“I was teasing,” Elyna explained with another brief smile, “you said you thought there were goddesses in Burhan, I said that of course there were, waiting under every tree for men to find,” she shook her head. The faint dry humour of the moment had slipped away in the sea spray.
There was a pause after her explanation of pending nuptials and she found herself surveying the stars, wondering if would ever be possible to touch them? The sky was vast and empty but for the moon, the weather and the bright twinkling lights, the sky of all places was free. Maybe that was why she loved flying so much?
The Skyrider looked at the man, his words were weighted with experience, “you choose your family and responsibilities over freedom, and yet you say I shouldn’t do the same?” It pulled another brief smile forth, but it was a bitter expression. It was her choice after all, she strongly suspected at least if she refused to marry the man her Mother had found to her, then she would be disowned. But if she did go ahead, she’d loose Malcolm, always. They hadn’t parted on good terms, and yet she’d spent the whole day dreaming of the things she could say to explain, to win him back.
Surely he hadn’t meant what he’d said on the Docks? But he’d promised never to lie? She inhaled a sharp breath of air and sat up, resting her back against the mast.
“Or…you’re saying if I choose the marriage, I find the joy in it?” She spoke mostly to herself, but he’d caused a few thoughts to tumble out of the fear-frozen depths of her mind.
Star crossed paths bled the blues of their lonely hearts that reached out and spread across an ocean of possibility. In these brief an tranquil moments free from prying eyes and the waves of overlying stress Vakhanor shifted his gaze onto the forlorn Lady with gentle sympathy "I'm telling you to do what your heart thinks right. Raising Bjorn has brought me a different sense of freedom, a freedom of mind that although I complain about I wouldn't change for the world," careful not to stare the smith lowered his eyes to the ground "There's already enough misery in Idalos, you're a person first before you're a noble and I reckon you deserve to be loved."
Through her words he finally understood the severity of her crisis, the both knew pain and for that they were legion. He was unsure of what to do for her, women liked to be hugged at times like this right? he thought to himself, furrowing his brow that'd be a really weird thing to do after what I just said. Unequipped with these kind of situations he felt lost and sat mulling over how he could answer properly not to offend her or what to do "So... Just do it I guess, go grab whatever the fuck your heart desires cause at the end of the day you might think other people dictate ya but really you are the only person stopping yaself and life's a bitch, Pardon my language again."
Elyna couldn’t help but smile once more at his reply. Should he really be telling her what to do, at all? Should she be asking? But it was sound advice, freely given without strings or any secretive motivation and hidden agenda. His turmoil started to seep from him as he considered his answers. Maybe it was the set of his shoulders, or the silence that passed between them, broken only by the lapping water and the creaking timbers of the ship.
Finally, she let out another soft burst of laughter, “really, you don’t need to apologies for language. Maybe I’m just a girl, more than a noble, but more than anything I’m a Skyrider,” her smile remained as she examined her hands, “there’s no ban on curses in the training ground or mess, honestly, I could probably set your ears burning with words you’d never imagine I knew…” she glanced at him and raised a brow. But she wouldn’t. She tended to save her swearing for when it really mattered.
The noble stood and set a hand on Vakhanor’s shoulder, a familiar gesture, but not an intimate one.
“You do to, you deserve to be loved,” she nodded at him willing him to believe his own words. Maybe it was his tone of voice, or the conviction that he spoke with, but Elyna could only suspect that he was someone like herself, with a simple desire from life, hampered by a complicated situation.
“I think…I should withdraw tonight, Sir…but I’m glad to have found a friend on this ship. I hope to see you and Bjorn tomorrow?” She rested her weight back on her heels and let her hand drop to her side, “If he’s any interest, I’d be happy to show him a little about animal care, or teach him to braid…I understand from a few of my colleagues that they’re hard to keep entertained at this age.”
Vakhanor invited the light touch of her fingertips against his shoulder with a guilty smile, it was a small comfort to know she wasn’t going to have his balls chopped off for saying a swear word or two “Is that a challenge?” he asked, glancing up at her with yet another shit-eating grin.
“Bjorn isn’t that difficult to handle, he’s a good kid just full of energy,” he assured and rose to his feet. Dawn must have soon threatened the horizon and the poor skyward dame probably needed to rest, sadness was a tiresome mistress even for the most valiant of heart and this was a pretty heavy conversation for two people who had just met at the hand of Mojubu the evil sorcerer and his nemesis the great Jacabon.
Unsure of what she found funny about his apology he raised his brow to her as he too laughed, glad she found joy in what little his company had to offer and couldn’t help but mirror her expression “Yeah no worries mate, you go take care of ya self. I’m gonna see if I can catch a little bit of shud-eye, Bjorn will be up soon nagging me for breakfast. If he sees me with you he’ll be asking questions that I probably don’t wanna answer,” the grin on his face widened “Don’t go crying on me now either, you’ve got too much of a pretty smile for that.”
All too ready to start the day Vakhanor stretched and turned to leave. “Later princess!” he called back, slowly but gradually winning his endless battle against the ships sway and returned to the lower decks.
Specific Knowledge
BJorn: Vakhanors brother, not Son
Vakhanor: Not a fan of sailing
Vakhanor: Doesn't like being stuck in Andaris
Vakhanor: Loyal to Bjorn
Rumour: One Armed Smith, A retired Master?
Vakhanor: Blunt, Crude but has a Point
Basic Knowledge
Elyna: A Burhan Noble
Elyna: A Skyrider
Specific Knowledge
Elyna: Call her Ely
Elyna: Getting married
Elyna: Not Happy With her Assigned Life
As always, any questions or concerns, if you think anything is missing or are wondering why something is there, send me a PM
Spoiler
Had a little trouble finding skills, sorry if they seem sparse, feel free to hit me with suggestions if you like, it was fun to read though! Good character development!
