The Dark Path [Empy and Lark]

[Empy]

The lullaby was almost too much for Cyzair and he was a grown man. But the day and their long ride had been emotional and tiring, and as he went about preparing their sample snack plate type dinner, he felt it’s affects, even in the growing cold. Finally, he handed her hers and sat on his roll across from her, munching thoughtfully and listening to the song.

It was not one he recognized this time, but he loved the sound of her voice regardless. It was an endlessly pleasant way to end the evening. When they had finished their meal, and Nymai laid down to sleep for the night, Cyzair stayed up a little longer to stoke the fire and make sure it wouldn’t go out too quickly over night. However, as he sat there across from her, he could see the very tips of the grass begin to frost, and his traveling companion, begin to shiver.

The decision to move was swift and required very little thought, though it probably should have, it was risky. Laying his bedroll on the ground so that she was between him and the fire, Cyzair laid down next to her and reached out, gently placing his hands on her back and rubbing her to keep her circulation and warmth flowing. He didn’t say a word as he lay there, rubbing her with one hand, didn’t ask permission, didn’t apologize, though he was aware of the possibility that he would be slapped if she was still awake.

[Skylark]

The notion to slap him for touching her, unsolicited, passed through Nymai's mind as she lay there, pretending to sleep. But his large hand was warm against her cold back and knowing he was there beside her was more comfort than the soft bed at Bartholomew's had been.

With him there, she fell asleep much more easily than she would have if she'd been left to shiver in the dark on her own. It was while she was actually sleeping, however, that she moved closer to him. Her back pressed against his chest, her body molding itself against his as best it could to keep her even warmer than a simple rub on her back would. It was the first night she truly slept well since starting on this journey.

In the morning, she woke with a cold nose and warmth everywhere else on her body. It was his getting up to train that woke her. The rush of cool air against her back suddenly. She stayed where she was, however, and watching his routine, appreciating the bend of flex of his muscles, or what she imagined them to be. His clothes left a great deal to her imagination... but her imagination was an active one.

Eventually she tore her eyes away and packed up their camp for them and refilled their water, letting the horses drink before they would leave again as well. Her eyes met his when he came her join her, and she smiled, blushing ever so slightly. "Thank you..."

[Empy]

Cyzair had slept quite well that night as well. He marveled at the countless nights he’s spent with traveling companions and never thought to sleep nearer to them for body heat…never allowed himself to, that is. And with other men, it was just awkward. But with Nymai…it was serene, and quite surreal as well.

Unaware of his audience that morning, Cyzair went about his normal routine, fighting imaginary opponents in the air to keep his muscles strong and his armor loose. When he returned to her, and her thanks, his cheeks, darkened slightly and he smirked, “You’re welcome. What sort of escort would I be if I protected you from all evils the forest can throw at us, but let you die to the evening frost?” shaking his head with a smile, he made sure they had all their things and scattered the remnants of the fire pit before beginning their journey anew.

That day was long and uneventful, just the way Cyzair liked it, and so that night, feeling a little more secure about this new part of the forest, he let Nymai set up the camp once more while he went off to the river, which had a decent current and depth to it. Stripping down as he had once before, without a thought, he waded into the water to wash, as he hadn’t done in a few days. The water was frigid and caused his grey, muscled skin to tighten and shine while wet. He stayed to wash his hair as well. If he was going to be sleeping next to the Lia more often, he didn’t want to smell.

[Skylark]

That night, when Cyzair went to the river, Nymai thought it was to fish. She set up camp and got their fire started on her own, feeling quite proud of herself. As an excuse to brag if he asked her what she was doing at the water, she decided to refill their canteens with enough water to drink after dinner without worrying about the water freezing inside the canteens over night.

When she came into eye sight of him, however, she froze and stared. He had snuck looks at her before, but this was her first real chance to return the favor. The color of his skin was only just lighter than that of the water... everything was dark in contrast to something even darker but in a way that made everything so much more clear. Like when things were viewed in noon day sun. No shadows... but tonight it was no light.

She watched the way his body moved, flexed and bent... the sheer power of his muscles and seeing them this way left her heart racing and her cheeks flushed. It was only for fear of him catching her that she could even begin to drag herself away and back to camp... but the mental image of him standing waist deep in the current, his white hair damp and his skin glowing would not leave her.

[Empy]

Unaware of his audience yet again, Cyzair was oblivious to how this trip was making him lose his warrior’s edge. He trusted Nymai more than he’d trusted some of his men in battle and he liked her…which made all the difference. Returning from the stream, he used a small towel he carried with him to dry off as best he could as the cold night air stung at his naked body. Dressed again in no time, he left off his armor however, as he was already stiff, and it didn’t help keep him much warmer anyway. Besides, he imagined cuddling with Nymai would be more comfortable without it…well, laying beside her…they hadn’t exactly cuddled.

