“I’m sure of that.” Came the automated response. His mouth said the words before he could think straight. The eldest princess… his was-to-be wife.
The ex-prince drew his arm back in and took a step away from her. Though raised to get what he wanted whenever he wanted, he was opposed to making someone feel uncomfortable around him. It was much harder to have a free conversation when the other was drawn into themselves. “My apologies. I did not ask before touching you.” Another bow from the male, this time he took his eyes off of her, showing a respect he hoped she could catch. To take ones eyes off of someone was to willingly submit for a moment in his book.
A low rumble sounded from Malakai, who managed to worm his way partly into the tent. Just enough to rub up against Amira's side, purring loudly. It seemed to draw her somewhat out of whatever had come over her, enough for her free hand to find the top of his head for support. "It would have been appreciated if you had." And yet, her voice still sounded off. Drawing herself back from closing herself off was hard, and she didn't have the best practice with it. The first time it had happened, she'd spent a little over a week like this.
The big cat’s presence drew his eyes back up. The ex-prince took a step back, obviously weary and afraid of the large animal. Yes he loved animals of all kinds, but tigers and him had never really connected in a safe way.
Nordali, however, was not familiar with this kind of reaction from someone after he had touched them. It unnerved him to the point he wondered if Just maybe he didn’t have all the power he thought he had. (Which, in full honesty, didn’t exist. He had no power over the living beings.)
Dropping to a crouch, Amira allowed Malakai to nuzzle the side of her head, wrapping her arms around his neck and running her fingers through his fur. "Do you have any explosive specialists in your guild?" Her voice was slowly beginning to sound more like her. It was a weird change of subject in any case, but she needed something else to focus on. And what better way to do that than to let her inability to focus on one thing take over.
“Yes. We have a few actually.” He turned his head off in a direction though he could not see past the tent’s fabrics. “Savros is the one in charge of the explosives we have. Her tent is easy to find. Just past the forge.”
Rolif noticed the affection Malakai was receiving and snorted loudly. Nordali glanced at his stag and shook his head. “Jealous buck. I’ll give you more attention after our guest has left.”
"Well, feel free to monopolize on that promise now." Amira said, directing her words towards the buck with a half smile. "I'm on my way out. I think I'll go find this Savros, have a fun chat with her. We might have a thing or two in common." She stood, staying bent over to press her forehead to Malakai's for just a moment before releasing him. "I'll see you around then, Zar." And with that she was gone, leaving behind the scent of spices and gunpowder and something vaguely floral. Malakai followed.
The vial of golden substance sat on his desk, though she hadn't gotten that close to the desk.
“Then I wish you well.” Replied the male, something in his eyes softening. “Please, feel free to visit me anytime you have questions. I am usually in here.” He bowed his head in farewell, turning to his desk as she disappeared. The vial caught his eye.
Nor gingerly lifted it to examine the substance, wondering if she had forgotten it. And when she had managed to set it down. “Strange girl she was, wasn’t she Rolif?” He moved to sit against his stag, resting his head on the animal’s back. He turned the vial in his hands, watching it glimmer in the light he had. “Imagine if I had actually married the firstborn princess, do you think I would have met Amira?”
Rolif snorted, nuzzling Nordali’s side. He laughed softly and began to pet him. “Ah, you’re right. Attention first, life choices later.”
((Amani is the fake name she gave. Do we want to skip ahead, or continue like this? I have an idea for skipping, so there's that))
(I thought so haha. And let’s go ahead and skip. What idea do you have?)
((I’m assuming, since the guild is decently close, they all probably eat around cooking fires? So like at dinner time, basically, except Amira somehow manages to get ahold of an instrument she knows how to play and is entertaining everyone))
((Oh I love that!!! And yes, they do eat around cooking fires. I like the idea! And like Nordali was originally going to skip dinner like he always does while ‘working’ (aka just brooding) but hears it and comes out cuz like, who the heccc is playing that it sounds good.))
((Yesss. Exactly. Quality right there. Do you want to start, or do you want me to? I’m going to bed really soon, so I’d have to start us off tomorrow morning, but if you’re cool with that so am I!))
