It was Raieya and Gwaine's first night in the tavern and keeping with their tradition thus far, they had spent the evening drinking. The wind howled and rain pounded against the window as Raieya tossed their bags off the bed and to the floor. She stumbled over to the side of the bed, gripping the head board for balance while clumsily removing her dress. Kicking it aside she drew in a breath, trying to clear her head. She blamed the weather for her overindulgence of warm mead that night. Looking across the room she could see Gwaine was no better off than her. He'd had quite a bit of ale and was struggling to undo his belt so he could pull off his shirt. With a laugh, Raieya carefully crossed the room to him.
"Here," she offered. "Let me."
"Cause you can do better," Gwaine slurred with a grin.
"Probably," smirked Raieya.
Her fingers fumbled with the buckle for a moment and then she got it and cast it aside.
"Arms up," she instructed.
Gwaine obeyed and Raieya tugged his shirt up and off.
Raieya stepped back but Gwaine grabbed her and pulled her into a kiss.
"Gwaine," said Raieya, breaking it off after a moment. "Not tonight. We are both too drunk."
Gwaine opened his mouth to argue but Raieya interrupted him.
"Come on. It's cold and I'm tired. Let's just go lay down. I'll even let you hold me."
She grabbed his wrist, draping his arm around her shoulders and staggered toward the bed with him.
Gwaine laughed. "Oh, you'll let me, huh? You're the one always curling up in my arms to begin with!"
Pushing against his chest so he sat on the bed Raieya bent and pulled off his boots.
"Maybe," she shrugged. "You're warm."
She straightened, then deciding it was too much effort to walk around to the other side, climbed over him and into the bed.
"Watch it, Raieya," complained Gwaine. "You about kneed me in the groin."
Raieya laughed softly as she pulled the blankets up around them.
"Wouldn't want to damage you there," she teased.
"All you want me for is pleasure and warmth," said Gwaine, pretending to be hurt.
Raieya moved toward him but he edged away.
"Alright," laughed Raieya. "I suppose you're also good company."
"I am," said Gwaine. "Damn good company. You're lucky to have me."
"Mmm," mumbled Raieya as he pulled her into his arms. "Right."
"As always," he smirked.
Raieya lay her head against his chest as he shifted slightly to get more comfortable.
"You know," said Gwaine, once he was settled. "You never have told me how you ended up on the road."
Gwaine's comment sobered Raieya. She didn't want to tell him the truth. Not yet.
"Why do you ask?" she replied, avoiding giving him an answer.
"Cause," he responded. "I've been on the road awhile myself and not met any women who were traveling minstrels."
Raieya shrugged. "You probably just haven't crossed paths with any until me."
"I've met plenty of women though," said Gwaine, doubtfully.
"Oh, I'm sure you have," she replied, rolling her eyes.
Gwaine laughed before countering with, "None like you."
"Please," scoffed Raieya.
Gwaine smirked.
"You still haven't answered my question," he pointed out.
"What?" asked Raieya, feigning ignorance.
"How did you end up alone on the road?"
"It's really not that interesting," she answered dismissively.
"Then why don't you just tell me?" countered Gwaine. "Are you hiding some dark secret?"
He gave her a teasing look.
"No," snapped Raieya. "I just don't see why it matters."
Gwaine shrugged. Her strange behavior toward the question was really piquing his curiosity.
"It doesn't," he agreed. "So why are you acting all strange when I ask?"
"I'm not," said Raieya, defensively. "It's just not interesting. You want to know so bad? Fine. My father owns a tavern and I used to play there. You can only play the same songs for the same people for so long before they grow bored. So I took to the road to make my living."
"Your father was alright with that?"
"Yeah," Raieya shrugged, with a note of finality.
"What about you?" she asked, switching the question to him.
"Me?" said Gwaine. "Oh, I've never been one for following the rules. Left home when I was barely a man. Been on the road since."
"Where was home?"
"Caerleon's kingdom," shrugged Gwaine. "Yours?"
"Nemeth," she answered, laying her head back down as if she was bored of the conversation.
The gold ring and crescent shaped pendant Gwaine always wore on a chain around his neck caught her eye then. She had often wondered what their meaning was.
"Gwaine," she began, raising her head and drawing a hand up to brush across the necklace. "Why do you always wear these?"
For the first time, Gwaine looked a little uncomfortable.
"Just something from my family," he answered. "It's nothing."
"Did they want you to leave?" asked Raieya.
"No," Gwaine replied.
He looked away, as if staring off at a distant memory and sighed.
After a moment he stretched slightly and yawned.
"Guess I am tired after all. Good night, Raieya," he said, settling back against the pillow.
"Night," she replied.
She was even more curious about Gwaine's past now but she knew it would have to wait. Maybe one day they could tell each other the truth about what their lives were before they met.