He did however, return wrapped in his cloak with fish for them to eat, that he’d caught while bathing. “Stand there long enough and they just swim around your feet.” He grinned, sitting beside her instead of across as he’d done every other night, to prepare and cook the meal. “In case you were unaware, we are no officially, half way to Rennalv. Half the forest is behind us, and the rest of the journey is mostly downhill.” He smiled, preparing what would go with the fish once they were cooked.

[Skylark]

Perhaps it had been bold of her, but when Nymai set up their campsite that night she had placed their bed rolls beside each other. She couldn't help but long for that same warmth tonight, as she was cold just sitting by the fire and waiting for him to return. There was also new motivation to sleep beside him, but she would not openly admit that she wanted to cuddle against his muscular physique.

She smiled when he came to sit beside her again, surprised to see his armor stacked in a pile rather than on him. It took her a mind a moment to pay attention to the food he'd caught them.

What he said about them being halfway through the journey, however, was the best news she'd had since he told her that he didn't actually hate her. Excited at the idea of getting out of this stressful and strange place, she threw her arms around him and hugged him. It felt very different than their last hug and she pulled back with a blush burning her cheeks.

"That's great. I will sleep easier tonight knowing that we've made it halfway through this place." But as she sat there afterward, there was bitterness that crept into the sweetness of the moment. Half way meant she was that much closer to what she had to do in Rennalv.

[Empy]

Greatly surprise when she suddenly flung her arms about him, Cyzair was stunned to silence and stillness for a long moment. By the time his hand inched it’s way to touch her side gently, she’d pulled back, and so did his hand. Turning back to the fire, and rotating the fish a little, he smiled slightly to himself, “I’ll be glad to get you out of here as well, such a creature of light and beauty, does not belong in such a dark and ugly place.”

Preparing their meal a few moments later, he munched on his quietly and pensively, keeping his gaze to their surroundings, and not on Nymai…one disadvantage of sitting beside her, was it was harder to cast glances at her. But, as he knew from the layout of the camp she’d set up, she was all for them sleeping beside one another again tonight, and that was better than any awkward glance.

Tossing the remnants of his leaf covered meal into the fire when he was through, he flopped back onto his bedroll, staring up at the darkness through the trees. “You can just barely see the Northern star…” he said quietly, moving his head so that the tiny light shown through the bramble of branches above. “Hmm…” pausing, he started his own song, quiet and deep. It was a song about Nat and her lover, Delling, the red elf of dawn, how they are forever parted, but meet each night and kiss before they are separated once more. Cyzair was no great singer, not compared to Nymai, but his voice carried the emotion of the song, and he closed his eyes to try and better remember the words.

[Skylark]

To be called a creature of beauty was enough to keep Nymai from talking or even looking at him while she finished eating. It was a compliment she was not likely to forget, especially coming from him. To know he could find a light elf beautiful... was encouraging. She'd been enraptured of his looks for some time now, but kept those feelings private. She didn't want to see like the crazy light elf with a drow fetish. But if there was a fetish, it was for Cyzair and not drows in general.

When she'd finished eating, she did the same with her left overs before she stoked the fire to make sure it would keep going as long into the night as possible before stretching out on her bed roll and staring up at the parts of the night sky she could see through the leaf cover.

His song surprised her greatly, however, just as her first song had done to him. She knew the words he was singing. Delling was one of her people's gods, though a lesser one. He was like a servant to their sun god, running the dawn across the sky in the way that some servants would roll out a span of carpeting for their masters' grand entrances into balls and parties.

When his words faltered slightly, she smiled and sang the words as they were supposed to go, her voice mixing with his in telling the love story.

[Empy]

Squinting his eyes when the words failed him, Cyzair searched his memory, only to hear them from an angelic voice instead of his own. Opening his eyes, he turned his head toward Nymai to see her singing the words in his place. The refresher of the verse brought his voice into unison with hers a moment later, and the duet was perfected, as it truly was a song to be sung by two, how could he have forgotten that?

Shifting slightly, he turned onto his side and supported himself on his elbow as the verse got into the description of their love. Reaching out, he gently traced a finger down Nymai’s jaw as she sung, feeling the smoothness of her skin, seeing the contrast between hers and his. Leaning down slightly, his song became quieter and quieter, his eyes locking with hers until he sealed his lips against hers, ceasing their song and starting a new one. A song of vibrant chemistry, of silent hearts, belting to the cosmos. His eyes closed as he cupped her cheek and kissed her for a long moment, praying she would not push him away, that she would not torture him by denying him this moment to show her just how much he’d grown to care for her.

[Skylark]

Nymai turned her face to look at him when he shifted positions, her eyes catching on his as they sang together. It should have been painfully awkward, but instead she found it to come rather natural. Singing to him, with him... the intensity growing in the meaning of the song and between them.

When his lips pressed against hers, she had a moment of shock, but it seemed almost like the song hadn't ended at all. The silence was filled with a rush of emotions stronger than she had expected. Her eyes sank closed and she moved closer, her body seeking his for more reasons than just for warmth as they shared their first kiss together.