(I can. And I should go to bed. It’s like midnight over here.)
Nordali lifted the bottle of strong alcohol once again to his lips as he stared at the ‘wall’ of his tent. He wasn’t drunk, no not yet, but he could feel a bit of a buzz starting up.
He didn’t feel like eating, and nearly hadn’t eaten anything that day. Sure it was unhealthy but he really didn’t think he could stomach anything. The bottle was set aside as he slid off his cot and wandered past the curtain that separated bed from desk space. A faint sound met his ears as he did so; music. And beautiful music at that.
The ex-prince wandered out of his tent, his stag in pursuit. “Who’s playing?” He asked as he took a seat around the cooking fire, eyes falling onto the one with the instrument. Amira.
Amira hadn’t gotten to play an oud in forever.
Nobody here had them, and anyone that did was so attached to it that there was no way they’d even let a stranger know they had one, let alone play it. And yet Zarya, the thief she’d struck up a conversation with, was absolutely willing to let her play it.
So here she was, sitting around a campfire with a bunch of other outcasted guild members, leaned up against a snoozing Malakai and playing an instrument that she loved. She was so engrossed that she didn’t even notice Zar, or hear him approach. Gradually, words vegan to accompany the playing, and if one payed attention they would noice the similarities between her fidgeting and the plucking of the strings. First in Kehlaian, then in the common tongue, then a myriad of others, her words floated around the campsite with the music, capturing the attention of anyone who could hear and spare time to listen.
Nor closed his eyes as the words mixed in with the music, letting the notes soothe him. It had been a long time since he had heard someone play so well. It made him miss the musicians of his kingdom. They were quite good in his opinion.
As soon as Rolif laid down, Nordali leaned against him, stroking the animal’s thick hide with a smile.
An oud was the first instrument Amira had ever learned to play. There were others after, sure, but this one held a special place in her heart due to that and the boy who had taught her. What would Elias think of me now? She was a completely different person now, it seemed. She’d broken the last promise she’d made to him that night, had been breaking it since his death.
Shaking her head slightly, Amira’s playing slipped from the almost mournful lament it had become into something upbeat as she stood, tapping her foot to the beat. It started with that, growing into dancing that drew some of the younger children of the guild members into dancing with her. The haunted look was gone, and now she was grinning freely.
It was only when the song picked up did Nordali open his eyes again. He smiled softly at her, watching the kids dance around the fire. A few of the adults seemed to grow more joyous, and clapped their hands along to the beat.
But the leader did not join in. He continued to watch and observe the woman as she played, his hands idly running through Rolif’s thick fur.
Amira was, by far, not the best dancer. A bit wild and playing an instrument at the same time, she made up for lack of skill with pure enthusiasm and joy, looking like she would absolutely not rather be anywhere else. She continued to sing as she paused her playing to spin a little girl around, a happy laugh slipping from her lips. The first time she'd actually laughed in a while.
The runaway's eyes met Nordali's over the fire, and she worked her way around as she resumed playing. It wasn't quite necessary, since other musicians had now joined in the fun, but she was the one tying it all together somehow. She tilted her head and arched a brow, a silent dance with me?. Maybe to show a bit of trust, or maybe just because.
Nor laughed softly, making the stag nuzzle him again. He pushed the large creatures head away and smiled happily, tilting his head as she made her way over.
Truth be told, he couldn’t dance. His face went a pink as she neared, his eyes falling to the ground. It took him a few moments to decide and soon he was standing awkwardly by her side, offering a small smile. Only a few guild members noticed it, but those few who did stared intently. They had never seen their leader have any sort of fun for himself.
Amira fully let go of the oud when Zar stood, the strap keeping it hanging from her shoulders as she took his hands and tugged him closer to the gathered musicians. Her hair was everywhere, falling out of the ponytail she had it in, curly strands falling into her bright and strange eyes. Continuing to sing, she spun them around happily, her feet light if slightly un-graceful. They'd had a bit of a rough start, but music was always good at lowering the thick and tall built walls Amira kept up at all times.
