Ewan sat on the floor next to the couch. Across his crossed legs rested one of his swords. It was a double edged sword, not uncommon for longswords, but of a finer made steel and slightly shorter. The old wrapping of the hilt, the leather starting to decay from age and abuse was removed to reveal the craftmanship below. It was no simple made blade. As he took the whetstone across the edge, the roll of fresh leather for the fresh wrapping of the hilt, the hiss of the blade sang with the loving care he gave it. It was a methodical and soothing task to Ewan and his mouth curved in a soft smile.
She sighed as the sounds rang in her ears. It was not an irritated sigh, well accustomed to the sounds of the stone against the blade. It was a sharp but clear sound. "How was your day, beloved?" Curled and tucked neatly into a corner of the couch, her arms held a pillow to her growing abdomen.
The stone stopped moving. Slowly his head turned and he looked over his shoulder to her. "Is it possible to say the same in its differences?" He leaned to give her near covered knee a kiss. A smile and a shrug, he went back to his care of the blade. "It was just that. Things moving, powers joining and trickery abounds, but none of that is unusual." Setting the whetstone aside, he took up the wrap of leather, the scent still on its from treating the long strip, and he began his work to the hilt. "What of your day?"
She gave him an affectionate smile at the kiss to her knee, watching his leather work with interest, "My day was usual. The progress between Paola and Devin's bonding is going rather well. We are preparing to bond the other Guardians with the next moon phase. Other than that, the realms are the same."
Turning at her news, doing his work by feel only, the fingers moving and turning the blade while laying the leather flat in its turns. "That makes for good hearing that it goes well in the bonding. An excellent step forward. Are all the guardians in agreement with it?" He checked his work with a glance before looking back to her. "I know how difficult it must be to get independent people to join forces. It must be double so with elementals."
"Not all of the Guardians will be going, but most of them, yes. We have to have some to keep order while the rest of us are away." She looked between his eyes and his hands, "But there are others that are going to be joining us as well. It will be a good sized group for our purposes."
He gave a slow nod. "So you know what you are facing then. I will not say I do not worry for you, but it does ease my mind that you all have learned of what lies ahead." Finishing the wrapping, he took a cloth and wrapped it around the blade to hold it there, and then placed the hilt in the coals of the low fire for a time.
?You will not have to worry so, beloved. I am not going to be in the midst of things.? Once he placed the hilt into the low fire, her hand reached out to run through his hair, ?And it will not be a long trip either.?
A soft smile, he sighed, she knew just what to do to relax him. But before it went too far. "Just a moment." He moved to draw the hilt back out with care, knocking ash and ember from it softly. "I had better draw that out before I become entirely subjected to your charms." He returned to sit near, resting his head back against the couch in what he hoped was easy reach of her hand. "I trust in your abilities, though, I must admit, I wish I knew some of the other guardians better. I know all too well how you will push yourself. It is," his smile an easy, natural one, "something we both share."
Her fingers paused and her hand withdrew while he tended to the hilt, before returning the easy running through his hair, watching the way the color reflected in the light, "I do not think that running my fingers through your hair could be defined as charming." She chuckled softly, "As for the other guardians.. it is true that they do not come to Rhy'Din often, and even Devin and Jeremiah hardly come unless I ask them to. Perhaps if you ever are available when we gather, you could come?"
One green eye opened to look up at her at her discounting the power of her caress to his hair, or her touch at all. At her question, he gave due consideration. There was a beat or two of silence, though the way his eyes moved under his lids, it was certain he was analyzing the possibilities and repercussions. "Yes, I think I would like to do that if my presence will not be disruptive. Or," on further thought, "you meant for me to be there only before you all met, which might be the better idea. I would rather not cause trouble in your realm as well as others."
"Your presence distracts me, beloved, but I believe I can manage a meeting without staring at you the entire time." More chuckling, she gave a lock a gentle squeeze, "You can come early, stay at the meeting.. or meet later. Your loyalties are not questionable."