The thought of slapping him for being so forward didn't even cross her mind when at last their lips parted and their eyes opened. Instead, she smiled softly at him, reaching up and gently cupping his cheek in her soft hand.

[Empy]

Parting his lips from hers at long last, Cyzair didn’t open his eyes until he found her hand gently on his cheek, instead of harshly. Their faces gently illuminated by his glow, he smiled down at her. Reaching up, he cupped her hand with his and turned into it, kissing her palm once, and then again and smiling more when his eyes found hers again. “Such a beautiful song…” he breathed, his voice like a whisper on an evening breeze as his hand moved to her shoulder, sliding gently down her arm and then touching her side.

But his fingers inched under her, lifting the small of her back as he bent down to kiss her again, this time, a bit more passionately than before. It lasted no longer than the one before, and he laid back down, resting his head on his own shoulder as he pulled her onto her side so her chest was against his. He pulled the blankets over them both and rested his hand on her hip, “I shall sleep more warmly tonight, than any night of my life.”

[Skylark]

His hand was so big and warm... the sensation of him touching her in so simple a way as to brush down her arm, light and affectionate when she knew his hands and touch were capable of much more dangerous things, brought shivers racing down her spine all the through her body to her toes.

When he lifted the small of her back, her lips parted just in time for his to press against them once more. Caught up in this second kiss in a slightly more heated way than the first, her fingers slid back, leaving her palms to cup his cheeks, and tangled in his hair as she played a dangerous game with her heart.

Once more, she was left with a smile upon her lips as their kiss ended. 'I will, too," she whispered. "I've never felt so... safe... before." Safe was not the word she looked to say, merely the first to come slipping out in her state of euphoria.

Tonight, Nymai cuddled her protector... her companion... before drifting off into a peaceful sleep that was interrupted by anything but peaceful dreams. In them, her family and Aelfryn ran rampant, reminding her of her duty... the reason she was in these woods at all. She was supposed to be on the fast track to get married, not fall in love.

[Empy]

Safe…that was something good to hear, that she felt with him on this journey. Not only did it mean he was not in fact, failing at his promise and his job, but that…they no longer hated one another, she was no longer afraid of him…and he didn’t mind that. His arm remained about her waist all night as they slept, and though she had bad dreams, he once again, did not…Amavain’s memory, her curse, was fading from his consciousness, and taking his guilt with it.

In the morning, he smiled to find her still there beside him. Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead gently before getting up carefully and tucking her back in with the blanket to keep her warm while he moved about the camp. There was definitely frost on the ground tonight, but he and Nymai had not felt it. They had been wrapped in a cocoon of warm emotion…though to Cyzair, there was yet no name for the emotion. He knew he liked her, he knew he admired her body, her voice, enjoyed her company…but, if those were the first steps toward love, he was unsure, or, unwilling to admit it.

Re-fastening his armor piece by piece, he then went to practice, the chill of the morning waking him swiftly and cooling the sweat he worked up nicely. When he returned to the camp to find her sleeping, he smiled and sat beside her, leaning back on his elbow the opposite way he had the night before, and gently brushed her hair from her face, “Nymai…wake up, it’s time to go.”

[Skylark]

Nymai woke feeling warm but also smiled to see Cyzair there, half leaning over him while supporting himself on his elbow. "Morning," she whispered, yawning a moment later. The memory of her dream was fresh in her mind but she kept it to herself as she got up and excused herself for a few moments to go wash her face, fill the canteens, take care of some privy business, and to change.

When she got back she saw he had picked up the bedrolls and smiled once more. "Ready to go or do you have a minute or two to teach me something? I think there are some wild grapes growing down by the bank. Are they good to eat?"

[Empy]

“Morning.” He smiled back, leaving her to prepare for the day in his own way as he went about cleaning up the camp. It had been nice to have her do it all those times before, but he felt, after last night, he could afford to be even nicer to her, especially if he ever wanted another kiss. When she returned with a question, he raised his brows, “Sure, lead the way.”

Following her to the bank, he crouched by the lapping water’s edge and fingered the tiny fruits that he had not seen last night due to the dark. “I don’t see why not, the skin is hard but not too hard, and it’s fairly transparent, the juice inside doesn’t look too milky…” he said, picking one and bursting it between his fingers, “A milky liquid tends to mean it’s poisonous, but these look good, they don’t usually grow near water like this but I’m sure they’re the long left remnants of some passerby’s lunch.” He smiled, picking a few more and tasting the first to be sure. “Ooo, the little ones are a tad bitter, let’s leave those for someone else.” he nodded, picking all of the larger and riper ones and pouring them into her open hands, his fingers brushing against hers as he did. “Good find. They’ll make for a nice snack.” He said quietly as he closed his hands around hers so she wouldn’t drop any.