OOC: tags to
@Draconian !
What had started off as a new beginning, had ended with the fall of half the Hellvion castle- and with it, the support of its entire duchy. But could they be blamed for not wanting any more damage done to themselves for the war? Or were they truly being cowards that supporters of the crown were crying out in the late hours of the night, even long after the bell tolled for the curfew- a curfew which he had instilled so long ago....
It was strange to think how grey Reajh looked now. And how plain the colors of the curtains in his room appeared. Even himself, that many could boast being a handsome man, appeared in his reflection in the mirror as a worn down old man.
Staring into the mirror that late at night, he looked at the grey hair that peppered his hair, and the creased on his face. Even his stubble was turning grey, as a hand moved across it, knowing he should shave the scruff forming, but when he did, the healing scars became agitated, and his own fussing of them did little to help the healing process move any faster.
But he supposed he should consider himself lucky. He had survived the intense attack at the Hellvion palace and could have lost a limb, hiseye, or worse- his life. But he came out battle scarred like so many of hte men who fought for the cause of Angsar. And wasn't it just that? That this was all done under the name of their God? Did the people not realize their sins and how they only accumulated as the war grew worse? So they claimed the Mage Camps were like hell. But who made them Hell? And they say innocents suffered there. Who's to say whose innocent?
Still looking at his reflection, his green eyes moved over to the figure of his wife, sleeping on the bed. Though he had sleepless nights as usual, and though his burns ached, he kept his wife at his side, who wished to comfort him-
But something in Hellvion broke inside him that day, and the man the Grand Duchess had grown to hate had returned, as Calent remained aloof to everyone. Even on his duties, he seemed to skirt around them and simply let his advisers lead.
But earlier that day he had heard so many death threats, both to him and his wife that he began to wonder- Was it even worth it? To take the notion instilled in him from his youth and raise Connlaoth into a higher time? Perhaps all good things start with blood. A child is born in blood, that much he knew. But a child could also die in blood- as any other human could.
Blood....
THe untainted blood of man had to be preserved. It was unfair that all should suffer their magical disease......
A disease, he knew more so now than he did back then, that truly stung.
But many supporters saw this as a victory, and that Calent had miraculously survived his attempted assassination, it seemed to only rally the men who remained, to become more fervent towards the cause. Though such a fiery passion was desperately needed, as he left the room to look at the papers that had a list of the men that remained...
He knew he had little choice now. Inscription was eminent, and rumors spread about the fallen support of other duchies that wished to follow in Hellvion's foot steps. Not to mention, he also had to deal with the duchy of Turgall and the conquered duchy of Ahjfeld...
Which only allowed more mages to run free.
He walked away. He left the room, the paper work to lay at rest, the door, to remain ajar, and the stable to be less one horse. When he told the stable hand and guards he wanted to go on a night right, they urged him to have guards escort him wherever he goes. But he declined, and not with a gruff, defiant voice, but a soft, tired one.
"I'll wear the clothes of the peasants." he told them, slipping into a cloak left inside the stable. "And besides, if I'm meant to die, it is only Angsar's will. THough I doubt he saved me from the bomb at Hellvion for me to die in the forests just outside my home."
The guards exchanged uneasy glances in the lantern light as the Grand Duke raced off alone into the night. And the unease was quick to spread through the castle. Yet as the man raced further and further away, he felt the freeing winds of the night take over him- and blinding he kept the horse running.
It always seemed safer at night. People were sleeping and if you were quiet enough no one would wake. There was a spring that Medina regularly went to at night, had been going to for what seemed like years. As a favour to her brother, this was where she'd cleaned the fabrics and bloodied clothes. Medina liked to think that after spending all those years with the subtle magics of healing had made it a sort of magical spring. The waters fresher. Cooler.
In vain, she tried not to think of what the bloody cloths were from. The cause of it. The death of it.
Swallowing thickly, her heart ached when she thought of it and she pressed the fabric into the spring to wash them. The rain that pelted her cloak wouldn't do the trick and she'd convinced herself this was a special spring. The cloths would be dried by morning, hung up by the fire.
It was also nice to get out of the house and just be for a while.
The sound of the rain was getting louder though and before long it sounded a lot like a horse. What was a horse doing out here so late at night? Medina stood up slowly, tucking the cloths to the side and turning to see a shadow of a figure. It was a horse and a rider then. In the rain. So late at night.
What were they running from?
Concern washed over Medina's features and she found herself waving her arm at the rider, "Wait!" She called, "Are you alright? Do you need help?" Concern was heavy in her voice and she pulled her hood down, her long rope of hair tumbling down her back and the rain slowly wetting her face.
Calent nearly spotted her too late, his horse coming to an abrupt halt as it rose up on it's back legs and reared and whined as the cloaked man gave the reins a hard pull, saving the shadowed figure from being trampled to death by mere inches of the horse's heavy hooves.
And those hooves stamped heavily in the mud, it splattering all around as eyes dull as autumn grass peered back at her from the shadows. And as he kept his horse in check, it danced around as the man's look grew irritated and stern.
"What are you doing out so late? It is foolish for a woman to travel at night."
And as his horse huffed out white puffs from it's nostrils, it was only then did he realize how cold the rain was as it misted into his face and mingled with his own white puffs of breath.
What was she doing out?
Medina chose to ignore the question. As an adult she got to make her own choices and being out in the middle of the night was one of those. "I'm not traveling." A step closer and she looked up, not bothered by the cold of the rain. The water soothed her.
