Dire News [Ceri]

[Sorren Alotear Radvhet]

In the back of his mind, he had been bracing himself for a different reaction. Even though he knew Ceried'a was not a judgemental type of person, that didn't keep him from thinking the worst. She might have been disgusted, horrified, ashamed, disappointed... Instead, she was sympathetic and understanding. He was so happy he had told her his secret, that she had not rejected him for it but had instead embraced and accepted it as a part of him, and he loved her all the more for that. He silently thanked the gods for bringing a woman like her into his life.

Years ago, when Sorren had been that young man losing a best friend and lover, he had thought he would never find happiness again. He had thrown himself into his work to distract himself, but the pain of that loss had never truly gone away. Lessened over time, perhaps, yes, but not disappeared. And in having locked that secret away, he had never allowed the wound to heal. Telling Ceri had lifted some of the burden from him that he had been carrying for over twenty years.

He could find no words to express what he was feeling at that moment, so he hoped she would understand the gratitude and love in his eyes as she pressed her forehead to his and he held both sides of her face gently in his hands.

"This is enough," he said, closing his eyes with a long sigh as she embraced him. "This is... more than I had ever hoped for. You are the most extraordinary person I have ever known, do you know that?"

He wished all the complications of the world would just disappear, and he could be with her free from worry about duty or secrecy or war. It would be that much more difficult now to leave her side, now that he knew he would be fighting to keep Maesser and his country safe, whether or not war was officially declared. And with the sun setting on Ingril, it would not be long before servants came to find their queen and whisk her away to whatever responsibilities she had this evening.

[Ceried'a Itonris Sa'achern]

Holding Sorren made the Queen happy...it didn't have to just be about the passion, this affair had become more than just seeking a release. The truths told in the room as it slowly grew darker a comfort. Sitting up she reach to the bedside table, digging in the drawer before finding the matches for the candle that had miraculously not been thrown to the floor. The crackle and hiss of the match lighting itself filled the room as she placed the small flame to the wick and let it catch. Slowly the darkness was cast away from the bed as she smiled. "Then I am glad to give you all of this."

Her smile grew a little sad as his compliment washed over her. After all that he'd told her, how he treated her, how happy he made her...it all reminded her then and there that she was not able to tell him the most important thing that ate away at her every day since she'd met the Baron, since she'd fallen in love with him.

So honest and loyal to a king that didn't exist, she wondered how far down she'd dragged him with her illusion, her game. It hurt her heart as she leaned in close suddenly, kissing him in a feverish kiss...trying to say all she wanted with that.

I love you. I'm sorry I have to lie. One day we will never have to hide.

Pulling away slowly she smiled at her lover, stroking a finger over his chin, "Sorren, my love, I want so badly to tell you everything that plagues me, but know for now that I love you with all my heart." She whispered, brushing one more kiss to his lips before she rose from the bed. The air was cooler now, raising goosebumps up as she went to where the Baron had hidden her dress before. With her slip torn like it was there was no saving it, let alone wearing it, so as she pulled her dress over her body she wrapped it tighter around her form before her eyes went searching for the sash to bind it.

"There will be a dinner in honor of your journey tonight...I will make sure to have the maids come and give you a fresh bath since we seem to have made a mess." Finding her sash she wrapped it around her waist tying it loosely, "We can discuss further these thoughts of war after that. Maybe after the King has retired we could keep each other company further into the night?" Going back towards the bed she sat upon it looking at Sorren, giving him a gentle sweet smile, sad to leave so soon, but no doubt her ladies were looking for her already to prepare her for the feast.

[Sorren Alotear Radvhet]

The baron sat up just a little, leaning back on his elbows, as the queen lit a candle on the bedside table. The light from its flame and the dying rays of the setting sun streaming in from outside cast a soft yellow-orange glow into the room, highlighting Ceried'a's chocolate-brown hair and lightly-tanned skin. She looked so beautiful. Sorren reached over and caressed her arm a moment before she leaned down to kiss him passionately, almost urgently. He was a little surprised but not unpleasantly so, returning the kiss briefly before she pulled away and smiled, stroking his scruffy chin.

"Sorren, my love, I want so badly to tell you everything that plagues me, but know for now that I love you with all my heart."

What did that mean? He wanted to ask, but could only give her a slightly quizzical look before she silenced him with another soft kiss and stood up to get dressed. He sat up, drawing the sheet up over his lower half as he watched her, pondering her words. He had thought, when she told him about her early marriage to the king and their difficult relationship, that she had been revealing her only secret... though why he had thought that, he couldn't say. What else could be bothering her? And why couldn't she tell him what it was? He hated knowing there was something wrong and he could do nothing about it, but he respected her decision not to tell him. He trusted her.

Still, it was hard not to feel disappointed as Ceri pulled on her robe, talking of dinner and war and responsibility. There were things that had to be done, however, no matter how much he wished he didn't have to. He smiled back at her when she came back and sat down next to him, though his disappointment showed through slightly.

"Another bath? What are you going to make me smell like this time, roses? But I do need to shave. I don't know about you, but I'm not too keen on all this scruff."

At her suggestion of a late night, Sorren ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know... I don't want to raise suspicion," he said, feeling a slight pang of guilt. Even now, he still could not entirely reconcile what he was doing with his loyalty to the king. But more importantly, he did not want to cause trouble for Ceried'a. He pushed these thoughts from his mind and tried to lighten the mood with a little teasing. "Besides, after all this," he said with a grin, gesturing around at the wrecked room, "and a good meal to boot, I'm going to be mighty sleepy. But we'll have more time tomorrow."

[Ceried'a Itonris Sa'achern]

One day she'd be able to tell Sorren the truth...or at least that was what she hoped as she sat with him in the dwindling time they'd have alone together. Right now she didn't want to be getting dressed and ready to go play puppeteer to the doll of a face she no longer wished to see. What Ceried'a did want was Sorren again and again, wanted to tell him every little thing, hold him and be held until night turned into day once more and then night again.

Still she only smiled and touched his chest gently at his tease of another bath. "No...I will tell them not to give you any oils this time since you think a true man cannot smell of roses and flower. Though I think I prefer a man who smell like them compared to just plain old flowers any day." Once she'd gotten back to her room she'd send the maids up...no doubt listen later to their speculations of why the room was such a mess.

Reaching up she touched the scruffy beard and smiled as she looked the Baron over in contemplation, "Hmmmm...well I will say that is a change from the Baron I like seeing, however it makes you seem a little more wild. I like wild." She teased softly, still stroking his beard. She'd inform her servants of the need of a razor for him before bathing herself...her muscles in need of a hot bath now after the past few hours.

When he spoke of dangers of her sneaking to his room again for the night she sighed and chuckled. In Maesser she had been able to slip into his room almost every night, not leaving to till the morning light, and between the dawn and the twilight they'd found the privacy needed for their indulgences of each other as well...but that was with the festival and time away from constant watch and gossip. Now she could only share her own disappointed smile with Sorren, "If only you were my king instead..."

Slowly standing she made her way towards the door, "For a man of your stamina even I can imagine how the past few days have taken their toll. Eat, rest...I am happy to have you here safe. I will see you at dinner my Baron." She smiled gently with that, opening the door before stepping out. It was cooler now with the growing night and lack of her extra layer, her body felt so hot still though as she started down the stairs away from the Baron's chambers to her own.