhere right now but promise me one thing. Don't ever let this... let us dissapear. Just because we are going to be parents does not mean I want to lose what makes us... well us. I love you to much to ever let that go."

Lanister smiled as Nevayah returned his jest, walking into the restaurant with as much comfort as any two soon-to-be parents could have. They ate like royalty that night, just enjoying themselves causally, asking how each-other's day went and other minor small-talk. They had made plans to replace the spices lost earlier that day, a topic Lanister enjoyed talking about, joking about how the no longer needed the scented candles he had bought for her.

And so, once they were well fed, they walked home to their little out-of-the-way place, just discussing how they were going to need to make room for this child. Lanister knew that if their old house wouldn't serve, Boss and would, for sure, have enough room to house them until they could acquire a bigger home. Hell, she might even give them some of her revenue just to get them out of her house faster. Nevayah noted that they would have at least 9 months to get everything ready for the new life they were bringing into the world and Lanister smiled in agreement. 9 months wasn't an especially long time, especially when they were waiting for something like this. Then again, who wanted to wait forever for their child to come? The thought truly reminded him again of the fact that he was going to be a parent...

When they got home, Nevayah was already showing her parenting prowess, picking up their dirty laundry and tossing it in a bin to be washed later, wondering if their baby will be a boy or a girl, tainted or not.

"Well... I know one thing... They'll be a beautiful as you are." He smiled, his grin only widening as his wife walked up to him and placed her head on his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck as her fingers intertwined with his hair. Lanister reciprocated the gesture, but instead by wrapping his arms around her lower back, just above her rump, holding her against him. She acknowledged her unstable behavior and asked him to never let them go, to not let moments like these ever go away just because they were going to be parents, that she loved him too much to ever let that go. In response, Lanister cupped Nevayah's face in his hands and kissed her with all he had, letting his beautiful wife know just what his intentions were...

2 months later...

Lanister was sitting beside his wife, holding her hand as she lay in one of the fancy beds on the top floor of Boss' massive abode, giving birth to their child. He couldn't believe it was happening so soon... they had only barely gotten all the furniture in the house and now they were having kids 7 months ahead of schedule!? That didn't stop him from being ecstatic that their children were coming early, it just caught him off guard is all. It turned out that Nevayah's powerful healing blood cut the time required for birth by over half, her reaching the typical 8-month period in only 2... Upon hearing of this change, Boss, of course, took them into her home, serving as the one who would actually deliver the child since she had to herself once. She knew exactly what both the mother and child needed for this to go smoothly, meanwhile, Lanister was just sitting there in a chair beside his wife, clutching her hand as tightly as he could as if that would make this brutal experience any less painful... And when it was all over... and the children were born... There was not just one child... but two.... one boy, and one girl.... The girl and Lanister's sanguine eyes and the boy had Neveyah's deep blue. together, each one wailed until boss tucked them deeply into his wife's arms, in which they slept like... well babies...

"Oh Nevayah..." He whispered, tears in his eyes, feeling more proud of her than he ever had in his entire life. "Twins...." He gently ran a hand along their children's heads, just marveling at they fact they were laying there at all. He looked up at the exausted eyes of his partner, and now his fellow parent, smiling like never before.

"What will we call them...?"

It was amazing how things worked sometimes. Nevayah's body being what it was sped up their pregnancy at an incredible rate. Thankfully they were able to pass it off to fellow townspeople that she was already pregnant when they arrived, just not showing until the final few months. Of course there was some skepticism from a few, but for the most part everyone just went along with it. Emilra was also a huge help in preparing them for parenthood, she even had a few tricks to help with Nevayah's symptoms. On top of allowing the two to take residence in her home as their own was prepared for a newborn baby. Lanister proposed they just buy a new home, but Nevayah refused.

Laying on the bed of satin sheets Nevayah gripped Lanister's hand once more as she pushed out their child. But then one of the biggest surprises came to the two, a second one was waiting to be born. Able to muster enough strength to deliver a second child with no complications was truly a feat for little Nevayah's body, but she managed it. By the time it was all over she was so tired she could barely hold her eyes open much less listen to Elmira announce the genders of their children. One boy and one girl. Lanister's lighthearted whisper of her name was the only thing that kept her from drifting to sleep right there. She had not even noticed the weight on each of her arms until Lanister said something.

Looking from side to side she laid her eyes on each of her beautiful children with a feeling growing in her heart she had only ever felt for one human being in her lifetime, undeniable love. Completely breath taken by the entire experience she then turned her head to Lanister the grin on her face one of true happiness. "Let's think about it for a moment." she whispered before turning her gaze back to her children. "Would you like to hold one of them?" she asked raising a tired brow at her beautiful husband.

"Yes... please..." He smiled softly as his wife offered one of the children to him, kissing her cheek softly before reaching out towards one of the newborns with a gentle, shaky hand. With the help of his exhausted Nevayah, the new father held his baby girl in his arms, her tiny chest rising and falling steadily as she slept. He didn't need any sort of physical resemblances or biological similarities to know that this baby was theirs... He could feel it in his blood, and in the unconditional, absolute love he only shared with the woman and the other baby laying in the bed beside him. He beamed down upon the new life, glancing across at his partner with the happiest expression he had ever mustered. This... he knew now... was true happiness, something he wouldn't ever give up for the world.

"They're so beautiful..." Lanister observed in a hushed whisper, his hand gently brushing over the child's cheek with his thumb. She twitched and shifted in his arms before falling back into her unconscious state in such an adorable way, it made the boy's heart melt even more that it already had. He couldn't stop himself from smiling down upon the little child in his arms, so excited to teach her all the things she was going to do in life... To eat, to walk, to talk... Lanister and Nevayah were parents now and yet... he could still hardly believe it... It was only with this little girl resting in his arms, did he realize that this, right now, was reality... Their little balls of joy were not the fleeting moments of a dream nor their temporary connections in the bed. These babies were here to stay and with a silent determination, Lanister would make sure they would get to where they were now, already anticipating grand-children.... Remembering Nevayah's comment about their names, the young man already had thought of a few, but possessed a favorite among those. With a soft sigh of pure contentment, he glanced up at his beautiful wife, gentle grin across his face.

"What do you think of Emia...?" He asked, looking back down at the sleeping child in his arms before returning her to her rightful place: with her mother. A child this early just... shouldn't be separated from their mother... Only a father for a few moments and he knew that little Emia needed the one who birthed her, not the man that helped. Still, in this moment, Lanister was the happiest person alive... He had good friends, a wife and a two beautiful kids, all of which he loved with all his heart and soul. His entire history of slavery and abuse seemed so pointless now... When he looked down upon his wife and their two little babies curled up beside her... It seemed his view on divinity was ever expanding. Slowly, he lowered himself over Nevayah, careful to mind the kiddies before kissing her softly, lovingly upon her lips, desperate to express his love for her in that moment.

"I love you..." He whispered.

Beaming just as much as Lanister Nevayah fell into a slumber with both of her children in her arms once more, exhausted from the task she had just completed.

No more was this a dream but a reality created only from the determination and luck between Nevayah and Lanister over the past year. Together they had become free slaves, found themselves and each other, created a home and safe haven, made friends... and then created a family. All because of one motto they both shared and believed in from the depths of their hearts. A life without you is not a life worth living.

-END-