Post by aurorax on Dec 14, 2009 15:29:41 GMT 10
Title: Alone Together
Prompt: #3, Candle
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Evin/Kel of course.
It was late, too late for anyone in their right mind to still be awake. And it was cold, the harsh bone-chilling cold of a clear night unsoftened by drifting flakes. Yet there he was, sneaking back to his rooms like a silly squire, and it was all his own damn fault. He should have known better than to go looking for a distraction. The idea of having just one night where he could forget about the world and the war and simply enjoy himself had seemed so enticing earlier that night, but he had known almost as soon as he got to the Inn that this wasn’t what he was looking for. So he had been forced to drown his sorrows until he finally came to his senses and started the long walk back to the Palace, the alcohol just making his steps feel heavier rather than coursing warmth through his veins.
The Palace was dark as he cut through the gardens, savoring the silence. This was one of his favorite shortcuts, but since he had returned from the North it had been packed with young ladies chattering over the return of the men and trying to catch themselves a war hero. It was only the boldest who would approach him- Commander or not, he didn’t have a drop of noble blood in him and any girls who showed interest were surely doing so against their parent’s wishes- but it was still an annoyance, one he was happy to be without if only this once. It was almost pleasant, being out here in the silence while all around him people slept. As he stared out across the rows of blackened windows, a sudden flickering light caught his eye, blinding him for a moment- someone had just lit a candle. Someone else, then, who the night had brought no peace; it was nice to know that he wasn’t alone. Looking closer, he realized it was her room, and he wasn’t really surprised. Changing course, he turned instead towards the kitchens, acting without thinking, without hesitation. It was still too early for the servants to be awake, but he was good with locks and they always left a fire burning.
He knocked awkwardly on her door, his hands burdened with two mugs of steaming coffee and his brain still confused about what he was doing here. If anyone saw him, there would be talk, the kind of talk that Kel was so careful to avoid. This was stupid and reckless and she probably just wanted to be alone; it wasn’t fair to dump his own problems on her shoulders as well when she was already trying to carry so much.
***
The desk in front of her was nearly covered in papers, and her hands itched to organize the mess. But it was too late to be up walking about- someone might hear her, and mention it to one of her friends, and then they’d all be concerned over nothing. Neal had asked her yesterday if she was having trouble sleeping again, and he wouldn’t take it well if he learned that she had lied to him. It wasn’t like she didn’t have plenty to do, what with filling out even more field reports for the King and petitioning for more supplies to go to New Hope as soon as the snows permitted travel. Just because she wasn’t stationed there anymore didn’t mean she had forgotten about her friends, and that paperwork wasn’t going to do itself.
Sighing, she lit another candle and sat down to work, massaging her eyes with the heel of her hand and running her fingers through her short hair. It had happened almost everyday this week, the feeling that drove sleep away and forced her into this hard wooden desk chair at an ungodly hour of the morning- not a nightmare as much as an overwhelming sense that there was something she needed to do, something she had forgotten to take care of that they might have to pay for in lives in the morning. Even when she woke up enough to remember that she was back at the Palace now and a treaty had been signed, her racing heart still kept her from getting any rest, and those closest to her were starting to notice. It would be another long night- she would have to do something tomorrow about the circles under her eyes, before Neal made her take one of his noxious herbal mixes.
She was startled out of her silent reverie by a light tapping sound. It seemed like a timid knock, but no one would be awake at this time, and certainly no one would come to her rooms in the middle of the night. Still, she was nearly sure someone had been at the door...or maybe it was just the lack of sleep playing tricks on her mind. That was the last thing she needed now, to start hearing voices on top of everything else. Still, this wouldn’t be the first time that she had been summoned in the middle of the night, though not while she was at home since she had still been a squire with the Own. Reluctantly she unwrapped herself from the blanket and went to assure herself that everything was all right.
***
He was halfway down the hall when he heard the door open softly. She peered out into the darkness, night-blinded after the brightness of the candlelit room, and he almost kept walking. But then she recognized him, and something about the way her face seemed to light up across the dim, silent space between them just stopped him in his tracks. So he turned back towards the circle of illumination that marked her room, and asked if she’d like any coffee.
***
She pretended not to notice the heavy scent of alcohol on his breath or the way his hands shook as he lifted the heavy mug to his lips.
***
He didn’t ask why she was still awake in the silent pre-dawn hours, refusing to allude to the paperwork or whatever demons it was keeping at bay.
***
They sat and talked until the first streaks of light began to color the sky, about everything and nothing, their families and horses and lives before the Palace.
***
As Evin left, he laughed silently to himself at the thought that he had found what he was looking for, in a place he had never expected.
***
For once in her life, Kel decided to ignore the tolling of the dawn bell and drifted off into her first peaceful sleep in days, a small smile playing across her face.
