OOC: Dee and Sam, this occurs a few week after the Children and Arette have left Arad Doman. Me and James talked about a goodbye RP that would be set to the morning everyone leaves the Manor (few weeks before this one), but I felt like writing this one instead tonight. Will start the goodbye RP tomrorrow.

 

James, If the pipe doesn't fit, just let me know and I'll edit it out. It was just a small flavour tidbit. *s*

 

IC: The dancing flames of the fireplace cast flickering shadows and lights on a cozy sight: a couple on a sofa, the man sitting and smoking his pipe and the woman reading and resting her head on his lap. The faint tick of a clock told that the inn wasn't for the poorest travelers, and the only other sounds breaking the comfortable silence were firewood cracklig and occasional dice rattling and murmurous voices and laughter from the common room of the inn. That was where the other Children of the Light were spending their luxurious evening. After a few weeks of traveling and camping in the woods, a stop in this smallish town was a pleasurable break for them all. Arette knew that Luca and some others had betted on her chances tonight and she was going to score them some money tonight. The whole wager was indecent of course and so was what she would do, but life and their time together was too short to worry about such things now.

 

She twisted her neck to crane up at the beloved face above her. "Con, could we talk about something?"

 

"We can be talking, but the answer still do be no Arette."

 

She sat up indignantly and faced him fully. "You don't even know what I was going to say."

 

"You do be right, I can no be knowing it."

 

She sighed and lowered her gaze to her hands. Wait, did he think that she was a...? No, she would not be provocated by anything.

 

"Alright, I admit it. I was going to talk about it. I just want to understand why not." Because he doesn't really want you. He made his offer just because it's the right thing to do. Because you would be putting him to even greater risk. The last one was almost strong enough reason to make her give up the whole topic. The others could just get her humiliated, but she really needed to know. The answer could make the wait a bit more tolerable even though it was just a few more weeks left before they reached Fernhill. She just wanted to be alleviated from this nagging doubt she had.

 

"How is this different from Tar Valon? You knew that I couldn't marry you then, but you weren't at all hesitant to... ahem... be with me. Now when we are engaged, I guess, you are barely ever even alone with me. Is it because..." No, she couldn't ask this. Yes, yes, she would!

 

"Is it because I refused to allow myself to become a decent woman then and now it's different?

 

The safe answer of course was that he thought matrimony to be too important to be spoiled by prenuptial juvenile rush, but it was the frustrating answer. She would get to be Mistress Stavros for maybe one or two days before he would leave. But he was too bloody stubborn and upright to admit that it would be perfectly reasonable to enjoy the time they had to its fullest. Sigh. But there were the Children still. If Luca actually claimed his victory, some of the others would take it amiss and the danger of letting something slip even by an accident would increase.

 

"No. Nevermind. I don't want to spoil a nice evening." Which of course meant that she did want to know, she just wasn't sure whether she would like the answer or not. "But can we still sleep in the same room? I promise that I will behave. We could even have that sword of yours between us or take what ever measure if you feel like something is needed."

 

Arette Nenatiar

A Very Deprived Woman

Exiled Brown Sister

Bonded to Calvin Gaidin

Mother of Karana and Telcina

There was something to be said for this. Con wasn't a complex man, at least he didn't consider himself to be so. His basic desire was to do good things, and so he did them where he could. He wore a sunburst because the Children did good things, and it gave him a measure of pride and satisfaction to be able to do it justice. He also believed Aes Sedai weren't inherently evil, which would bring him out of line with the majority of Children. Thankfully, it was members of the minority which had accompanied him to help two Aes Sedai rescue kidnapped Children, a good deed despite the 'evil' of some of their companions.

 

There was of course, further complications. Con himself had once been the Commander of the Tower Guard, that meant he had not only once been a servant of Aes Sedai, but he'd been very highly placed. He'd also become an unbonded Warder to Telcia Sedai, and he'd become the lover of Arette Sedai. The latter being a woman who had thoroughly ripped his guts out, but now he had come to understand. A woman who was laying on his lap reading quietly while he smoked a pipe he had taken up since the manor.

