Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post

[questionablewit]

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[takesnoshit]

"I love you."

Quiet words, whispered against his mouth, between kisses. But if she says them, they are unquestionably true.

[grumpycatanthir]

He shivers and deepens the kiss.

"As I love thee."

[takesnoshit]

There is a tide to such kisses, a point where they either develop into further events or settle into something quieter. Haleth chooses the latter, when the moment comes. They end up holding each other close, his arms and cloak wrapped around her, her head leaning against his chest. He is so much taller than she...Haleth smiles a little. No need to worry about the cold, sitting like this, not even on the longest night of the year. Though by now the sun is bright gold over the mountains.

She sighs a little, lifting her head with clear reluctance. "We should return. I will need some sleep this morning, since there was none in the night." Most of her Haladin will be in like case, at least; the day after Yuletide is not an active one.

[grumpycatanthir]

She is warm in his arms, and Caranthir feels his soul settle, to be able to sit and hold her who he loves so close. The morning air is chill, but he feels none of it, too busy memorizing this moment.

He stirs only reluctantly as she does.

"Wjll your people sleep late also this morn?"

[takesnoshit]

"Most will. Not the scouts, nor some of the hunters." It is the lean season, and all know that the two months after Yule are the hardest, the coldest, for all that the days begin to grow longer.

Still reluctant, she untangles herself from his cloak and embrace, shivering just a little at the loss of warmth. "How long do you stay in this area, before moving on?"

[grumpycatanthir]

"I can send my own guard out, if you think the hunters need aid. I do not think it right for us to not contribute."

He shrugs, visibly reluctant to let her go.

"As long as you want me to. This is my personal guard, only. My seneschal has things well in hand - orcs dislike the snow as much as the next person, as it turns out. There will be few raids, and so this is as much of a break as we get."

[takesnoshit]

There is a moment's pause. "I do not deny their assistance will be welcome," she says finally. "Particularly as you may range further abroad than we may. But I would not have you think we cannot sustain ourselves, nor that we must rely on your aid."

[grumpycatanthir]

"No, never." He assures her. "But you were not expecting to host us, and it would be rude not to contribute."

[takesnoshit]

She relaxes a little. "Then that is well. We cannot provide much in the way of entertainment, but you are welcome to what we have."

[grumpycatanthir]

He almost smirks at that.

"If my men cannot entertain themselves, I will worry seriously - but I hope they make friends here too."

[takesnoshit]

She chuckles, for it is true; surely in a lifetime of many centuries, they must have learned how to keep themselves occupied without assistance. And there is always work to do. "I too wish for that," she says, holding out a hand to help Caranthir to his feet, largely so she may keep holding it afterwards. "And if nothing else it would help for more of my people to learn your tongue. Perhaps we should have an evening or two of telling stories or sharing songs; that would be much welcomed."

[grumpycatanthir]

He accepts the hand up but does not release her, after, twining their fingers together.

"True. It is good for us to learn together." He agrees. "At the very least, it will teach my people how to interact with others."

[takesnoshit]

"They do not already know this?" she murmurs. She blushes a little as he refuses to let go of her hand. Foolish, for they have been sitting here kissing for no small while, but she blushes anyway. Like some green girl instead of a Chieftain. Absurd. But she does not release his hand either, as they begin walking back.

[grumpycatanthir]

"I would hope they know it."

He observes dryly.

"Else I will be having words with them later." He keeps his steps slow, not wanting to hurry, although he doesn't tarry overmuch.

[takesnoshit]

Haleth chuckles. She too walks a little more slowly than usual, even given that she must keep up with Caranthir's longer strides. Normally she is more brisk in her movements, but...she is reluctant to let this idyll end.

More foolishness, she knows. But...let it be so. Let her be foolish, for a little while. She looks up at him, with that small quirk of her mouth that serves as a smile. "And do they fear your temper enough to heed you?" It is almost teasing, certainly fond.

[grumpycatanthir]

His answering smile is sharp.

"The young ones do." The older know his bark is worse than his bite.

"How goes your own people?"

[takesnoshit]

She chuckles again at his answer, but it turns to a grimace. "They wait. There is little else to be done until the winter ends. Our stores should see us through, for we took care to hunt and gather and trade all we could before the snows came. But until spring returns there is little to do but wait, and the coldest months are yet to come."