Prompt: #3, Candle
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Evin/Kel of course.
It was late, too late for anyone in their right mind to still be awake. And it was cold, the harsh bone-chilling cold of a clear night unsoftened by drifting flakes. Yet there he was, sneaking back to his rooms like a silly squire, and it was all his own damn fault. He should have known better than to go looking for a distraction. The idea of having just one night where he could forget about the world and the war and simply enjoy himself had seemed so enticing earlier that night, but he had known almost as soon as he got to the Inn that this wasn’t what he was looking for. So he had been forced to drown his sorrows until he finally came to his senses and started the long walk back to the Palace, the alcohol just making his steps feel heavier rather than coursing warmth through his veins.
The Palace was dark as he cut through the gardens, savoring the silence. This was one of his favorite shortcuts, but since he had returned from the North it had been packed with young ladies chattering over the return of the men and trying to catch themselves a war hero. It was only the boldest who would approach him- Commander or not, he didn’t have a drop of noble blood in him and any girls who showed interest were surely doing so against their parent’s wishes- but it was still an annoyance, one he was happy to be without if only this once. It was almost pleasant, being out here in the silence while all around him people slept. As he stared out across the rows of blackened windows, a sudden flickering light caught his eye, blinding him for a moment- someone had just lit a candle. Someone else, then, who the night had brought no peace; it was nice to know that he wasn’t alone. Looking closer, he realized it was her room, and he wasn’t really surprised. Changing course, he turned instead towards the kitchens, acting without thinking, without hesitation. It was still too early for the servants to be awake, but he was good with locks and they always left a fire burning.
He knocked awkwardly on her door, his hands burdened with two mugs of steaming coffee and his brain still confused about what he was doing here. If anyone saw him, there would be talk, the kind of talk that Kel was so careful to avoid. This was stupid and reckless and she probably just wanted to be alone; it wasn’t fair to dump his own problems on her shoulders as well when she was already trying to carry so much.
***
The desk in front of her was nearly covered in papers, and her hands itched to organize the mess. But it was too late to be up walking about- someone might hear her, and mention it to one of her friends, and then they’d all be concerned over nothing. Neal had asked her yesterday if she was having trouble sleeping again, and he wouldn’t take it well if he learned that she had lied to him. It wasn’t like she didn’t have plenty to do, what with filling out even more field reports for the King and petitioning for more supplies to go to New Hope as soon as the snows permitted travel. Just because she wasn’t stationed there anymore didn’t mean she had forgotten about her friends, and that paperwork wasn’t going to do itself.
Sighing, she lit another candle and sat down to work, massaging her eyes with the heel of her hand and running her fingers through her short hair. It had happened almost everyday this week, the feeling that drove sleep away and forced her into this hard wooden desk chair at an ungodly hour of the morning- not a nightmare as much as an overwhelming sense that there was something she needed to do, something she had forgotten to take care of that they might have to pay for in lives in the morning. Even when she woke up enough to remember that she was back at the Palace now and a treaty had been signed, her racing heart still kept her from getting any rest, and those closest to her were starting to notice. It would be another long night- she would have to do something tomorrow about the circles under her eyes, before Neal made her take one of his noxious herbal mixes.
She was startled out of her silent reverie by a light tapping sound. It seemed like a timid knock, but no one would be awake at this time, and certainly no one would come to her rooms in the middle of the night. Still, she was nearly sure someone had been at the door...or maybe it was just the lack of sleep playing tricks on her mind. That was the last thing she needed now, to start hearing voices on top of everything else. Still, this wouldn’t be the first time that she had been summoned in the middle of the night, though not while she was at home since she had still been a squire with the Own. Reluctantly she unwrapped herself from the blanket and went to assure herself that everything was all right.
***
He was halfway down the hall when he heard the door open softly. She peered out into the darkness, night-blinded after the brightness of the candlelit room, and he almost kept walking. But then she recognized him, and something about the way her face seemed to light up across the dim, silent space between them just stopped him in his tracks. So he turned back towards the circle of illumination that marked her room, and asked if she’d like any coffee.
***
She pretended not to notice the heavy scent of alcohol on his breath or the way his hands shook as he lifted the heavy mug to his lips.
***
He didn’t ask why she was still awake in the silent pre-dawn hours, refusing to allude to the paperwork or whatever demons it was keeping at bay.
***
They sat and talked until the first streaks of light began to color the sky, about everything and nothing, their families and horses and lives before the Palace.
***
As Evin left, he laughed silently to himself at the thought that he had found what he was looking for, in a place he had never expected.
***
For once in her life, Kel decided to ignore the tolling of the dawn bell and drifted off into her first peaceful sleep in days, a small smile playing across her face.