 

This his men accepted, with different degrees of difficulty yet accept it they did. As did Brandeis, one of his closest friends, though of course not without difficulty. Arette in turn had learned to accept them somewhat, something that had made this moment possible. It couldn't last of course, they had to return to the Fortress soon and be able to show something for their efforts, but that was then. For now, he could enjoy what they had, almost alone as they warmed themselves by the fire.

 

Frowning as he looked down to Arette who spoke to him, Con's answers was immediate and Arette wasted no time in giving a flustered response. He was more than happy to admit he didn't know for certain, what she had wished to say, but he was proven true a moment later. It was something that had come up ever since they had made peace between themselves. It had also been Arette's doing, though Con didn't blame her because she had been right. They had a clean slate, a chance for them to start anew, it would be a terrible waste to spoil the opportunity they had.

 

Her question caught him off guard, she hadn't been a decent woman strictly but then he hadn't been either. But they had known the realities of what they were, what could and couldn't be and they'd had to take what they could instead. But Arette was quick to try and change the topic, and by that she meant that she wanted to know but wanted to avoid trouble. One thing he had learned was that it was never wise to let something fester with Arette once she had it in her mind. It had to be nipped in the bud or it would end badly.

 

Reaching over for one of her hands, Con took it in his own, rubbing it gently as he considered his words. "Yes, it do be." Feeling her hand stiffen, Con kept at it as he continued. "Before there no be the hope of anything else. You did be Keeper of Chronicles, I did be but a Tower Guard and then did become the Commander. What we had... We could never be allowing to come first, and that did be what we needed."

 

Looking directly to Arette, Con chose his words with care yet they were also genuine. "We do be having the opportunity to be doing things right this time. Despite my oaths to the Children, it do be possible. I no be wanting to risk that, I did be losing you once and what if you do be looking back on this later and wishing you had waited? That do be why we no be sharing the same room and bed. I do be knowing myself, and with you so close I no be sure I could be holding on as I have. You do be knowing it full well." The last was said with a slight smile.

 

 

Con Stavros

Child of the Light

This time, This place

Misused, Mistakes

Too long, Too late

Who was I to make you wait

Just one chance

Just one breath

Just in case there's just one left

'Cause you know,

you know, you know

 

I love you

I have loved you all along

And I miss you

Been far away for far too long

I keep dreamin you'll be with me

and you'd never go

Start breathing if

I don't see you anymore

 

-Nickelback: Far Away

 

 

It surprised Arette that Con answered the question she had tried to backpedal from. It was very perceptive of him and the answer was very satisfying too. The next one... well, she had expected it. She took his hands to hers in turn and smiled at him a bit ruefully. "I was kind of counting on that. But I should have known that you wouldn't let me. It's just that... I know that I wouldn't regret it."

 

"Last time we did hurry a bit, yes, but then we would have had more time. Now we don't. I wonder if I won't be regretting us not taking the chance of the time we have." She looked at him intensively. "You said that fear is a bad reason, but I am so worried for you. The Children have good causes, but they have their rotten apples too. You will be Questioned... What if something happened to you?"

 

"What happens happens." It was odd for Con to be so blase, but there were some things that he couldn't worry about. "We have the time we do be woven, and when that time do be up then it be up. You did be getting a glimpse of it at the Manor, but for those of us who have fought alot, it do be something we do be realising. Can only be trusting in the Creator to be weaving as he does for good reason. Besides, the questioners no be having me, I do be safe with the Lord Captain Commander's protection."

 

Arette wasn't entirely convinced still, but there was nothing she could do about it. She could just try to put it aside tonight and enjoy what little time they had in the only way he would allow it. She sighed and lifted his arm wrapping it around her and bringing herself to nestle right to his side.

 

"Lets talk then. You brought up the Manor." She couldn't help but shiver when she remembered the brutal skirmish and the face of the man she had killed flashed briefly in her mind again. She dispersed the image. "Do you ever get used to the killing? How was it for you the first time? Nightmares, guilt...?"