"Are you well then? You're not hurt? You going so fast so late at night," A hesitant look was given to the horse and then back up at the man, "I was worried you were injured." Medina took a few steps back to give him and his horse room. Medina was not interested in being headbutt by a horse.
So many questions. Had he had something to eat in the hour or so he had ridden from the palace, and had he any sleep in the past few weeks.....
Then maybe he'd had been in a better state to answer her questions. But they only served to make him dizzy.
His reprieve came when the horse finally settled, but it swished it's tail anxiously where it stood. And it took the man a moment to collect his thoughts and register anything she asked. But he replied to none of it as he simply said, "There is a war going on. It is not safe to be alone."
But then again, they both were alone.
"It's also raining," Medina said back looking amused, "I'm glad you're not hurt." A few more steps back and she gave a polite incline of her head. "Even though it may not be safe, sometimes it's nice to be alone." Medina gave the man a curious look finally ending at his horse, "isn't that why you're out here? To be alone?" Her hands went to her braid, "before I interrupted."
He simply stared at her, nothing but the pattering of rain was shared between them before she might be able to see his frown, and if she could, she might notice it deepening. Was it so obvious the cravings he had to just.. be? He eyed the woman suspiciously.
"Are you Connlaothian?" he asked, noticing how tall she was and how much more tan her skin was compared to most here from the North. But then again,s he had the same type of hair color as he. He was always found of brunettes.
The more the strangers frown deepened the more she smiled, entertained on some level that simple conversation could make someone look like they'd sucked on a particularity potent lemon. His question caught her off guard and she briefly looked down at herself. "My father was. My mother was Adelan." Medinas hands went to her hips and she took a step closer, "and you Mr.Frowny? Are you Connlaothian?"
His gruff, "Yes." was quick before he realized his tongue was about to go on just who he was before he simply snorted out hot air through his nose while his horse gave an anxious prod at the ground, tail still twitching. She obviously knew not who he was, though if he were foolish enough to remove his cloak, she might at least guess at his status. But who would ever dream the Grand Duke would ride alone at night? Especially after the events that left his skin still tender and bubbled with red and purple scars.
Medina laughed and pushed her hair from her face, damp from the rain. "I'm sorry. Did I ruin your night ride by stopping you?" There was a pause as she frowned as deeply as he did, mockingly, before it melted back up into a smile, "You're free to leave you know. No one is out here to stop you."
He could have scoffed, maybe his expression did.
"You did."
Medina raised a hand, her mouth open but just as quickly she dropped it. "Good point. I thought you were hurt, Mr.Frowny." Another step closer, "my intentions were good." Slowly she rose a hand towards the horse as if to pet it, she was unfamiliar to the animal so she went slowly. "The spring is lovely, even during the rain. If you're not running away from anything, I mean."
Calent still gave her a suspicious look and when it seemed his horse was curious of her, he pulled its reins and had it take a step back.
"Why would I run away from anything?"
And just as he spoke the words, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle and stand on end. He grit his teeth. If he weren't the Grand Duke, or any other leader, for that matter, then he should be serving in the army. But he just bit his tongue on that one and kicked the horse to get him to leave.
"Spring is just another time of year, lovely or not."
Medina laughed again. This was possibly the grumpiest man she'd ever met! It probably shouldn't entertained her so much but... There was a disappointed noise when he jerked the horse away. "You're riding through the woods in the dead of night. You're either running from something or you're hurt, and you're not hurt..." Her eyebrows rose and she slowly looked between the man and the spring. "Not spring the season, spring." Medina gave him an odd look and jerked her thumb to the pool of water behind her, "the spring is lovely, even when it's raining."
He paused to look at it, and stopped his horse to look at her from over his shoulder.
"ANd it's just water." He gave the horse another kick to get it moving again as he called after her, "Just like rain."
Just like the rain indeed.
"Safe travels, Mr.Frowny! I hope your demons don't catch you!" Medina gave a wave to his back and shook her head. What an odd frowny man.
Demons? The woman had no idea. The horrors that plagued him at night...
But those were not why he ran. Those were not the reasons he didn't care that he was getting soaked to the bone as the rain continued to come down harder and harder.
Just mere seconds after he left the woman, the rain was coming down so hard even his horse didn't want to move and tried to protest, but Calent continued to prod him onward. He couldn't see, but he just wanted to move. THe savage wind and rain that now pelted them, mixed with small balls of hail were not enough to deter him.
But then he came to a ravine, and his horse stopped abruptly, and this time, it refused to go, and was so adamant that Calent was nearly thrown from it's back. He did, however, have an uncomfortable landing when he was forced to leap off unexpectedly, and as he fell to the soggy dirt, he grit his teeth and cursed while his horse rushed away in the rain. He must have had a death sentence. Perhaps he did, and as he lay there his eyes peered around.
He still couldn't see a thing, but in a small moment of reprieve, he noticed the outline of something...
Was that a bridge?
Medina hadn't been expecting the noises of a second horse and she let out a tired groan of annoyance. What was with people on horseback tonight! All she wanted to do was clean the cloths and then go home to a nice warm cup of tea. Throwing a wet cloth at the ground Medina stood and stared at the direction the horse noises were coming from.
It had no rider.
The horse was frantic and Medina grabbed onto a rein pulling on it talking to the horse and making gentle noises. It's chest was heaving and for the most part it looked like it was in a panic. "You're Mr. Frowny's horse." Medina looked the way the horse came from while she tried to sooth the beast, a few antsy movements but soon enough the gentle touches and the gentle noises had him calm enough.
