Sunlight shone through the window as Avera rubbed her cheek against Casavir's chest revelling the feel of his muscles and soft hair. She moved her index finger over his collarbone enjoying the little sounds he made when she did so. Her right leg was wrapped over his left leg. His legs were so strong yet so ticklish.
A small wolf chuckle escaped her notice but not Casavir's. He smiled in contentment. His cheek sat upon the top of her head. One hand rested over her waist as he played with her hair with the other hand. Every now and again he would give her a kiss on her head then go back to resting against her and enjoying the sensations of just being together.
Once they had entered their room after supper the night before, they spent their time in their normal manner of taking advantage of their attraction towards one another. Avera's recent experience elicited more of a calm lovemaking than a wild one. They took care in reassuring each other of their feelings for one another, enjoying subtleties which could sometimes be overlooked.
They slept deeply in each other's arms and woke together as the sun started to shine. They stayed where they were so they could enjoy the feel of each other. And so they could admire one another as well.
It was a pleasant way to spend their morning but he knew he had to speak with her. He moved her bangs and sighed, wishing he could just forget. The possible damage to her soul worried him. Being a paladin brought to light fears others would never notice. However, these instances which could hurt her bothered him greatly.
Finally, he felt he could no longer put it off. If he did not speak he would be upset with himself later for not bringing up his concerns to her. But how she would react worried him.
"I … wish to speak with you about something which has been bothering me." He looked away for a moment so that he could gather strength for this topic. He did not wish for her to feel that he did not want her associating with others but he also wanted her to know how he felt.
Avera kissed his chest gently, "We promised to share all our feelings. If it bothers you then it bothers me."
Casavir took a deep breath as he rubbed her back, "It is about the thievery that was committed last night. It worries me that our friend can talk you into such things."
She moved back a bit to look at him. Her eyes were clouded and sad, "It … it is something I regret doing but I wanted to help Neeshka. She has been there all along for me. But I … I don't like stealing. I felt bad from the moment we walked out the Flagon's door."
"You knew of this before I left for the temple?" He shook his head a smidgen and couldn't think of anything else to say. It had been planned. He had hoped that would not be the case.
Her eyes dropped and she turned her face, looking between their shoulders, "It was planned for a while. I had been putting it off hoping that we could deal with Leldon before it came to actually going to the Collector's house. But he didn't show again and … and I couldn't tell you what we were going to do."
He put a hand on her cheek and turned her face to look at him. He wanted to see her eyes and for her to see his, "I cannot say that this does not hurt. It has been a fear of mine that Neeshka would talk you into something like this. No one is beyond temptation. Especially when it comes to 'helping' friends. But I had hoped that you would have the strength to refuse such a request."
She closed her eyes and he felt bad that his words hurt her but he couldn't take it back and he could not lie to her about how he felt.
"Maybe we should try to compensate him for …"
"We can't. He's … kind of dead."
Casavir blinked at her, "He is what?" Oh by the name of Tyr what happened?
"He's dead. We found out that he was in a slave trader ring and I kind of … got mad when he attacked me. Shandra and Neeshka found his record books and I believe they gave it to Nasher when they took Arval's journal to him."
"So you took apart part of a slave trading ring through a thieving expedition?" She nodded, "I have no idea how all of these intricacies follow you, my lady, but I am glad that some good did come of this." He thought it over, "But I wish you would reconsider following Neeshka. It is something that will damage you."
"It was the only time I've done anything like that and it will stay that way. I never liked the idea of stealing and she promised never to ask again. She knows it bothers me."
He held her closer and kissed the top of her ears, one at a time. Then he put his forehead to hers and looked into her eyes, "You promise, my lady?" He knew she hated breaking a promise.
"I already promised myself but I promise you as well."
"Then all is well." He brushed her hair from her face. It was thick hair and without it in the ponytail it tended to curl in front of her eyes. It was time to get back to regular life. He had said his peace and she promised so there was no reason to continue upon that thread. He was happy to be able to put it behind them, "Were there any plans for today?"
"You mean besides cuddling in your arms and molesting you silly?"
"Hmm." He murmured as he casually kissed her temple, "That seems like a good plan."
Their mouths found each other and they pulled closer together. He tenderly rubbed her ears making her sigh into his mouth as their bodies started to move with pleasure.
Knock knock.
They stopped and Avera snarled, "Is someone dying out there?"
"No." A quiet reply sounded from one of the young girls, "It's just … well, Wolf had a message for you."