 

Keeping his silence at first, Con gave Arette a reassuring squeeze before speaking. "Some do, some don't. Trollocs do be easier to forget, but people... I no be forgetting them, not entirely. That do be the price we pay for killing. Sometime it do be easier to be remembering that they be darkfriends, or bad people, but sometimes it no be seeming to matter. Things do be seeming different now that you have killed true? You do be realising how fragile life is when you do be taking it."

 

Arette nodded severely at what she said. It felt different now. And to think that she had signed so many orders sending men here and there to kill and die for the Tower without thinking more than passingly what it would be like for them. Their blood was on her hands too. "Do you begrudge the Tower for what you did in its service? You felt like you weren't doing the right things, so do you have regrets? I know that it's useless to play the what if game, but if it hadn't been the Tower that took your innocence, would you have gone to the Borderlands?"

 

Con's answer was immediate though it was delivered slowly. There was little doubt in his mind as to what he thought. "I think so. But that no be what the Wheel be weaving, so I no be thinking about it. Besides, if this work no be done here, then it only be left for someone else to be doing." Kneading her hand firmly, Con smiled. "And you? Will you be staying in Fernhill when we return?"

 

His words really stung, maybe because they reverberated her own feelings and conclusions she had come to since living in the exile. So many years wasted, a century for her. There was a few lifetime's of knowledge crammed in her mind but what use was it when she didn't apply it. She had never even built that observatory of hers, but they could have started preparing for the Dragon Reborn when he was a young man. Right when she had thought to finally go out in the world and actually do things, she had become confined to the Tower. And what good had she really done as the Keeper?

 

She patted his hand absent-mindedly for reassurance at his reaction. "I think so." There was slight doubt in her voice, though. "It is the best place for the girls now. Small children need routines and safety and countryside is a good environment. But... I just can't help wondering if I am wasting my potential there. There is alot to be done there too, to win back the trust of the people again and helping with the crops and... Still, could I do a bigger difference somewhere else? I guess there is no right answer, so until the Dragon calls all the Channelers, I will be there being a mother and a Wisdom's apprentice." If her children even recognized her when she returned.

 

There she was, ruining their evening. Arette looked up at Con and kissed his cheek lightly. "Don't mind me, I will cheer up. So, when do you think you will be able to come and see us again?"

 

"Not for awhile, I no be thinking they be quickly letting me out of their sight after being away so long." Con still feel the kiss on his cheek even after Arette had settled herself back against his shoulder. What she said before bore thinking about. "I just do be worried is all, if the shadow do be going to Fernhill once, they do be able to do so again. Are you sure you be safe there?"

 

It warmed her that he was worried for them, but she had to admit that she shared the sentiment. Still, if they started running now, there would be no end to it for nowhere was safe anymore. "We cannot know that for sure since we couldn't figure out what was the motive behind the kidnap of Jelene and Jamal." Talk about frustration there and acceleration of concern. "But we will be more careful this time. Con, I swear that I will take care of our daughters. We could move to the village to be closer to the other people and you could see if the security of Fernhill could be improved easily."

 

Nodding, Con lowered his arm about Arette and pulled her close. There was no need for words now, now was for spending what time they had together while they still could. Soon they would need sleep and that would be the end of things until the morrow. Not exactly what Con wanted, in fact he had other ideas entirely for how the time could be spent, but things would be done right this time. He wouldn't have her feeling a shame she had no reason to this time.

 

Sensing his need to just be with her without words, she complied gladly and melded against him. She couldn't imagine a more intimate space than the narrow sofa as they laid down, cupped like two spoons. She would have prefered to have her back against him rather than to lay against his back almost crushed between him and the back of the sofa. But there was comfort in the confinement and she threw her leg over him possessively to be able to snuggle even tighter. Brushing his hair and occasionally whispering that she loved him proved to be a better way than the novice excercises to reach the calmness that had eluded her for days now. Before she even knew it, she was drifting across the borders of sleep and in her dreams they were together just the way she had wanted. Even in slumber her cheeks flushed, but definately not with embarrasment.