Medina didn't dare ride him, so instead she took the reins and began walking the horse the way it had run from. "Mr. Frowny? You appear to have misplaced your horse!" Medina called his name a few more times while she guided the poor frightened beast back to where she thought the strange frowny man might be.
But her words were drowned out by the rain. And when it rained, it poured.
But he didn't care, even as each step he made across the slick wood footings of the rope bridge took him over an unseen, misty drop. But the very terrifying creak and sway of the bridge sent jolts and shivers through his body, and coupled wth the wild rain that slicked his cloak to his body like a second skin-
He was feeling alive.
It wasn't until he was in the middle of the bridge that she caught up with the stranger. He couldn't. Medina didn't really think of it, didn't consider what she was about to get herself into but before she realized it her arms were wrapped around his middle. "Don't do it! Whatever it is you're running away from isn't worth it!"
The contact froze him in place, startling him from his moment of 'escape'. Her words made him grimace as he turned to her and pulled her from his form. She'd be able to see the scars, bubbled and lining his face, from their close proximity as his piercing green eyes seemed to strike her.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Medina examined his face for a moment but his eyes were what drew her in. Those were some intense eyes and she found herself staring at them for a moment before she blinked away the rain and just stared again. "You... You aren't jumping?" a hand pressed to her chest and she gave a sigh of relief, "Your horse came running back and I found you on the bridge and it's an awful night... I... I thought that..." For a horrifying moment, she was worried he wouldn't be found.
"I didn't want you to kill yourself."
Not thinking that a stranger would have reacted such a way, and to a situation he wasn't even in (but he could see how she'd think that), he frowned down at her. Realizing he might be hurting her, he released her from his grip and took a step back.
"I didn't come here to kill myself," he told her, with no small amount of annoyance. "And if I were, what consequence is it to you?"
"Well..." Medina frowned, tucking her hair behind her ear, "It isn't. If you die my life doesn't change at all," How wrong she actually was, had she known who she was talking to. The rain was soaking through her clothes and she gave a shiver, though she offered him a kind smile, God, he had to only have the one expression. "Doesn't mean I can't be concerned, Mr.Frowny." Slowly she folded her arms over her chest and looked back at the horse as a crack of thunder boomed and a flash of light lit up the sky. Startled, Medina gave a yelp and slipped, falling into her stranger.
He frowned even more at the nick name. It was so childish. What nerve she had to address a stranger so. And what nerve to accompany him in getting soaked in the rain. And though she shivered, he felt nothing but irritation and heat. The bolt of lightning and sudden crack of thunder didn't scare him as much as the woman's sudden collision with him did. It put him off center as he tried to catch her. But the wooden planks were slick, and keeping his footing was impossible as he slipped back, woman in arm, the other grabbing for the rope railing. But his efforts were futile, and his grip, insecure, as it bowed beneath their combined weight and suddenly the pair spun and he felt weightless as the world slipped away from them. And moments later, they both splashed into the raging river below.
Oh no.
Oh no oh no oh no.
Medina's hands clawed at air and she stared in horror, another boom, another flash of light and the bridge was getting farther away? Clinging to the body beside her, Medina registered a second too late that they were headed to the river.
The cold.
Chest too tight to take in a breath.
Finally, with the stranger tight in her hands she swam to the surface. Too afraid to use her magic to help them along she kicked her legs and finally she felt the air on her face and she gave one big breath as the pair went down the river. All Medina could hope for was that the frowny man hadn't hit his head, or no, she hoped he did, because then she could magic and he wouldn't remember.
Either way, she really hoped he wasn't dead.
The fall from the bridge hadn't killed him, but the smack into the water, did. It stung and left him breathless so that as they sunk deeper into the waters, all he could do was swallow. Thank Ansgar he was pulled to the surface where he promptly coughed and wheezed, lungs burning to be free of water while he unknowingly clung to the tall woman.
The sound of his breathing had calmed her nerves somewhat and Medina found herself desperately heading for shallow water. By the time her feet touched rocks she was dragging the poor frowny man with her and she slipped, her head going under for a starting terrifying second. The rocks were slippery but a little bit of water pushing them in the right direction and before Medina knew it she was up to her knees in water, panting heavily, soaked, getting rained on...
Alive.
A shuddering breath and she looked at the strange scarred man she clung to, grinning, because why would you frown at surviving that? "Are you okay?" The words were rough and breathy and she swallowed every few seconds to sooth her throat.
He was too stunned to realize they made it to shore, but he sobered once he coughed most of the river water ojt and remained haggard and braced beside the woman in silence. And his hood was slicked back and heavy with water, so she'd be able to see all of his face.
Panting heavily, pushing soaking wet hair from her face Medina just looked to the side at the stranger and stared at him for a moment. A pause and she rolled and sat on the shore, leaning back on her arms. Medina frowned at him, shivering, excited at being alive, but he looked so... Familiar. Medina went to speak but instead just flopped down, shuffling until she was free from the water. "Get away from the river, Frowny." Medina held out a hand to help pull him closer.
It annoyed her how familiar he looked. Like she should know who he was.
But he didn't take the offered hand as he stumbled past her and to shore, but by the time he got there, his leg was red with blood. He had a nasty gash but it seemed he was unphased by it as he so simply pulled himself onto dry land and just breathed.
Well at least he got away from the river.
Medina tossed her soaking braid over her shoulder and she found herself going pale when she noticed the blood. "Wait," Her hand went out and she caught him by the shoulder, "You're hurt." A moment of silence, "Goddamnit, say something! Did you hit your head? Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Calent pulled away, glaring.