She felt bad for scaring the child at the door, "Can it wait until a bit later, Bree?"
"I guess it can."
"Ok sweetie. Tell Wolf I will be out a bit later and tell my Uncle that I want you to have a piece of apple pie that Khelgar made because you did well to bring me the message."
The girl's voice perked up, "Ok! Thank you Avera!"
"Apple pie? For breakfast?"
"It is her favorite and is as healthy as a strudel." She shrugged as she nipped his bottom lip.
"I believe that Elanee and Neeshka are correct that some day you would make a good mother."
"Maybe."
His eyes captured hers as he smiled impishly, "Why don't we … practice how to make them?"
She laughed until he attacked her neck. Then there was no laughter that could get through their passionate mewling.
Nnn
"Once again, what are we doing in the nasty bushes? Nature is getting all over me!" Qara grumped as she pushed a leaf out of her way just to have a branch slap her in the face. She almost thought the ranger flapped it back on purpose!
"Quit griping." Neeshka snapped, "You are the one who decided you wanted to come with us."
"I am tired of cleaning tables. No one ever invites me on these missions." The sorceress pouted.
"Whenever you have ever been asked you would say, 'Why would I want to do something so stupid?'" Sand admonished her, tired of the young woman's whining.
Qara rolled her shoulders, "I wanted to see the land Cormick came from."
Shandra smiled, "Aw that's sweet! We should see your home town some day, Grobnar."
"Would you really like to do that, Shandra? I'm sure my family would just love you!" The gnome was incensed with pleasure, "And I could show you some of my inventions that were too big to bring with me. Mother likely still has them in the lower cavern!"
"That would be nice." She kissed the top of his head.
"Ugh lass." Khelgar stuck his tongue out, "Please not in front of us."
"It never bothers you when Casavir kisses Avera on top of the head." Shandra snapped.
"That's because she's cute, lass. He's … well ... he's Grobnar!"
"Thanks Khelgar but that wasn't nice." Avera cheerfully ducked another branch then Casavir walked right through it without slowing. She had to admit that platemail made going through woods a lot easier. The problem was that doing it that way also helped one to become more easily tracked.
"Why are we going to West Harbor again?" Grobnar bounced up past Casavir to get to Avera.
"Wolf told me that the priests of the temple of the Morninglord wanted me to bring tithes to my home town's priest, Brother Merring. Since I should speak with my father, and others," Please do not let Rhetta, Bevil and the rest of the Starling family hate me for Lorne's indiscretions, "I thought it would be good to take this journey."
Elanee smelled in the scents of the forest, "It is wonderful to be back in the wood!"
"Yeh well with this many people tromping about," Bishop snapped back another branch and grinned when he heard the sorceress yelp in pain, "We may as well forget hunting anything up for a while."
"Is that why you two don't have your animal companions about? Is there too many people around?" Grobnar happily took his place back beside Shandra and held her hand.
"Yeh. What of it?"
"Pleasant as normal, ranger. Lad ye got to learn to lighten up."
"Says the dwarf who starts bar brawls for fun." The ranger flicked another branch and snickered as Qara yelled.
"Everyone chose to come along when I asked. So here we are." Avera stopped and so did everyone else. She looked back at the others, "It's getting a bit late."
"This would be a good time to look for a camp site." Casavir rubbed the hobbit's shoulders.
"I'll go on ahead to scout about for a good place for us to rest. I thought I heard a deer mentioning there was a clearing close by. It sounded like it would suit our needs." Elanee turned to smile at their small friend.
"Thank you, Elanee. I appreciate that." The little woman rolled her head a bit to remove some kinks but Casavir got right on that.
"You are always so polite." Sand commented in bemusement. He seldom found anyone as polite as this young lady.
Avera started walking again, "I was raised by a picky elf. Never be impolite around that man. I swear my knuckles still ache from those lessons."
Sand chuckled, "I believe it. My father was just as hard in teaching me my manners. It is just unusual to see anyone who understands what the word 'polite' means and there seem to be even fewer who believe in it's usage."
Casavir looked over at the elf, "I know what you mean. Too many people ignore good manners."
"Can we discuss something other than how to be a goody goody person?" Bishop requested.
Neeshka laughed, "Yes, we do not want the ranger and myself to feel all alone out here!"
The ranger looked the tiefling over, "Well, you wouldn't have to be alone."
The tiefling giggled knowing the ranger's interests and that they were not really for her, "Why? Did you notice some available, good looking man around?"