 

Arette & Con

It had been a little over a week since the precious one night in the inn and Arette and Con had had only few moments for each others when they had camped. They had taken to doing a little walk every night, or 'neckin' in the woods' as Leon called it, but regretfully it had been all proper, handholding and hugging being the most advanced contact. Even Bernd didn't disapprove, especially after learning that they would get married when they arrived to Fernhill.

 

Now they were on the road again and Arette was surrounded by Bernd, Leon and Luca, the three Children who had seemed to become her perpetual companies. Not that she minded, she got along very well with them except Luca for his earlier stupid remark. Still, after meeting Iussi again and despite warming up a bit more to him, she thought that Luca wasn't as bad with putting his foot to his mouth as the man Telcia had married. Luca's road back to her good graces would be a bit longer though, and he seemed to enjoy the process. They often exchanged remarks that amused them all four and her acerbity was many times spoiled by her lips twitching.

 

The sun had passed its zenith and it was almost a lunch time when hoof beats thundered on the road toward their first lines. The whole column halted and prepared for a potential encounter. Arette peered urgently at the woods wondering if there would be trouble. Everyone relaxed almost visibly when it proved to be one of their own scouts. Obviously there was something urgent to report ahead of them and all eyes followed the scout as he made his way to Con. There was no way to hear what they were speaking even with enchancing her senses with the One Power, so all she could do was wait. She couldn't even start to guess what it all was about, but her gut feeling was certain that it would mean change to their plans. Light, she couldn't bear it if Con couldn't come home with her. All they needed was a day! And he needed to be with their daughters.

 

Her fears were increased when Con pointed at her and motioned her to come to him after a short exchange of words with the scout. She and her three companions exchanged worried looks and as she spurred her horse, they accompanied her to him. Con was wearing his accursed helmet, so she was unable to see his face.

 

"Con, what is wrong?" she blurted when she was a horse span away from him and well on the hearing distance. Bernd, Leon and Luca had enough sense to stay back a bit and give them their privacy, but Brandeis didn't move a fin. Arette closed the space between herself and the men and gave him an annoyed glance before turning her full attention on Con again.

 

Arette

Exiled Brown Sister

Motioning for Arette to join him as the scout turned and began to head back to his camp, Con couldn't help but feel like his guts had been ripped out. Recalled. They were to proceed south until they found the banner that was out this way. One that had been told to find news of them as they could and if found to have them return immediately to report. The moment they returned, that was it, this adventure as it had been was finished and they had orders other than their own to follow again. Death light as a feather, duty heavier than a mountain.

 

Worse was having to break this to Arette. He was to marry her when they returned to Fernhill, give the men a week's furlough which was fair after all they had been through and spend a bit of time with Arette and more importantly his own daughters. That dream he had been holding to, something that had kept him sane during the entire trip with Arette, was now thoroughly ruined. They would have to wait until the next time he came this way, and when that was he couldn't know. Until then, he would have to bear with it, and so would she, but that hadn't been what he had wanted at all. Just to do things right.

 

And they would be done right, no matter how painful.

 

"We do be recalled. We do be required to head south with all speed to meet with the Banner that is in the area. One of their orders do be to have us rejoin them if they found us, to report and to serve until they do be returning to Amador or we do be dispatched there." Words spoken with an iron will, it was all Con had to hold himself together as he looked to Brandeis. "I do be needing you to get the men ready to head south if you would? I do be needing a moment."

 

Getting a nod from Brandeis, Con pulled on the reins and led Arette a little bit further away and made sure to have his back to his men before he removed his helm. His face had scarred none too well from the battle at the Alianin manor, and it looked only worse with the agony on his face. He might not have been bonded to Arette, but if she couldn't see and feel what he felt then she would have to be blind. "I do be sorry, but there do be no choice. If I no be returning, then they do be coming here instead and then to Fernhill. One slip do be all that it would take. I jus-"

 

 

Con Stavros

Child of the Light

 

OOC: Set it up for you to interrupt.