"We just fell off a bridge," he snapped. Only then did he look to his leg and scowled. "I must've scraped it in the river."
"Fell off a bridge into water," Which for a moment, would explain why she was fine and he was not. As subtle as she used her magic, obviously it wasn't subtle enough because here this poor man was obviously not well and she was just really wet. Pressing her hands to her face she looked up at the sky as another crack of lightning lit it up the sky.
"Just..." Medina looked around for somewhere dry, though it was hard in the dark, "Did you hit your head? Are you having trouble breathing? You can be pissed and whiny later but I need to know if you're okay first, that was my fault and I feel awful and I don't want you to be hurt."
His head was swimming and his legs felt useless, but he tried to keep himself together. Life threatening situation or not, he wasn't about to seem so weak and human to a commoner, even if that's what he was. But as the Grand Duke...
There was a certain air of obligation to consider, and with it came confidence and power. So with his head held high, he shrugged away her questions and continued to move through the tall, marshy grasses as he growled, "Yes.. we just survived a very terrifying drop, yet I appear to be fine yet you still press other wise?" he shot back to her, but when he turned to glare, his vision swam again and he felt his balance go.
Thankfully there was a nearby tree he caught mere seconds after he realized he was growing light headed. Hopefully it looked more like a stumble over the tree roots that made the terrain bumpy in this area, which were hard to see anyways over the height of the grass and sogginess of the ground.
After a moment, he paused to consider something-
She was worried about his well being while there he stood, trying to wave off her concern when he hadn't even asked how she had faired. He turned to eye her over, seeing how she looked alright as he flattened his lips and tried to catch his breath.
"How are you?" he asked, eyes still sharp. "Did you get injured?"
He knew he'd been through worse, so a little gash to the leg wouldn't kill him.
Or so he hoped.
It was always worse to pretend to be okay when people asked if you were okay. Medina paused to look at him and almost instantly the bravado was gone and her face crumpled. Her hands went to her face and she took quick shallow breaths. "I'm fine. I'm not hurt, I think."
A few more careful breaths and Medina tried to collect herself. It mostly failed and she followed after him, closely. She'd almost died. "I was fine until you asked," she accused, plucking at her soaked clothing and trying not to cry.
The man continued to move onward, back to her as they began to move towards a steeper hillside.
"Ignorance won't help any of us. Just keep moving. We shouldn't linger so close to the river and its flood plains." The grass was still soggy, even as he moved up hill. ANd the rains were unforgiving.
Carefully she grabbed her wet skirts and held them up, mostly to keep herself from tripping as they trudged their way up hill. Dread filled Medina when she realized she had no idea where they were. "So what's first? Trying to find some place dry or... What? I don't know which way It is back to the city." No hysteria. Hysteria was bad. Deep calm breaths.
Calent grit his teeth. For the moment, he too was turned around, but he had to face these sort of situations before, though perhaps in a similar manner. After all, being in such a seat of power always put one in the middle of politics and war.
"We just keep moving. Standing idle won't help."
And he'd add, 'And pray the rains clear,' but he was not about to let the woman know he was shivering from the cold winds that howled as the strong continued to thunder over head.
Once over the hillside, Calent paused a moment to catch his breath and observe the lands around them. LIghtning flashed, and he looked for some sort of land mark, but even the bridge wasn't visible in the down pour. Never in his life did he recall torrential rains last this long, but perhaps it was a sign for Angsar that Calent needed to cool off.
Sure, he was glad he survived the burns from the explosion,a nd how he survived a steep drop into a raging river...
But it seemed he was really trying his luck as lightning struck and blasted a tree not too far away from them, as Calent moved to shield himself from the splintering, charred wood as a large branch cracked off. But he only had a second as the thing began to fall, and before Medina would know it, Calent pushed her down the hill side- some stupid, heroic act that freed her from the tree branch, but if she were to look up on the hill side after her tumble, she'd only be able to see the rain. And 'Mr. Frowny' seemed to have vanish from sight.
A startled shriek and Medina gasped loudly cringing away from the crack. Then the world went tipsy turvy when she was so rudely pushed back down the hill for her own safety. Medina laid on the soaking ground for a moment, shivering and confused before she got up on her hands and knees to look up the hill. There was no one there.
"No!" She cried out, features washed in concern and worry. This was all her fault. She should have never followed him. Should have never thought he'd be as foolish as to jump off a bridge which is exactly what caused this whole situation. Frantically Medina tried to crawl back up the hill, doing more than her fair share of slipping and getting her dark dress muddy. "Please don't be hurt! Please!" it became a quiet mantra as she made her way up the hill until she finally could see the top, and she was covered in mud.
"Stranger?" She cried meekly, trembling and shivering in the rain. He couldn't see him, but maybe she just didn't know where to look.
He should've counted himself among the lucky, for he lay on the ground bleeding, but he was very much alive. But whatever gods were testing him must have been merciful, or loved to watch him dance near death, for part of the fallen tree cut into his arm and it was hard to tell if he was conscious.
Finally, Medina spotted him.
"Oh my God."
It was a flurry of movement, running in a soaking dress was hard and she'd slipped and fallen a few times. She knew her palms were bleeding, probably her knees too, but she didn't care. "Stranger," She cried softly, finally kneeling beside him, afraid to touch him. This poor man was having an awful night. Probably an awful year. The burn scars on his face were fresh, his leg was hurt. His arm was hurt.