He snorted and went back to snapping branches into the sorceress.
"There is a great spot just up here!" Elanee called from ahead.
The group found their way to a fair sized clearing that was perfect for what they needed. Everyone went off to do their chores.
Avera took a spot the middle of the clearing and started cleaning and chopping tubers and vegetables that Khelgar had made her carry with her. Neeshka knelt down beside her while she was chopping and smiled at her, "So did he give you trouble?"
"What?" The hobbit raised an eyebrow at the tiefling.
"Did Casavir give you shit for stealing from the Collector?" She peeked over to make sure the paladin was still away collecting wood for the fire.
"We did speak of it."
"So?"
"So what?" The hobbit searched her friend's face to try to figure her out.
"Did he give you trouble or not?"
"He said it disturbed him and I told him I didn't like doing it."
"You mean you capitulated." Bishop sniffed the air and growled in disgust. He dropped to the ground in a lotus sitting position and watched the little woman closely.
"I didn't realize you knew how to say such large words." Qara chided nastily as she walked past them and sat against a tree.
The ranger shrugged, "I didn't know you understood the meanings behind such large words."
"I didn't know all of you gave a damn if Casavir cared about that." Avera snapped, "It seemed you figured he'd be mad and that was it."
Neeshka put a hand on her shoulder, "We were worried about whether he'd give you a headache over it or not."
"Because he's got you whipped." The ranger added.
The hobbit turned and gave the man a confused look, "What? Isn't that an expression for what women do to men?"
"A woman can be just as whipped as a man can be." Bishop turned his head a bit to give the little woman a look of pity.
"I had no clue you were an equal opportunity jackass." Qara snickered.
He shook his head, "When it comes to strong women, yes. Our leader is whipped. A tough little woman like this but all he has to do is give her a disgusted look and she crumbles."
Avera's mouth dropped. She stuttered for a moment then put the food down, stood and snarled as she walked towards the ranger. Bishop's lips curled in amusement as she stood in front of him, "For your information, Dagger Tongue, Casavir does not rule me. Yes, he sometimes acts as my conscience but I do so for him as well. It's called being in a relationship."
The ranger snorted, "Are you sure about it being a two way thing?"
Her ice blue eyes bore into his brown honey eyes, "If he were trying to rule over me then I would not be with him. Sometimes we discuss things like that but if I did not believe in doing good things then it wouldn't work between us."
"You are not all good."
"No I am not. But I do try to do my best for myself and others." She sniffed at him and turned to see Casavir standing there with the wood, a half grin on his face and approval dancing in his eyes. The hobbit walked over to him as he put down the firewood and sat down. She turned, cuddled up in front of him and returned to her chore.
Bishop glared at the paladin and the paladin glared back. But watching the other man gently brushing the woman's hair from her face and kissing those cute, pointy little hobbit ears was too much. The ranger stood, turned and snarled under his breath as he left to hunt, "Bullshit, Chickadee. You're just as wicked as I am."
nnn
The fire was burning well as Casavir, Avera, Khelgar and Sand were sitting around it on one side. On the other side of the fire were Neeshka, Elanee, Qara, Shandra and Grobnar with Bishop at the very end between Grobnar and Sand.
Khelgar grabbed a bag from his pack and started putting little white things onto a stick.
"What is that?" Casavir asked.
"They are marshmallows. I got the recipe the other day and was told they were good over an open fire. You just brown them a bit. Like so." He expertly browned the little globe and pulled it off the stick to toss at the paladin.
Casavir caught it, bounced it from hand to hand due to the heat then took a delicate bite. He fed the other half of it to Avera as he licked his lips and let her lick his fingers, "That was pretty good."
"Messy but good." Avera chirped as she licked some from the side of her lips. The paladin wiped a finger over the white smear to try to get it off.
"Oh please quit with the ootsey cutsey thing you two. You're gonna get me sick." Bishop grumbled at them as he crossed his arms over his chest. It upset him when they got too cuddly. It was bad enough when he was on watch and had to see them sleeping together. They never did anything in public but were fine about showing some affection towards one another around them.
It was how they were so close that irritated him and he didn't know why. He thought he'd pushed feelings for others out of his mind long ago. Maybe the woman had been correct a while ago and what he really needed was to find himself a talented hooker.
"Here try one." Khelgar snapped at the ranger and hit him between the eyes with a marshmallow. It stuck there making the dwarf receive a glowering glare from the man as the others laughed.
