December 15th-18th 2014

Jewell and Eless went shopping this week. Jewell sought advice from Eless on what kind of present you should buy a guy when you might be in his "friend zone".

During the Weekend of February 21st:

Eless and Jewell would have had lunch to discuss plans for Fashion Week which would then shift to sharing their current personal lives. Eless would have shared the details and risks of her pregnancy. Jewell would have shared some more personal details of her life and her upcoming trip as well.

Wednesday, 20 January 2016

Jewell stopped by to see Eless before heading off to the IFL Powerhouse Party. She may have brought her dumplings from this great food truck she loved.

When she ventured out the next morning, Eless would find a candle (one of Rena's, of course) with layers of blue, tan and white - resembling an ocean landscape. The scent would be of soothing ocean breezes under a warming summer sun. A small bit of soft cotton rope would be tied around the candle, a few knots and loops, creating the startings of a hammock.

-

Eless had indeed finally succumbed to the strain of the extended holiday season's work as well as the after effects of the battle with Calonderial and having her baby ripped from her by his father.

Connar's thoughtful gift will have a position of honour on her nightstand along with some of the other treasures he's gifted her over the years.

Thursday, 25 February 2016

A note arrived late in the afternoon for Eless. I'm alive. Well enough. No new injuries.

No need to pass along the message I gave you the other day.

xoxo

Empress

The gift was a few days late for Yule, though that could be blamed on the vagaries of the winds of magic and how they controlled multi-dimensional travel. The package was delivered to the doorstep of the shop. Within was four bolts of Orphilian silks of various colors, a selection of teas, and a smaller box containing flame lilies, a flower coming into season along Carowyn's equatorial realms.

There was also a letter from Cieara, detailing things that had happened since she and Eless had last seen each other.

The captain of the Cardinal’s guard took great pleasure in berating and insulting the soldiers under his command. In this latest round of verbal assaults, the captain had accused his men of being too soft on the brigands they had encountered earlier in the day, many of them musketeers. He wondered why, in particular, did so many of those who fell under Jacques' blade fail to suffer mortal wounds. Connar still was not accustomed to hearing that name. He had stopped using his given name; it carried far too much history and baggage. He could no longer claim it to be an old family name or mere coincidence. His name was known for good and for evil, and served only to make life even more difficult. So, he borrowed a name equally close to his heart: Jacques Devabriel.

Somewhere between the captain’s vile words carried in the shower of spittle and the slow setting of the sun, Connar’s mind escaped to its quiet place, to a refuge of soft breezes, the scent of freesia, and the soothing voice of the empath.

He imagined himself outside her home, waiting patiently for the morning sun to crest the horizon. Birds and animals would begin to stir, adding their songs and calls to the rising din of a new day. He would draw random shapes and patterns in the soft dirt where he knelt, casting his gaze toward her door with any new sound or movement. Just as the rays of light shone upon her home, the door would open, and she would fill the area with an aura to put the sun to shame. Like a drowning man’s first desperate gasp of air, his entire being focused solely on her. The way the light danced in golden rays across her hair, the suppleness of her skin, soft, rose-tinted lips, and eyes whose color and depths could not be contained behind dark lashes. She moved so gracefully but with purpose; her toes barely lighting upon the ground. Her lack of footwear would come as no surprise, but it would cause a smile to come to his lips all the same.

He dare not rush from his hiding place, though tis all his heart yearned for him to do. He feared the sudden movement would startle her, or worse yet, cause the furry beast guarding her and her home to set after him, an unstoppable blur of fangs and claws. And yet she remained the apparition of love, goodness, beauty, and hope that brought peace to his soul.

Years had passed within her realm and centuries in his since they were last truly together. He was a prisoner of his world and godforsaken duty. And though he had spent year after year thinking of this exact moment, this encounter in time, he was at a loss for words. What could he possibly say to her to make up for the time, for loneliness she had to endure, for waiting and waiting with no end in sight' To see her now caused his heart to swell with love and rend itself in twain with guilt.

A rough backhanded slap from the captain brought him back to the present. His teeth slowly clenched as his gaze locked with his attacker. “Merci, for joining us Devabriel. I pray that I wasn’t boring you,” the captain sneered. “Lest you have someplace better God prefers you to be than right here, I suggest you give me your full attention!"



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While Elessaria and Connar caught a few hours sleep in their imaginary hammock, Lyavain maintained watch nearby. Tasked with the protection of the Ladyfire of Evandar by her god, he found taking the form of a massive, white furred wolf was most convenient. Most of those he encountered viewed him as an ordinary, if overly large lupine, and as such, The Empath's guardian was often able to avoid more than a cursory interest. In the hours before dawn, he would silently patrol the sandy beach so the pair could lower their guard and rest more peacefully than when they were apart.

Beneath the blanket, Eless had snuggled against the Valdor's side as the long day finally caught up with her and sleep eventually claimed them both. Both moons and the stars still dotted the nearly cloudless sky when the icy cold talons of a nightmare attempted to drag her from her peaceful slumber. She whimpered faintly as she stirred, awakening. In spite of her drowsy state, Eless managed to refrain from bolting upright or making any other sudden moves. The last thing she wished for was to startle the warrior, causing him to wake and thus deprive him of his much deserved and needed respite.

Connar did respond, however, to her whisper soft mewl by wrapping his strong arm more tightly about her, drawing her fragile frame closer and pressing a tender kiss to the top of her head while she continued to use his shoulder as her pillow; his reassuring presence thwarted the nightmare's attempt to infiltrate her subconscious and ruin the serenity of their time together. Eless surmised he was an even lighter sleeper than she; therefore, she remained silent and as still as possible - reluctant to disturb his rest any further - even if he was most likely awake now.

The gentle sounds of the waves rolling against the shoreline with the shifting of the tides only served to add to the tranquility of their temporary hideaway. The diminutive empath nestled nearer - molding her soft, feminine curves to Connar's more muscular and powerful frame- not only to soak up the warmth he radiated in contrast to the chilly breeze, but to drink in the security and intensity of their shared love. Eless counted the stars and her blessings as she fell back to sleep ensconced in her betrothed's embrace, silently praying to whatever gods and goddesses who might be listening in hopes one day their dreams would come true.