Gently Medina pressed her hand to his chest. He wasn't dead but she couldn't tell if he was awake. It was life or death. This man could die. Being unconscious for any length of time was bad news. Frantically she had to think of a way to cover up the magic, Medina couldn't let this person pass out. Or die, they seemed like small wounds, but... The worst could happen. It would be subtle regardless, years of practice and training had let her do things. Leave the gash, heal the veins. So she did.
Medina decided distraction would be the best bet and so in a frantic unthought out movement, she pressed her lips to his, the small contact all she needed to stop the bleeding of his wounds from continuing. The gash would be there on his leg. The wound from the tree would be there, but the bleeding wouldn't continue except to promote natural healing. A miracle, to some. To mask the healing process, she pressed her lips to his again, eyes squeezed shut. "C'mon, Stranger, wake up. Please?" Another kiss, worried and hovering above him "Please? I don't want to resort to slapping you, you don't need slaps after the night you've been having." The attempt at humour would probably be lost on Mr. Frowny.
Though outward he seemed peaceful and at rest in his unconscious state, with the rains melting his hair and skin to his body and the lightning striking over head while thunder purred to a loud rumble that shook the ground, there was definitely chaos crowning this moment. But even the storm outside could not trump the storm inside his head, for as he lay there the many nightmares that always haunted him came out to play.
Blood slapped him like a brick across the face, and splattered across the grey mass of an unknown place. Though as he began to observe, he realized he was inside his father's chambers, his sick bed vacant and blood staining his arms. But his father was no where to be scene, and as he rushed to the bed and drew back the covers, all that lay there was a silhouetted figure that was stained in blood on the sheets-
ANd then a crack of lightning and rumble of thunder drew his eyes towards the window, where venomous eyes lurking within the clouds sought to his. And he rushed it, rushed to that window as he threw it open and saw how the clouds swirled. And the second bought of thunder, it felt like it were mocking him, and he shouted out his frustrations, his pains to the world before he suddenly felt lips locking to his.
And the blood that laced the room curdled and shook. BUt whoever, or whatever kissed him appeared as a phantom. And he wanted to scream, he wanted to hurt, to cut, but he also wanted to fuck. Primal desire was in a rampage and suddenly his lips were crashing back to hers and hands hungrily roamed over her body as his dream began to melt into reality, and Medina would suddenly find herself beneath the scarred man's assault as his lips continued to crash into hers in fervent and lusted kisses while hands moved to pull at her clothes.
The reaction had her eyes widen and Medina soon found herself giving heated kisses while under the stranger. The events caught up with her, the adrenaline began anew and Medina threw herself into the wind because she could always pick up the pieces later. Tomorrow. Everything would be better tomorrow. Before long, her soaking skirt was bunched up around her waist and she had her hands working at her strangers trousers. The exchange of kisses helped her to keep from thinking too hard of the situation - if she did, likely she'd stop it.
They had almost died. Medina, having undone his pants, drew her hands up to card her hands through his wet hair, chase after his mouth for more lust filled kisses. The trembles of her body from the cold, but soon enough, she was heated enough to not notice it. Another little gasp and she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled her face away, examining what she could of him in the darkness. "Take me," She said softly, probably too softly. What better way to celebrate life? Well, probably much better ways, considering she was about to have sex with a stranger in the pouring rain. Who cared though. No one else would know and it would all be gone in the morning.
By the time her skirts were yanked aside and his trousers opened, he was more than awake. But it still felt like a dream, even as the rains continued to pour mercilessly ontop of their forms. But they were soaked anyway, and though the air was cold, when he caught her words, he paused and shivered. And his intense green eyes met to hers and locked.
Then he obliged. And he'd find there was barely any resistance as his rock hard member pushed into her sensitive folds that had him moaning and shivering at entry. And once his sex was buried in deep within hers, his lips met to hers again and his body was lit on fire. His hips rolled as he pounded into her, wanting to feel every sensation of the moment as they sinned. He didn't even know this woman, but Angsar's name, if he cared he didn't show it. This moment was about only feelings, and his hands moved to open the front of her dress as lips moved down hungrily to kiss at her rain soaked breasts.
Gods did he need this, and the desperation and intensity of his thrusts only proved it as lips trailed up her skin to her neck where their lips met again with furiosity and hunger.
This was a terrible idea.
A terrible wonderful idea.
Medina moved with him, inexperienced sure, but not unenthusiastic. The stretch of him as he entered her, the sense of being so full, the unfamiliar ache in her thighs. Before long she was as desperate and as mindless as he was, her fingers digging into his back, gently biting at his lips. Her legs tightened around his back and she cried out to the skies at his thrusts.
The urgency of it all made it more and she returned the movements and hungry kisses with as much vigor as she received them.
This scent of a woman mixed with the rain was all over him, and he reveled in every moment of it. He had been so pent up, so frustrated that the simple kiss was all he needed to nurture the animal in need. He pulled her ever closer, keeping her legs hooked and hiked up high against him as he pounded into her at another angle while rain continued to still pound at his back side.
"Angsar's name.." he moaned, shivering at the sheer wildness of the moment before he commanded her with desperation, "Roll over." And his gaze was feverish. "I want to fuck you while you're on your knees."
He was going to fuck her like an animal and Medina's body tightened deliciously at the command. It took some effort, but before long she'd pulled herself away and was on her hands and knees, waiting. Presenting herself to him, on her knees. "Please," she whimpered closing her eyes against the rain. Moisture dripped down her thighs and she wasn't sure if that was her or the rain and she'd found herself unable to care. His prescence enveloped her an all she wanted at the moment was to have him back above her and inside her.
