Entanglement
The first light of dawn danced across the sleeping figure of Ronin, flitting lightly across his face, calling him back to the new day. Blue eyes instantly sprang open, and a moment later Ronin had lept from his bed, ready for action, as always. There was much to do today, first he must oversee the dawn patrols, then he must drill the new recruits, and send out more patrols - for even though everything seemed peaceful enough the General did not believe in relaxing his vigilance.
The faintest of sounds caught his attention, and he froze, his warrior senses fully alert, every muscle taut and ready for action. Ronin sensed rather than heard something slither across the floor towards him, felt it's first touch round his waist.
"I wish you wouldn't do that ..." He growled halfheartedly, as he felt the vines creep across his body, entangling him, and pinning his arms to his side, as he heard Tara's joyous giggle from behind the door.
"Always so serious ..." Her voice was like sweet music on the air, tempting him with heady delights, as she stepped lightly in front of him. Her brown eyes dancing with delight and mischief - she looked so beautiful, her skin glowing in the early morning light, the sweet aroma of flowers wafting across the space between them.
Ronin made a half hearted attempt to free himself from the vine's embrace, knowing that it would only delight Tara further. He was rewarded for his efforts by the childlike joy that shone in her eyes, making her seem even more irrisistable than normal.
Ronin's breath caught in his throat as Tara drew ever closer. He could feel the radiance of her reaching across the space between them, the soft flow of her breath like a caress on his skin.
"I'm not ticklish," He said, as he steeled himself against the vine's wanderings, as it traced an enitcing path across his skin. His lips twitched, as the green tendrils ran lightly across a particularly vunerable spot just beneath his left ear, that only she knew about.
"Then why are you trying so hard not to laugh?" Tara queried lightly, "Everyone needs some fun sometimes Ronin, and you have the sweetest smile..." Her finger ran lightly across his cheek, as the vines loosened their grip on him just a little, "When you permit yourself to smile."
"I'm the General ... Generals don't smile ..." He began, as he strove to retain his sense of duty.
"To me you're just Ronin ... Ronin who never used to be so serious ... Ronin who has the sweetest smile ... just my Ronin." She said lightly.
Ronin couldn't help but smile at that, and his heart melted within him as he saw the delight on Tara's face, and let his mind contemplate the wonder of her words - 'my ronin.'
Tara had freed him of the vines entanglement, but he was still held effortlessly in her spell, entranced by the closeness of her. She smelt of forest flowers and morning dew, and her eyes sparkled like sunbeams, as her lips drew ever closer to his, her hands drifting through his hair.
"I have to organise the dawn patrol ... I'll be late ...I'm the General ..." He protested weakly.
"Then be late!" Tara whispered in his ear, an unspoken invitation in her chestnut eyes. An invitation Ronin couldn't resist, as his arms closed round her drawing her close, and his lips met hers in a first tender kiss. A kiss he had dreamed of for so long, a kiss that surpassed all his imaginings.
Author's Notes
My first ever Ronin/Tara fanfic, I'm immensely nervous about this, so feedback would be wonderful.
I just adore this ship, and hope to write more stories for it, I just loved the chemistry between Ronin and Tara, and I'd love to find a way to bring her back for Ronin.
This is a new fandom for me, and I'm still going to keep writing Albus/Minerva from Harry Potter.