He chuckled as well and turned when he was certain her hold on his hair was free. Folding his arms on the couch, he rested his chin there and looked on her. He said nothing, just looked at her. The way her grey eyes danced in the light. The curve of her neck and her shoulder. He traced every line. Looking back to her face, he smiled. "You let me know what is best, and I shall be there. Perhaps Avery can come as well and spend time with Cornelious."
She sighed as the sounds rang in her ears. It was not an irritated sigh, well accustomed to the sounds of the stone against the blade. It was a sharp but clear sound. "How was your day, beloved?" Curled and tucked neatly into a corner of the couch, her arms held a pillow to her growing abdomen.
The stone stopped moving. Slowly his head turned and he looked over his shoulder to her. "Is it possible to say the same in its differences?" He leaned to give her near covered knee a kiss. A smile and a shrug, he went back to his care of the blade. "It was just that. Things moving, powers joining and trickery abounds, but none of that is unusual." Setting the whetstone aside, he took up the wrap of leather, the scent still on its from treating the long strip, and he began his work to the hilt. "What of your day?"
She gave him an affectionate smile at the kiss to her knee, watching his leather work with interest, "My day was usual. The progress between Paola and Devin's bonding is going rather well. We are preparing to bond the other Guardians with the next moon phase. Other than that, the realms are the same."
Turning at her news, doing his work by feel only, the fingers moving and turning the blade while laying the leather flat in its turns. "That makes for good hearing that it goes well in the bonding. An excellent step forward. Are all the guardians in agreement with it?" He checked his work with a glance before looking back to her. "I know how difficult it must be to get independent people to join forces. It must be double so with elementals."
"Not all of the Guardians will be going, but most of them, yes. We have to have some to keep order while the rest of us are away." She looked between his eyes and his hands, "But there are others that are going to be joining us as well. It will be a good sized group for our purposes."
He gave a slow nod. "So you know what you are facing then. I will not say I do not worry for you, but it does ease my mind that you all have learned of what lies ahead." Finishing the wrapping, he took a cloth and wrapped it around the blade to hold it there, and then placed the hilt in the coals of the low fire for a time.
?You will not have to worry so, beloved. I am not going to be in the midst of things.? Once he placed the hilt into the low fire, her hand reached out to run through his hair, ?And it will not be a long trip either.?
A soft smile, he sighed, she knew just what to do to relax him. But before it went too far. "Just a moment." He moved to draw the hilt back out with care, knocking ash and ember from it softly. "I had better draw that out before I become entirely subjected to your charms." He returned to sit near, resting his head back against the couch in what he hoped was easy reach of her hand. "I trust in your abilities, though, I must admit, I wish I knew some of the other guardians better. I know all too well how you will push yourself. It is," his smile an easy, natural one, "something we both share."
Her fingers paused and her hand withdrew while he tended to the hilt, before returning the easy running through his hair, watching the way the color reflected in the light, "I do not think that running my fingers through your hair could be defined as charming." She chuckled softly, "As for the other guardians.. it is true that they do not come to Rhy'Din often, and even Devin and Jeremiah hardly come unless I ask them to. Perhaps if you ever are available when we gather, you could come?"
One green eye opened to look up at her at her discounting the power of her caress to his hair, or her touch at all. At her question, he gave due consideration. There was a beat or two of silence, though the way his eyes moved under his lids, it was certain he was analyzing the possibilities and repercussions. "Yes, I think I would like to do that if my presence will not be disruptive. Or," on further thought, "you meant for me to be there only before you all met, which might be the better idea. I would rather not cause trouble in your realm as well as others."
"Your presence distracts me, beloved, but I believe I can manage a meeting without staring at you the entire time." More chuckling, she gave a lock a gentle squeeze, "You can come early, stay at the meeting.. or meet later. Your loyalties are not questionable."
He chuckled as well and turned when he was certain her hold on his hair was free. Folding his arms on the couch, he rested his chin there and looked on her. He said nothing, just looked at her. The way her grey eyes danced in the light. The curve of her neck and her shoulder. He traced every line. Looking back to her face, he smiled. "You let me know what is best, and I shall be there. Perhaps Avery can come as well and spend time with Cornelious."