She didn't have to wait long before he obliged, mounting her and moving within her fast and desperate. She'd be able to feel his hot breaths against her neck, as his dick slammed into her harder and harder. It was an exhilarating feeling he did not want to end, and growled gruffly against her neck as he nibbled and bit at her skin as he fucked her as hard as he could, balls slapping against her as he had dropped his pants well before he mounted her a second time, and they were hitting the sensitive skin of her now swelling sex while he moaned.
The noises and hot breaths only urged her on as Medina found herself frantic. Everything about this was wrong but it turned out, that's what made it so much better. The climax came out of no where and Medina threw her head back with a loud surprised cry, doing her best to avoid the mans face. Her fingers dug into the ground and she tensed and spasmed around him, giving little gasps and jerks of her hips. Try as she might to keep herself up, her arms trembled under her and she fell to her elbows, head hung forward and her long hair on the ground to soak up the rain and the mud.
She wasn't the only one satisfied, as his hot cum gushed inside her the moment she began her own frenzy and when he was done, he collapsed beside her in the cool mud and rain, still feeling feverish, but rightly so. Injury or not, he was worn out and simply kept his arm around the woman and basked in the after glow. It took some time for it all to sink in, but in the moment, he didn't fully care. He had left the palace to seek some time, some moment away from what he was and what Connlaoth had become. And here, here he was a man just sharing a wild moment beneath the rain with a woman.
Yes, so she was a complete stranger, that only made it feel all the better. And when his mind went to his wife...
His stomach sunk a little, but it didn't stop him from moaning softly as he was still feeling so amazing from the after glow.
But after this moment would end? Then what? But that was hardly any concern of his, as he continued to hold onto her, and buried his face into her wet hair, spooning her from behind an duncaring how both were magnificently dirty after their rut. If anything, he silently prayed each moment could be like this, where there were no consequences, just actions...
and feeling content.
This had not been what she intended to happen.
Medina didn't bother fixing the soaked dress, she just layed on the ground, the strangers arm around her. Despite the going one, Medina found herself feeling warm and tingly instead of dirty and hollow. Taking in shaky gulps of hair she found herself invigorated and she snuggled into the body behind her on the ground.
There were words to say. Apologies, probably. It was a frantic hurried coupling and they were hardly lovers. Hardly even strangers. At least you had a decent idea of what a stranger looked like. The heat of the moment cooled and Medina sighed softly, taking the arm around her she guided his hand to her chest. To feel the way her heart still pounded.
Finally she managed to speak. "What was that?"
He went quiet at her questioning, and from where his head lay, she'd be able to feel the rough scars pressing against her skin. Then he drew in a long breath and just let himself feel the rhythm of her heart.
"I don't know," he breathed against her shoulder. It seemed the rain was letting up, though just a little so it was just barely a mist that came down.
Passingly she wondered who he was.
For a moment or two she considered asking him.
Instead, she grinned at his answer gave a laugh and looked over her shoulder slightly. "I don't know, either," She breathed out, giving herself a brief look. Should probably pull her dress down, bare ass and legs presented to the sky. Still, with his hand to her bare chest she gave a sigh and closed her eyes for a moment, still basking in the afterglow. Little tremors still running through her body.
What do you say to a stranger you just had sex with? Hi, it's nice to meet you? That was some great spontaneous sex, thank you very much for it? Medina was at a loss for words, so she simply stayed there and shivered from the cold. "I suppose we should get out of the rain," She finally said quietly.
And for a moment, Calent said nothing at her questioning, just listened to the soft feel of the rains.
"No," came his voice in a breath across her shoulder. "I'd like to remain here a little longer."
At least lying in the rain, he could keep pretending and thinking it really was a dream. And if they moved...
It meant they'd have to sober, and it meant this little moment in his life would end. And it would be back to duty and chaos.
Medina smiled softly and nodded, closing her eyes.
Maybe she needed it too. A step away from being afraid of being caught. Being sent to the mage camps. Pretending she didn't have a twin. Everything. Still, she held his hand to her chest, drawing her fingers over his as some form of comfort. It was nice, the comforting warmth of a body beside her and she snuggled back into it. Medina would stay there, lying the way she'd fallen over for as long as her scarred stranger liked.
Whatever thoughts whispered inside his head, he tried to snuff them out, simply to focus on the scents of the woman before him, and the intense beating of their hearts. She smelled wonderful, as any woman should, with that alluring scent mingled with that of the mud and falling rain. They probably looked a mess, both their bodies half coated int he mud. But he didn't care much, and after a moment, he whispered, "Turn around."
He wanted to see her, to press their hearts together, and to further entangle himself in this messy moment of bliss. WHo knew when he'd wake up from this.
Turn around.
Medina's breath caught and she closed her eyes after a moment before she turned around. The dress bunched up further around her waist but she didn't care. Her breasts were still exposed but this fellow had just been inside her so... Again, she didn't care. At first she kept her eyes down, but slowly, she traced his features with her golden eyes. So familiar, but not.
The burn scar had her attention for a while but she looked to his eyes. The daughter of a doctor had taught Medina that flesh was of little consequence, it was there to protect the important things inside. Gently her hand reached up and she traced his cheek bone, pushing back soaking hair almost as dark as her own. Another small smile and she finally made eye contact, gold meeting green. His eyes being such a lovely colour with such dark hair.
It was nice to know he was just as soaking wet and as muddy as she was.
