A/N: I went through and updated/edited this so it flows a bit better. I also changed my Fateless One's name. While I was actually playing the game I'd called her Unicorn on a whim, but I don't think I could have written about a character named Unicorn seriously so her new name is inspired by the unicorn constellation. Hope people enjoy and please review!
Alyn Shir didn't have time for love. There was a war on and the woman had more important things she needed to occupy her thoughts with. Nevertheless, for the past few months, Alyn's heart simply refused to listen to such reason.
The woman's eyes, while they should have been keeping watch over her shoulder, more frequently wandered over the woman that Amalur was coming to know as the Fateless One. When speaking with her, Alyn surprisingly found her voice smooth, rather than laced with the veiled threats that often greeted others. Most recently, and possibly most frustratingly, her brain had even deemed it appropriate to conjure naked, exotic visions of the Fateless woman both while she was awake and asleep.
"Only dakkalfar," Alyn alway silently explained away the natural attraction to the beautiful woman whenever it surfaced to torment her. Yet, even if she needed to concentrate on more important things, the woman knew better than to believe that she could fully conquer the stirrings of desire. She'd watched people from the shadows long enough to see plenty of powerful and headstrong souls submit to lust and longing. So, Alyn begrudgingly accepted her growing taste for her ally but felt the heated torment in the back of her mind. She always kept the internal fires guarded, and was prepared to stifle them should the embers attempt to blaze into a forest fire.
As if a test from the gods, Alyn mournfully noticed a familiar figure drawing toward her on a night she did not have the energy to hold strong to her defenses. It must have been a cruelly divine joke, she cursed inwardly. She had hidden herself well in a secluded corner of Mel Senshir, far away from a celebration being held in honor of the hero that had saved fort's walls only hours ago. Unfortunately for Alyn, her approaching company proved she hadn't hidden herself well enough.
As she watched said hero draw closer, she tried not to set her sight on the other woman's curves. With the Fateless One's leather and metal armor mostly stripped away, it was all too easy to make out a tantalizing figure beneath simple clothes. Wearing little covering was a tactical decision she herself practiced, which often proved a great distraction to her enemies. Oh yes, Alyn was well aware what an alluring body could do to a lustful mind.
"Ceros, "Alyn greeted as the Fateless One made her final steps toward her. Ceros' movements were a bit looser than what Alyn had grown accustomed to expect. Her eyes sparkled with an uncharacteristic whimsy and curiosity, a probable effect of the wine consumed at the party.
At first, the Fateless One said nothing, simply meeting Alyn's gaze with a stare she had seen before. Before Ceros' death, before she was Fateless, during a life when Alyn knew her by another name and had held less troubling feelings for her, she'd often twisted her features in such a way whenever in deep thought.
"Join us," words finally came from the woman's mouth, "you deserve to celebrate as much as the rest of us."
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm not one for parties. I would have thought that to be obvious."
"It is."
"Than why ask a question you already know the answer?" Even though Alyn wanted to grin cheekily, she kept her face straight for appearance's sake. It was silly, but in a way, the fact Ceros had asked despite already knowing the answer seemed quite endearing.
"Join us." The Fateless woman requested again, her voice tipped with more insistence this time.
"I think I'd rather retire." Alyn sighed straightening from her seat upon one of Mel Senshir's walls. If she knew Ceros like she thought she did, Alyn doubted she was in a yielding mood after tasting a victory like the one today. It was better to retreat now while she still could, before Alyn became to drunk on the Fateless One's figure. And, in all honesty, Alyn really could use some sleep.
As she moved for her night lodgings, a hand reached out and caught her by the elbow. Her battle instinct almost detached the grip with a dagger, but Alyn restrained herself.
"Please." The word was gentle, but tone strong as Ceros eyed Alyn with as much determination she'd shown during the day's battle. Her eyes hard, as if she knew of Alyn's habit for removing unwanted touches with a blade, yet she had risked reaching for her anyway. "If you don't want to join us, than simply join me for the evening."
Though Alyn allowed herself a small smirk at the request, it took quite a bit of control to keep herself from blushing. It took even more to prevent herself from grabbing hold of Ceros and doing all sorts of things to her that she fantasized would leave the Fateless One ruined for anyone else.
"The moon is already rather high and I'd like to rest," Alyn said as she managed to lightly maneuver out of grip at her arm before she gave into temptation. "Not everyone is able to slaughter both a Tuathan army and their pet monster in one day, then still have plenty of energy to celebrate all night. That being said, even you must surely have your limits. Don't drink too heavily tonight Ceros. What good will our secret weapon be to us tomorrow if she is too hung over to advance on Gadflow's army?"
Ceros finally took her words to heart and backed way from Alyn, heading back to her party and admirers. For Alyn, her departure had not come quick enough. Listening to the Fateless One trying to lure her away had fueled her lust just as if Ceros had intended to temp Alyn into her bed, not into a party.
So, once Alyn had managed to lock herself behind closed doors she allowed her internal flames to burn hotly for a brief while. What little cloths she wore were either removed or pushed aside. Her hands, desperate to be on Ceros's skin, had to content themselves with her own flesh. And after featherlight caresses had transformed into needy squeezes and uncontrollable thrusts, her sensitive nerves finally tormented Alyn to the point where she could no longer bear to prevent herself from screaming out the Fateless' name.
When she found herself sated (yet somehow not truly satisfied), Alyn growled at herself in frustration while she tried to remember how to breathe naturally. "No time for love," she reminded herself.
"I have no time for love."