OOC: I appreciate it :)

 

IC:

 

It had been too good to be true. But still Arette had let herself to dream and hope and it had opened her to disappointment and pain the size of the Dragonmountain. The shock of the news left her unable to mask her emotions for a moment and her face was a study of anguish. Con sounded so distant and unemotional when breaking the news that she knew he was resorting to the Flame and the Void. She wasn't as adept at blocking her feelings, but she was expert at clinging to her pride and not letting anyone see them. I will not let Con's men to see me as a mewling weakling, she thought fiercely. Thinking Brandeis especially helped. She didn't think that the man particularly enjoyed seeing their perdicament, but he had a dark sense of humour and he would surely see the irony of the situation.

 

She followed Con obediently as a doll and tried to assure herself that she had to be strong for him. His safety was at even higher risk here than hers and she had to make this easy for him. It would be wrong to make demands and force him to a situation of choosing between her and duty. Besides she would most likely loose the contest, she thought bitterly. It was just so unfair. Hadn't they deserved this small happiness? She cursed properness to the Pit of Doom; they should have seized the moment when there was a chance. So many nights lost. When Con removed his helmet and proved that he was as affected by the ill news as she was, Arette had to steel herself. He was trying to explain, to justify it, but she didn't need it. That wasn't how their last moments together should be. Guiding Grey side to side with Arestas, she placed a finger firmly on his lips to silence him. Her hands moved with their own volition to touch his beloved face and press to memory every detail. Light only knew when she would see him again. The scar, the beard... she had to remember that too and add it to the image she would show to the girls. It was her fault that there was a scar, she wasn't good enough Healer.

 

"I know", she said quietly. "You have to go and I am not going to beg you to stay. It wouldn't make you happy, not that way." The virulence threatened to surface again, but she couldn't let it or she would ruin the goodbyes. She would lash out with the hurt and harm them both again. She didn't deserve him. "We have all the time in the world and you will come to us when you can." If only he survived the Questioning. "I only need to know that you will be safe and where you are at all times. There is a way and it is really simple, all you need to do is consent..." And if something did happen to him, she would be aware of that too. Light keep him.

 

Arette

Exiled Brownie

The words cut even as they comforted, but they both knew what had to be and that was all there was to it. Well, all they could allow. Con had his duties and his oaths, if he couldn't honour them then what did he have? As a consolation it had once worked flawlessly, it had always managed to give him some steel when things looked bad. That had also been before he had discovered he was a father, and that the woman that he loved hadn't really used him. She'd just lashed out in jealousy, and as terrible as it had been they had been able to move forward from it. Something that had come to give Con a great deal of peace as their journey had continued, and more so on the way back.

 

Of course, it was also the source of the anguish now. Yet at least now he had love as a balm against the pain rather than duty alone, the one thing that made it bearable. That and the hope that he would one day be able to return to his family and be a father to his children rather than a story that their mother told them as they got older. They were more than duty, they were a part of him and he was going to be there for them one day, sooner or later.

 

But that day was not today. As Con was about to speak, Arette pushed onto a topic that almost caused his jaw to drop. She was a Brown Sister! They only had one gaidin, and besides which he was going back into harms way. He wasn't going to let her bond him only for her to then feel his pains through the bond if things did not go well.

 

Besides which, he wasn't sure if he would let anyone bond him now. He was getting on in his thirties and he wasn't getting any younger. All that time without a bond, he wasn't even sure how he would manage with having another person inside his head. That was something for younger warriors, ones who were young enough to adapt to such a connection. That wasn't him, he doubted it ever could be. Shaking his head at Arette, his answer was simple. "No. I no be doing so when it could be harming you. I wi- no, it no be wise to be thinking on it further. If something do be happening to me, I no be compounding it with a broken bond, the children do be needing you first and foremost."

 

 

Con Stavros

Child of the Light

Con's refusal stunned Arette and she could just stare at him as he explained his stance. It slowly dawned on her that he had misunderstood her. He had though that she wanted to Bond him. Light! It would be wonderful to know exactly what he felt, especially in the bed if they ever got to share one again. But all the reasons why she couldn't and shouldn't take him a Warder still existed. She had just assumed that he knew of the weave that could duplicate the effect on a smaller scale without as intimate connection. It made her wonder what he had been about to wish for...