As he watched her move, he took her in for all she was worth. And though most men might do it in a savage and hungered manner, he seemed to do it with an intensity of another kind. There was almost a longing in the way his green eyes traced the contours of her own face, and his own hand moved to trace just along her jaw bone.
Before him, all he saw in this moment was a woman. And the moment, simple and pure brought on by little more than need. And he decided, when their eyes met, he did not want this simple meeting to just end.
"I want you again," he found himself saying, surprising himself with how truthful and unabashed his tongue was. But the eagerness and wanting was there as his hand moved to cup her cheek.
"I want nothing but you and many moments in the night."
He took her hand and moved it, guiding it to where his own chest was pounding beneath flesh.
"Can I make love to you?"
Because what they did but a few moments ago...
Was simple animalistic needs. But this woman.. this moment...
He craved something more. And he hoped she did too, because he was hardly finished and if she let him, it would be a night the pair would never forget.
Medina stared at him for a moment.
It took a great deal of effort not to laugh awkwardly, though it probably came out on her face as a weird half smile. When his hand was on her cheek she closed her eyes and turned her face towards it, giving a soft sigh and pressing her hand to his chest when it was guided there.
In response to his question, she leaned forward and gave him a gentle lingering kiss, her hand moving up his chest, gently past his neck to cup his cheek and rub her thumb along the flesh.
"Yes," The words were spoke against his mouth but she pressed herself closer and drew her bare leg up over his hips, drawing it behind him to draw her closer. "Make love with me," A bold move but... Just tonight. He'd be gone in the morning, she'd never see him again and ... Medina could have tonight.
'With me'
Such a remark had him shiver. He was a powerful man and could easily command her at his will, but he felt so vulnerable and exposed, and wanted nothing more than to even let her lead. But the idea of them doing this, as a true unison in a random moment of need....
It was just what he needed, and the desire in his eyes grew.
A hand moved down her thigh, pulling her closer as he leaned in. Lips hoovered over hers as he looked down into her face.
"You look so desirable in the moonlight," he found himself saying, in a gruff, husky voice that sounded unlike his own. This whole moment even felt other worldly, and as he moved to position himself so their hips were snug together, he let his sex rubbed just around the tender outside folds of her already slick sex.
He'd let her be the one to draw him in fully, and the very idea of her doing it made his dick throb with need.
Medina looked up at the sky, it was raining still, but the clouds were parting and indeed the moon hung in the sky "As do you," She said back, reaching to gently caress the scarred side of his face. Medina couldn't imagine how he felt about it. It spoke of him in spades though, to survive that. She bit her lip and gasped out a breath, her fingers moving to dig into his back when he dragged himself between her legs.
It wasn't enough and Medina pressed her lips to his as she reached down to ease him inside her. Gently she bit at his lip while she clutched him to her, still unsure of herself for the most part but growing more bold by the moment. A jerk of her hips and she felt him in her, her legs spread wide by his hips and her breath coming out in short gasps with being so full. Her fingers tangled in his hair and she closed her eyes to give a soft sigh. There was no space for words and she just held him tightly while she undulated her hips and lost herself to the sensations.
It was hard to tell how much time had passed, but he filled her up at least three times in the rain, and whatever seed did not fit dribbled down her legs and the rain took it away at it's leisure. And he felt so satisfied that he wanted no small part of this moment to end. His hips moved and rolled along with her advances, waiting to see how she'd respond to the way he took her and then he'd have her again. It was as if they were lovers, figuring out their bodies for their first time, their wants, their desires, their cravings. They had to have had sex in countless positions before the man found himself standing with her, her back digging into the rough bark of a tree as he moved his hips and thrust his sex deep inside her.
And though it surprised even him as he came again within her body, he grunted and shuddered and felt the hot seed slip between both their legs as they were pressed so close. By now, the night was no longer young and the rain finally yielded, but his skin still glistened, but this time, with sweat and the fading rain. After he had his peak, he lifted his green eyes to look into hers before moving a hand to brush the hair away from her eyes.
He leaned in to kiss her, deeply at first before it softened.
"Do you live near here?" he asked suddenly, which may have been the first real words either had spoken since they had gone into their second and third rounds of sex.
Gold locked with green and she gave one last whole body shudder, eyes closing for a moment before he kissed her. Medina pressed into it gently, her hands resting on his biceps and one leg still hooked around his waist while she came down from her orgasm. Trembling, Medina was passingly amazed at how intact her braid still was. Only a few strands were loose and she let her head rest against the tree behind her before she finally opened her eyes when he spoke.
Part of her had forgotten he could talk. The only noises they'd been making were grunts and groans and soft sighs and moans. "Yes," She said softly, worried that if she spoke any louder her voice would break from the previous crying out she'd done. Medina wanted to ask him if he did too, but... Something stopped her. She didn't want to know. This man wasn't her lover. A stolen night is what this was and she'd remember it as one. A secret. Something to write about vaguely in a journal that she'd burn to keep safe.
Sleepy eyes looked at him and she gave him another small smile, reaching up to push his hair from his face, draw her thumb over his lips. It was weird how she felt like she knew him from somewhere, even though she knew they'd never met before.
And would never meet again.
"Can we go there?" he asked quietly. There was a certain hesitation in his gaze when he asked, but there was also the evident struggle for him to keep himself even awake. He was exhausted, and while they had their moment in the mud, he desperately wanted to sleep anywhere but out in the rain.
Medina's first instinct was to shout no.
Shout no and run away.
"Yes."
Goddamnit.
