The Essence of Her
DISCLAIMER: The characters belong to Tamora Pierce. I'm just playing in the sandbox ____________________
Even after all these years, I still feel a little bit rough around the edges every time I see her.
I can't help it, really. She's all this fire and honor and pride, all this [i]woman[/i] I never thought I would have, and now she is mine, as much as she has ever been anyone's. With constant exposure, I've gotten used to being awed by her constantly, but when she leaves, I'm always overwhelmed by her when she comes back home.
I watch from my window as she dismounts, hands her reins off, hugs the children. She talks to them softly, her eyes constantly flicking up to my window. We are older now, past dramatic reunions, and she knows I need this moment to collect myself to see her again.
I've always been able to feel her when she's near. The sense started as a little tickle when she rode up, and as she passes through the gates and into the castle it gets stronger and stronger until I can feel her in every one of my bones. I've never told her this, but I can sense her moods when I feel her like this. Sometimes she settles over me like ice or fire, but today it's like being enfolded in a warm blanket. I close my eyes, feeling the comfort weigh heavier and heavier on me, and wait.
The feeling is almost more than I can bear when she finally speaks. "For a former King of the Rogue, you're very silly sometimes. I could have been a bandit, robbing the house blind."
I don't open my eyes, just smile. "I'd've heard you, darlin'. No bandits getting past these ears."
She laughs. "Point taken. Do you plan to look at me soon, or shall I go on with the work I need to do?"
"Just a moment." I want to stretch this feeling out as long as I can, to enjoy her presence until I can't stand it anymore and then....then....now.
I open my eyes slowly to look into dancing purple eyes. "Welcome home, Lioness."
She takes my face between her hands and kisses me, and I am surrounded by the essence of her.
DISCLAIMER: The characters belong to Tamora Pierce. I'm just playing in the sandbox ____________________
Even after all these years, I still feel a little bit rough around the edges every time I see her.
I can't help it, really. She's all this fire and honor and pride, all this [i]woman[/i] I never thought I would have, and now she is mine, as much as she has ever been anyone's. With constant exposure, I've gotten used to being awed by her constantly, but when she leaves, I'm always overwhelmed by her when she comes back home.
I watch from my window as she dismounts, hands her reins off, hugs the children. She talks to them softly, her eyes constantly flicking up to my window. We are older now, past dramatic reunions, and she knows I need this moment to collect myself to see her again.
I've always been able to feel her when she's near. The sense started as a little tickle when she rode up, and as she passes through the gates and into the castle it gets stronger and stronger until I can feel her in every one of my bones. I've never told her this, but I can sense her moods when I feel her like this. Sometimes she settles over me like ice or fire, but today it's like being enfolded in a warm blanket. I close my eyes, feeling the comfort weigh heavier and heavier on me, and wait.
The feeling is almost more than I can bear when she finally speaks. "For a former King of the Rogue, you're very silly sometimes. I could have been a bandit, robbing the house blind."
I don't open my eyes, just smile. "I'd've heard you, darlin'. No bandits getting past these ears."
She laughs. "Point taken. Do you plan to look at me soon, or shall I go on with the work I need to do?"
"Just a moment." I want to stretch this feeling out as long as I can, to enjoy her presence until I can't stand it anymore and then....then....now.
I open my eyes slowly to look into dancing purple eyes. "Welcome home, Lioness."
She takes my face between her hands and kisses me, and I am surrounded by the essence of her.