Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post 2

[questionablewit]

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[takesnoshit]

If either of them tightens their grip further they will cut off their circulation. This does not deter Haleth.

With her free hand she reaches out and touches his face lightly, the barest hint of a caress. "I too am stubborn," she says, "but can admit when I have been wrong. Even before Canien's coming, I knew how I missed you. I have told myself again and again we were better remaining apart, in our different lives. But we are not. Or I am not."

There is a wistfulness in her eyes now, an open longing. "I have tried to make the Haladin my only priority, and they must remain the first--but I would make space for you as well, if you will allow it."

[grumpycatanthir]

He looks at her with painful, naked hope.

"Truly? You would allow that?"

[takesnoshit]

"I would." She still looks uncertain, as Haleth almost never is--not unsure of her words, but of his answer, despite the expression he wears. There has been so much hurt between them. "If you would let me. If you can forgive all the harm I did you."

[grumpycatanthir]

Slowly, he lifts their joined hands to kiss her knuckles, allowing her time to tell him to cease.

"I would. I forgave you long ago, although I might struggle to forget, and will need to ask your forgiveness for the same on my part."

[takesnoshit]

"I forgave your words before they were ever spoken." She moves closer, getting to her knees in front of him and placing a hand on his face, her eyes locked on where their joined fingers still rest against his mouth. "And you will forget long before I forgive myself for hurting you as I did. I will face all the anger you have without fear, so long as we are together for it."

[grumpycatanthir]

Slowly, very slowly, watching her the whole time, he turns their hands, and this time, he kisses her palms, softly - and entirely inappropriate for someone just being friendly.

"I would like that." He says softly. "Can we begin something new, then?"

[takesnoshit]

"I would like that," she says in a near-whisper. Her palms tremble a little when his lips touch them. "A new beginning."

Haleth takes a breath, then cradles his face in both hands. Slowly, giving him the same time he granted her to protest, should he wish it, she leans forward and kisses him.

[grumpycatanthir]

His lips are hesitant, against hers, and then it is as if the dam breaks and he drags her into his arms, kissing her desperately.

"Haleth, oh Haleth, I missed thee. I am so sorry."

[takesnoshit]

If she gasps when he suddenly grabs and pulls her into a tight embrace, when their mouths crash against each other, it is soon forgotten in a tangle of like behavior. She keeps her hands framing his face, then buries them in his hair, returning every kiss as fervently. They have never held each other thus. They have never held each other at all. "Caranthir, Caranthir--" She almost sobs into his mouth, shaken by relief more than she is ever shaken by any fear or anger. "I missed thee. I am so sorry."

[grumpycatanthir]

There's no passion - or at least, nothing sexual. Only the gasping desperation of being able to hold what has been so long been denied.

[takesnoshit]

The intensity has nothing to do with arousal, but everything to do with fulfillment. Here, finally here, in the place she has wanted so much and had denied herself, with her arms around Caranthir and his around her. Here where she can press him close, hear him breathe. She kisses him again and again, his mouth and face, eyelids, forehead.

After that initial storm has passed she still holds him, as tightly as she may, his face buried in the crook of her neck and hers in his hair. Nothing more is needed, for Haleth.

[grumpycatanthir]

They are both weeping, as much of frustration as relief, and as the storm fades he holds her and just... breathes.

"I forgive thee. I missed thee, I love thee."

[takesnoshit]

A dam broken indeed; Haleth's face is wet with both their tears, and her desperate kisses and caresses were as much grief as anything else. They are both quieter now, but she still holds him as though he might disappear. "I am sorry." There is no counting how many times she has said it now. "I love you. I always loved you. I am sorry."

[grumpycatanthir]

He kisses her softly, still clinging close.

"Forgive me for not pursuing."

[takesnoshit]

"No." She rests her forehead against his, feels his breath on her face. "No, that would not have answered. I would only have been more stubborn, however I missed you and wished for you. Perhaps Canien was brought here on purpose indeed, to show me my error and the possibilities I had set aside. Perhaps we needed some intervention." She kisses him again. "Whatever the reason, I am glad of it, as much for this as because I now know her."

[grumpycatanthir]

"To show us both." He corrects, leaning against her and trying just to breathe without sobbing.

"I will forever be grateful to her for this moment."

[takesnoshit]

His face is still wet with tears, and she kisses the salt on his cheek, kisses his eyes, strokes his hair. It was rare that they touched before, but now that permission has been granted on both sides it seems neither can have enough. There is much more that needs to be said, years' worth, but for now she holds him once more in silence, caressing him until his breathing settles.

[grumpycatanthir]

His cheeks are blotchy and red, but hers are probably not that much better, as he curls against her and kisses her hands in gratitude and love, tending to both palms and wrists.

[takesnoshit]

Caranthir Red-faced for a new reason, she thinks, watching as he bestows gentle kisses on her hands, fingers, palms, wrists. In other circumstances it would be erotic. Right now it feels like either prayer or benediction, or both. Haleth leans her head against his, closing her eyes as his breath caresses her hands.

[grumpycatanthir]

Later, perhaps, once the storm of emotion has passed, Caranthir will look back and be embarrassed. But right now it is enough to simply be allowed this, to hold and be held.

"Thank you."

[takesnoshit]

She shakes her head a little, twists her hand in his grasp so she may take it in turn, place a kiss in his palm. "Those words are mine." She tilts her face up to his and takes another kiss from his mouth. She almost aches with emotion, the release of tension she had not realized was there, with grief and love both.

Haleth sighs, leans her head against his shoulder. The storm is passing, but in its wake is exhaustion. "It is late," she says quietly. "Did you ride alone, or have you an encampment nearby?"

[grumpycatanthir]

He shakes his head.

"I came alone. My guard I left some miles away." With much yelling, true, but he wanted to be alone with Haleth... or without her, if it came to that.

[takesnoshit]

"Then stay," she says at once, twining their fingers together. "Share my camp with me for tonight. Having you here, like this--" She sighs, nestles closer against him. "I do not wish to let go yet, even if it is only for a few hours while we sleep. Stay with me."

[grumpycatanthir]

He nods, tangling their fingers together and drawing her close.

"With good will." He says tiredly, the storm of emotion now mostly passed. "The night is passing, but there are yet many hours til daylight."

[takesnoshit]

She sighs silently with her relief, letting him pull and keep her close for a while longer.

But there are things that need to be done before they may sleep, so eventually she sighs again, pulling herself out of his embrace and getting to her feet, using their still-joined hands to pull him up as well. They have not released each others' hands for...she has no idea how long. They might have sat here for minutes or hours or months, and it is not long enough. But she is exhausted.