Even the language she had reverted to singing in sounded musical on her tongue. Kehlaian was a richly spoken language, with upturned 'r's and a lilting sound if done right, and it was enthralling coming from her. That was one thing she'd always been good at, making her language sound like music even when just spoken.
He laughed softly, shaking his head as she brought him into a dance. Nordali let himself be led, finally picking up on her enthusiasm.
He could hardly believe someone had a voice so pretty. Her words filled him with a little bit of joy, bringing his mood up.
Amira stood on her toes to spin him, bringing him fluidly into a dip as she laughed through her singing. Small or not, she hid a decent amount of strength in her bones. Bringing him back up, she continued to dance along with the music being played, everything about her so much lighter than it had been as she swayed her hips to the beat.
The dip surprised him. He let out a soft gasp, his grip tightening on her. But as soon as they had come out of it a laugh left his lips. Up close he could really catch her scent, the gunpowder striking him as familiar. He worked with it quite a bit.
His own scent of sage was rather sullied by the stench of alcohol on his breath, but it didn’t seem to mask it.
The more she danced and twirled, the more he seemed to open up, and dance with her. Though awkward, he was surprisingly light on his own feet.
The more Zar opened up, the more Amira felt herself almost drawn to him. Maybe they could have been friends, in a different situation, but dance partners was alright for now. What was it Eli used to say? 'Kindred spirits', or something like that. It made a bit of sense. They had some similarities despite their glaring differences, little things in the way they carried themselves. This man is drunk. Another random thought switch, but it was surprising to note. She raised an eyebrow slightly, releasing his hand to spin around on one foot, mulling that over for a split second before catching his hands again.
Nordali grinned at her as she spun, tilting his head at the little eyebrow raise. She had noticed something, he could tell that much. Might be the alcohol. He waved the thought away and let out a lilting laugh.
For a man he had a surprisingly smooth voice. He blamed his Fae side, but his Valdorian blood still held that gruff and rough language. Though still partially elven, the Valdorians were heavier set and much rougher around the edges.
Her hands back in his brought a slight giddiness to his soul. She was a ray of sunshine upon their guild, upon him. Nor found himself hoping she’d stay around.
Maybe this wouldn’t be a bad idea. Sticking around, having a place to crash when things got too bad. A place to-
Amira cut the thought off quickly. She couldn’t afford to get that ahead of herself. You don’t get to think like that. There’s a reason you had to leave the only ‘home’ you’d ever known. Because you don’t belong anywhere.
The song came to an end a little bit later, and Amira drew to a stop. Breathing heavily, her eyes still sparkled, and she had yet to let go of Zar’s hands.
Nordali slowly relaxed as the song ended, his smile genuine for the first time in a long while. He glanced down at their hands, a light pink filling his ears. “That was a lot of fun. Thank you for the dance.”
He dipped his head down low, but made no move to take his hands back. He blinked a few times, trying to clear his mind from the light fog of alcohol. Had he really done that?
"Anytime. Music is a great way to let loose." Amira commented, slightly flushed from dancing. Almost reluctantly, it seemed, she released his his hands, her own slightly calloused ones resting on her hips now as she slowed her breathing to catch it gain. Her eyes caught the glow of the fire, the gold ring around her right eye glinting for a moment, almost like a spark. "Have you eaten yet?"
Nor almost regretted letting her take her hands back. It had been forever since someone had touched him so gently. He was touch-starved. “Yes it does, doesn’t it?” He asked gently in response, smiling sweetly at the female who had brought such light in such a small moment to his guild members. He actually really cared for them all, as cliche as it was, and liked to see the kids happy the most.
“Did I-?” He started, having not processed the question. “Ah. No. I haven’t. I’m thinking of skipping tonight. Don’t think I can stomach anything.”
Nor almost regretted letting her take her hands back. It had been forever since someone had touched him so gently. He was touch-starved. “Yes it does, doesn’t it?” He asked gently in response, smiling sweetly at the female who had brought such light in such a small moment to his guild members. He actually really cared for them all, as cliche as it was, and liked to see the kids happy the most.
“Did I-?” He started, having not processed the question. “Ah. No. I haven’t. I’m thinking of skipping tonight. Don’t think I can stomach anything.”