 

Maybe she was a bit hysterical, but the situation had certain black humour to it. Her lips twitched and soon she was giggling uncontrollably. She pressed her fingers to her lips to stop it. She did not giggle and this was no time to waste the precious moments they had to this. It had made her feel a little better at least. Drawing breath a few times to compose herself again she shook her head wistfully at him. "I couldn't bond you even if I wanted to, love. So I wasn't talking about that. However I am glad that you no longer sprout the drivel that you wouldn't be good enough to be taken a Warder." Feelings of inadequacy had become her plague instead whereas he had performed admirably in his role of protector of Telcia and her children just like he had sworn on the fateful day before he had left to accompany her to give birth in secret. She had been too suspicious of their declaration of love to be jealous of that oath. It had become fairly evident in the battle before the manor how much Con cared for Telcia's safety. She cared of her friend's safety too course, but in Con's heart of hearts he was already a Warder to Telcia and that was something else.

 

Arette had no doubt that he wouldn't protect her and their children as devoutedly, but what would he do if he ever had to choose between protecting her or Telcia. It was useless speculation though, since Light only knew when she and Telcia would even meet again. She felt a pang of longing for the Red Sister. They had shared a home for over a year and become closer than ever in the Tower. Maybe it would have been better if she had pulled on his loyalty and Con would work for Telcia and not the Children. Telcia would surely be a kinder mistress and she and Con could have been together... and she would have just learned to live with the third wheel in their relationship.

 

No use of thinking useless what ifs now when Con remained a Child of the Light and was leaving any minute now. Arette turned her full attention back on him and tried to focus on what they had been discussing earlier. "Oh yes, the other weave. It can be placed on an object and as long as you carry it, I will know where you are and vaguely how you are. The connection is gone if you loose the object. That's what I was talking about. Could you accept such an object?" She looked at him pleadingly. "Please Con, it would be very important to me to know that you are safe."

 

She hesitated for a moment but finally grabbed a string from under the collar of her dress and fished out a small pouch. The objects inside clinged together with a metallic sound when she rolled them on her palm. Two golden rings glistened there, another a coiled serpent biting its on tail and beside it a larger circle clearly meant for man's finger. It was polished, but managed to still look unrefined with its uneven surface formed by slight valleys here and there along the rims that looked like they had been pressed with fingertips.

 

"I made this for you." She faced him gravely holding her palm open. "It was supposed to be for tomorrow. I'm sorry that it isn't very pretty. Earth is not my strongest suite. I don't even know if it fits since I could measure your finger only when you slept."

 

"I... I could attach the weave on this one if you'll just let me. If not... you could still keep the ring for me until we meet the next time. Consider it a promise ring or betrothal or what ever you call it in..." Light, she was on verge of tears all the sudden. She couldn't let him go. But he had to and causing a scene would just make it harder on them both. She blinked furiously and busied herself with smoothing out an invisible wrinkle from her dress.

Reaching over to Arette, Con took the hand which had the rings and squeezed it affectionately. Not only was it to support her, but himself as well. It would most likely be the last touch he had of her for a long time if ever again. She had obviously been thinking of it for sometime, planned for it even. The promise of something that could have been, and a commitment to something he would see done. He would marry Arette, there was no one else he could pledge himself to in such a way and nor would he have wanted there to be. "I do be liking that idea, alot. A betrothal ring, one that will one day become a marriage band."

 

Arette smiled at Con a bit tremulously and covered his hand with hers raising it to her lips. She loved his hands, they were so strong and showed that he had done hard work in his life, but they were capable of great gentleness too. "Done. Will you wear the ring on the other hand or do you want the pouch?" She paused for a moment thinking how to word her next question. She didn't want to pressure him, but it was an important matter to her. "And you didn't really answer my question about the weave, love. No is an option too." She would be upset, but she would live with it too. Their last moments would not be spent arguing.