Instead she nodded and pushed his hair back, giving him a brief kiss on the forehead. Subtly, she used her magics on herself, giving her a little 'pick me up' that kept her sleepies at bay and before long she fixed her wet muddy dress and helped him with his clothing. Medina wasn't prepared for how shaky her legs were and even gave a startled laugh, shooting her stranger an accusing look before she shook out her legs and held his hand to guide him to her home.
As it turned out, they weren't far from civilization at all. It had just been too stormy and angry out to see.
Finally, she guided him to her home. At first she was hesitant. This was a stranger. What if he came back? Part of Medina never wanted to see him again. Still, the hidden key was dug out from a flower pot and she opened the door to her home and returned to its spot. A modest home, not anything noble but well off. "My brother is probably sleeping," She whispered, taking his hand and leading her stranger to the hallway. Medina paused and looked at him, "Do you want the guest room or..." Her heart skipped a beat and she stared at his chin, "Did you want to sleep with me?"
If her home and how they got there surprised him, he didn't show it. But at her question, he simply nodded at the last offer.
Another small smile and she opened the door to her bedroom.
Medical books, fabric and patterns for dresses and suits were the accents to her bedroom and Medina gave a soft sigh and didn't bother lighting a lantern before she peeled off her dress. It fell to the ground with a loud wet slap and she wandered over to her bed, pulling back the sheets. It wasn't extravagant, a four poster bed that her stranger could easily fit into with her. It was plush, but old and Medina turned down his side of the bed for him before she crawled in... And stared at the ceiling.
Definitely not what she'd planned for the night. What was supposed to be a night of some cleaning in the rain became so much more than that.
The man took his time, slipping off muddy clothign which he tossed alongside hers. He was down to nothing but his long pants, but even those were wet and he laid them over the back of a chair to dry. She had already had all of him, and to have him now completely naked, standing beside her bed, would give her an easy view of all of him that was a man.
His body was toned well from years of riding, politics and the war. And the scar, she'd be able to see, appeared to remain mostly to just one side of his body. And in the dim lighting, it was probably enough to hide his age. Or perhaps his wrinkles had smoothed since the moment they had spent together.
But he said nothing, and simply slipped into the bed beside her, before nestling in against her and taking in her sweet smells. They were still foreign to him, but that's what he liked about it. It was something new, a wonderful diversion, and he'd hold onto it for as long as he could.
Medina decided he was a solider.
A solider that would be on his way soon because there were important solider things to do. Still, she appreciated the view and she watched him boldly before he climbed into bed with her. Medina found herself snuggling closer and before long she had her cheek pressed to his chest and an arm thrown around his chest. Most of her wanted to make quiet quips. Her thighs ached. Everywhere ached. She was sure she had little scratches along her back to boot.
Medina said nothing though.
The silence drew on and while she traced his scars idly, following the pattern the healing skin made finally her hand stilled and she was asleep, curled against her stranger.
The thoughts that plagued the stranger beside her were immeasurable. And after he felt her drift off to sleep, he himself wished he could do the same. He was exhausted, weak...
and for once he just felt at peace.
But the gnawing nightmares that plagued him kept him awake. Kept him afraid. And it was barely an hour after she fell asleep and he moved to stand. It was best he leave. Perhaps they both could wake and take it all as a dream. But as he stood, he found himself simply staring across the woman's form.
Strangers indeed- but strangers who shared something so powerful in just a moment in their lives....
Neither could realize there would be any consequences to come. For how could he? She lay there, so beautiful, peaceful- and part of him knew hehad helped with that. And she was glowing- something he had seen once in his wife so long ago.....
But yes, it seemed now the story would end, and the real dream to begin.
As exhausted as she was, Medina's eyes snapped open at the unfamiliarity of someone else moving in her bed. He was leaving. Medina kept her eyes closed for a moment before she moved, her hand circling around his wrist and she held on gently. "Don't go," Her voice was soft and she stared up at him, just a little bit longer of pretending. Just a few more minutes. "Don't go yet."
"The bed'll be cold if you go so soon," She teased slightly, the blankets down around her waist which she used her free hand to lift up, inviting him back into the bed. Medina didn't tug on his wrist though and the grasp could easily be broken if he chose to go anyway. Though she gave her head a tilt, her messy braid flopping over her shoulder and another sleepy fleeting smile, "I'll hum you a lullaby and cradle you against my bosom," she teased, eyes falling shut, "Just... Can we pretend? Only a little bit longer?"
He wasn't expecting the touch,t he gentle grasp to his wrist as he froze in place. He also wasn't expecting the request that followed, and for a good long while, he stood there in silence with her hand around his wrist.
"I wish I could pretend," he told her, voice soft in the night. "But we'd wake up, and this moment would become a nightmare."
He was right and Medina let go of his wrist and dropped the blankets back down. It made sense and all she could do was shrug. Back to reality and back to hiding everything about herself. She snuggled back into the bed, taking up the middle before pulling one of the pillows and hugging it to her body.
She gave her stranger a sleepy satisfied smile and snuggled into the pillow. "I hope you get home safely." There was a longer pause and she gave a large yawn, "and don't rob me blind on the way out." Before he was even dressed and gone Medina was sleeping peacefully again.
Perhaps he'd feel guilty if he had fully known what had happened. But to him, yes...
He'd think of this moment like a dream...
One, single, simple, complicated dream where he was usually only comforted by nightmares.
Though it took him much longer to return to the castle, and his excuse was lame for his condition when he returned, the palace seemed to return to normal once he was inside it's secured gates. And though he had been normally sleeping with his wife these days, he chose, this time, to bathe in his separate quarters before going to rest alone.