A Ball and the Blight (attn Sieve)

Kabria stood looking out the window of the room that she and Perivar shared, her hands gripping the window sill as she leaned forward to catch the cool breeze. Tomorrow they would leave his parents manor and set off into the Blight. Lord Terval had insisted on another ball in their honor, promising that it would go much better than the first. Even Laurelin had insisted on at least that, hinting that she hoped it could also be a wedding feast.

With their love out in the open Kabria had felt more free than she had in anytime since they’d met, and for the first time she was seriously considering marriage. Some Green’s did marry after all and she knew that she would never love any other like she did Perivar. She had not yet expressed these feelings to him though, hoping that he may ask without her needing too. 

Leaning back in and settling her heels on the floor Kabria sighed. She knew how important the trip into the Blight was to Perivar, but she still could not settle herself to the idea. It was more than just the danger they would face that nagged at her, it was leaving their new home. In the week since they’d spoken their love outright for his parents she’d been welcomed with open arms like a daughter. All the issues and mistakes during their first days forgotten. The people of their city had been even more accepting; feasting to them for three full days.  She had never believed that in such a short time she could come to love two people as much as she did Lord and Lady Tarigan. Even though the vows had not yet been said, she thought on them as parents.

Perhaps it was also them that made her worry overmuch about this trip. With the exception of trying to talk them into taking soldiers with them, they never mentioned the trip; but they didn’t have too. Kabria could see the tension around their eyes. Turning away from the window and the rapidly darkening sky she almost ran straight into Perivar’s chest. She’d been so preoccupied in her thoughts that she hadn’t felt him approach. “You are worried my love?” Craning her neck to look up into his eyes she smiled and shook her head slowly. “These are worrisome times Light of my heart.” Ever since they’d made their love public they had used every opportunity to use pet names and endearments with each other. “I worry no more than normal.”

He would feel the omission in the bond, but she hoped that he would leave it alone. This was their last night in the open and she did not want it ruined. “Could you help me with my buttons? Janie will fall over dead if I do not wear she dress the laid out of me.”

The dark green silk that was lain out on the bed was fancier than anything she’d ever owned before, a gift from Lady Laurelin. Even with an Aes Sedai's dignity she was unsure she would be able to carry the dress off. It was adorned on every surface with silver embroidery and seeded with tiny pearls along the arms and bodice. It fit her tight along the bodice and fell in rich folds below, the long sleeves coming to points that would hang down over her hands. This time there had been no need to loan her jewelry; Perivar’s mother had provided her with large emeralds for her hair and a small silver cornet, embellished with a serpent. Around her neck was a simple silver chain that held an emerald the size of a finger joint between her breasts. As Perivar’s fingers fumbled with undoing the last of her buttons, Kabria studied his reflection in the stand mirror across the room.

He had not changed yet for the ball, but he looked beautiful to her; dressed in his sparring clothes, a white linen shirt that clung to his muscles and pants that formed to his legs. He did not think himself a beautiful man, but she could see him as he truly was. He was a Lord, and a Warrior and the Light of her Heart.

Just as she was smiling at the frustration in his face while he fumbled with her buttons he looked up and caught her grin. Their eyes met in the mirror and for a moment they both froze. She could feel the heat flowing from her towards him and feel the intense emotions he returned. Reaching back to grip his hand that was laid on her shoulder she didn’t break his hungry gaze in the mirror. “Not now my love, we will be late.”

Stepping out of her dress she gave him a wink as she rushed out of his grip and clutched the dark green silk to her chest. “Do not ruin this dress Perivar! Your mother and Janie will both give you fits!!” She laughed coyly as she stepped into the silk and turned around again for him to do up the buttons.

There was something about teasing him that gave her great pleasure.