 

Lifting up his right hand, Con waved his ring finger at her. He doubted anyone would notice he was wearing a ring when he returned, except maybe the questioners but they'd get nothing out of him except that he'd developed a penchant for jewelry. "I do be wearing the ring on this hand now, and then I do be swapping it to my left when we do be married." Frowning, Con realised something. "I do be thinking I skipped something." Slipping out of the saddle, Con looked up at Arette as he held her free hand firmly. "Arette, I no be having much to offer you now, maybe not in the future either. But what I do have, and my love, they do be yours regardless of what happens. Would you be my wife?"

 

Heaving a sigh of relief and releasing the breath she hadn't realized she was holding, Arette was about to place the ring on Con's right hand when he frowned and declared that he had skipped something. He prepared to dismount and she waited patiently what he had in mind. This time she couldn't guess. When he came to stand beside Gaidar and looked up to her intently, she missed a few heartbeats. He proposed... Light, she had imagined this scene while they had been apart for so many times, but it was even sweeter than anything she could have come up with. And to think that she hadn't even thought of it and noticed they had missed something. They both had just assumed without saying much that there would be a ceremony in Fernhill.

 

Beaming at him her eyes full of love, she replied without hesitation. "Yes. I couldn't think of anything that I want more than to be your wife, Con. I love you. And having you love me back is all that I will ever need, you hear me." She took his right hand firmly to hers and placed the ring to his ring finger. It fell on its place with only slight resistance at the joint and suddenly it all felt real. Light, they were betrothed.

 

She cast her eyes on the ground and bit her lip. "You know, it is traditional to kiss your betrothed now." Well, it sure wasn't an Andoran tradition but she was certain that somewhere in some remote village it was a tradition. Before he could object, she placed her hands on his shoulders and slid off the horseback against him. In her imagination it was all ladylike flowing movement, but in reality her left foot got stuck on the stirrup and she more stumbled down.

 

Catching Arette as she dismounted, he began to lower her gently but she wasn't having any of that. The moment she wrapped her arms around him he didn't care either. Embracing, the kiss they shared was certainly not a chaste and gentle one. Passionate, it was the last one either of them was going to have for a very long time and Con wasn't going to waste this one moment. It was a time before they parted, but when they did Con was able to smile again, even if sadly. But, there was something that still needed doing. Con slowly raised his right hand, it needed the ring. It was up to Arette now.

 

She didn't have time to mourn her clumsiness for Con stopped her plunge. He tried to guide her to the ground but she entwined herself around him and pressed her mouth hungrily on his. His reply was most satisfyingly ardent and for a perfect long moment she couldn't think. She was all feeling and desire. When he finally let her go, she could just breath unevenly and stare at him longingly. Light, he had been so right when he said that they would want more after a kiss. But at least she would have something even more concerete to miss now. It had been so very long from the last time, but the fire hadn't dulled one bit.

 

She regained some of her wits when he lifted his hand. It was hardly a call for embrace and when the ring glinted in the sunlight, she remembered. She gave him a questioning look and at his nod she took hold of saidar. She didn't let herself revel in the sweetness of life that filled her, but wove deftly a thick weave of Spirit and tied it to the ring on a tight knot. Suddenly there was another ball of awareness on the back of her head beside the emotions that were Calvin's. Only this was much dimmer and smaller, but it was Con. She closed her eyes, greatful that she would have at least this much of him always... or as long as he had the ring. She let go of saidar with the usual small twinge of regret and smiled at him.

 

"I can feel you now. Thank you, Con. I wish it would work the other way around too. Even without this, you will be with me in my thoughts all the time. And I promise that the girls will recognise you when you come." This had a ring of goodbyes to it. But they still had some time.

 

Smiling at Arette's last words, he made a very easy decision. Taking one last kiss that was just as desperate as the one before it, Con only parted from Arette when he needed to breath. Red faced and red eyed as the time had come, he did what needed to be done, nevermind how stupid it was. Picking up his helm which had fallen to the ground when he had dismounted, he put it on and swung himself up into the saddle. Without looking back because to do so was going to make it worse, he rode on to catch up to his fellow Children that had started on without him.

 

 

Con Stavros & Arette Nenatiar