She sounds a little grim. This will be the worst, this winter of recovering, and when they overcome it they may begin to regain their strength in truth. But Haleth does not like being unable to act. Still, frustration will not bring game out of hibernation, nor make the plants grow. "We busy ourselves with crafts, or with storytelling and songs." Or with sharing a bedroll, in many cases, but that she does not mention. Though they need to repeople themselves, and she imagines there are worse ways to spend a cold night...

She shakes her head, refusing to blush. "At least now the days will grow longer, even if they remain cold. That will help us."

[grumpycatanthir]

He nods, understanding.

"In the winter with the ground hard and game scarce, there is little enough else to do." He agrees. "I have asked for patrols to be particularly careful, in this region. Your folk do not need another attack so soon, although it is not likely to happen until the snows melt."

[takesnoshit]

She grimaces again, disliking the charity, but nods. It is done for her people and she now believes he would do the same for any on his lands, so she accepts. If it were done as an attempt to earn her favor, to her away her good opinion, she would refuse to permit it.

But he knows that, and they have struck a careful balance, with his courtship stating a separate thing from the duties of lord to tenant.

Too careful a balance, too easily overturned, and Haleth turns her thoughts elsewhere. "What do your people do at such times, when all is dark and cold?" she asks instead. "Have you any midwinter celebration of your own?"

[grumpycatanthir]

"We do. Although winters were mild in Aman - nothing like they are here. We adopted many of the Silvan practices with fire and music and dancing in the long dark, and will probably adapt others, as time goes on. But particularly relevant to us is the Long Night, where we celebrate the sun's first rising."

He shrugs. "That's a new tradition, technically, but we blended it with our own midwinter traditions and then also those of the Silvan. It's a night with no large fires, but every household lights a single candle for every family member, and we set a single lantern in a high place of the house to light the road for those who might be journeying."

[takesnoshit]

"Not so unlike our own celebration, then." She smiles up at him, pleased by the similarity. "I am glad your companions enjoyed it. And you."

They are drawing near to the camp, and she releases his hand, drawing herself up and pulling the mantle of Chieftain around her once more. "If you need aught, you know where I may be found, or if I am unavailable you may consult my Second, Tir. He has some of your language. I had planned to join the hunters this afternoon, though if your men are supplementing our ranks that may now be unneeded. I will decide when I wake." She hesitates a little, then reaches for his hand again and clasps it briefly in both of hers. "I will see you later this day, after some rest."

[grumpycatanthir]

"Not so unlike." He agrees with a small answering smile. "Different enough to be interesting, while similar enough to be comforting. A reminder we are all still Eruhini, no matter our fates."

He releases her hand reluctantly, but nods, accepting.

"Rest well." He squeezes once, lightly. "I will see you when you wake."

[takesnoshit]

She too is a little reluctant to let this idyll end. But she needs the rest, after a full day and night awake and working. And as always after seeing Caranthir, she has been given much to consider.

So they part, and she goes thoughtfully back to her tent and sleeps as a stone for the morning, and wakes to return to her duties at luncheon.

And later that afternoon, when Caranthir returns, he is stopped by a woman with dark blonde hair, who plants herself in his path and speaks without introduction. "Are you courting our Chief?"

If Caranthir was paying attention, he might recognize her as the other woman who stood near Haldan, last night at the bonfire.

[grumpycatanthir]

The Eldar need little sleep - one night is little enough loss, so Caranthir makes himself useful, instead.

He blinks at the woman, face set in its customary scowl.

"I know you. You were there at the fire." He observes. "And what if I am?"

[takesnoshit]

The woman is beautiful, or used to be; she now looks more haggard, lines in her face solidly set by frowning or some strong emotion. She has the hardiness and strength of the Haladin, but looks soft compared to Haleth, for all that she's taller. She looks at Caranthir, her gaze intense.

She takes a deep breath when he admits it, and nods shortly. "Good. Good. She likes you, she must, else she would not tolerate your company, much less seek it out." The woman suddenly grabs his arm, holding it hard. "Convince her to wed you, and to take us back to your lands. Please."

That emotion in her eyes is suddenly more identifiable: fear. Not of him, not of anything obviously present, but fear of something, for certain.