Bishop pulled the marshmallow off his head then sniffed it and took a taste. He popped it into his mouth then raised an eyebrow in amusement.
Grobnar had some paper and was busily writing on it with his tongue stuck out and to the side. He was extremely intent on what he was working on so Bishop peeked over his arm.
"Ho ho!" Dark honeyed eyes sparkled as he grabbed the first page and jumped back from the gnome, "What is this?"
The gnome looked up and bit his bottom lip, "But Sir Bishop, I was not supposed to share that!"
Shandra looked up with surprise written all over her face.
"Let me see now." Bishop chided as he put a hand on top of the advancing gnome's head and held him back while holding the page with his other hand, "It is almost like I'm dreaming, making her do this screaming, it feels like a drug when I'm down there, enjoying myself in Shandra's pubic hair."
"What!?" Shandra stood then tripped as she jumped towards the ranger.
Bishop hopped back, letting the gnome fall on his face from having pushed forward so far trying to grab the paper and dropped the page because the human woman had taken out the Light of Lythander. She brandished the sword with fury in her eyes and swiped towards him.
The ranger stumbled backwards then turned in a hurry with Shandra close behind. His bow lay on the ground beside where he had sat.
Sand moved the bow to the side and out of the way. No reason to leave it in a dangerous spot where it could become broken and cost the group more money.
"Hey!" Avera griped at the dwarf.
"What?" Khelgar snapped back as Bishop ran behind them with Shandra in swift pursuit.
"What are you doing with my fire mace?"
Somehow the dwarf purloined the weapon as everyone else had been watching the ranger. There were marshmallows all over the mace, hooked on the spikes.
"It cooks so many more at a time."
"You know what I've hit with that thing."
Khelgar shrugged as the ranger zipped through in front of the women. Shandra was swinging that sword rather nastily and the group ducked their heads as the larger woman screeched, "I'm gonna kill you, you bastard!"
"Hmmm … she just might do it too." Sand quipped while drinking some tea from his mug, "Oooh … at least he's good on his feet. Now, how many of those little sugary bobbles can you cook on that thing, Khelgar?"
"I got nine on here right now. I could probably get on ten or twelve. Avera, you always clean it with hot water when we get the chance lass. There's nothing left since our last skirmish."
"Well. I guess so but still … that's going to be a mess to clean!"
"Avera!" Bishop yelped as he tore through and jumped over the fire. Shandra went around the fire as the others pulled their feet back to give her room.
"Don't you worry lass. I'll clean it good."
Avera pouted, "Well you better." She watched for a moment as Bishop ran back and forth through the trees making Shandra dodge back and forth trying to get to him.
Grobnar sniffed, "But … but I was told not to show that to anyone." His eyes turned to pools of sad puppy dog cuteness. Neeshka blinked as the gnome grabbed onto her and buried his face into her side.
"Avera!" Neeshka called, "Help!"
"It's ok Grobbie. You didn't give it to Bishop. He's in trouble. Not you."
Grobnar peeked out from Neeshka's side and blinked at the hobbit, "Really?"
"Really. Shandra is not angry at you."
"Avvveeerrrraaaa!" The ranger yelled again as he spun around the fire and back into the bush. Shandra had begun slashing up and down with the sword. Everyone moved their feet for them to get past.
"She isn't!" He sat up happily as Khelgar threw over a cooked marshmallow for him, "No she isn't, lad. Look she has him up a tree."
"He is quite a fast climber." Casavir announced impressed as he popped another marshmallow into his mouth.
Qara looked up the tree in astonishment, "I didn't know anyone could climb that fast."
"I guess it helps to be motivated." Neeshka grabbed a marshmallow that was being thrown at her.
Chop chop chop.
"Avera! You can't just let her go chopping down this tree with that sword!" The ranger called from behind a branch.
The hobbit stood and grabbed two marshmallows off the mace. She walked past Casavir while juggling the hot goodies and walked over to Shandra who was tearing into the tree with her sword.
"Shandra?"
"What? This isn't the time. He's going to die!"
"He's right you know. You just can't go chopping this tree with the Light of Lathander."
Shandra stopped chopping and glared down at her friend, "Why not?"
Avera motioned for the larger woman to lean down and popped the marshmallows into her mouth. She then took a look at the sword's edges, "You've already started to damage it. Swords are not made for chopping down trees. We'll have to fix that up."
"Rese are rood." The human woman pointed to her mouth then put her sword into it's scabbard.
"Yeh they are aren't they."
"Tho?"
The smaller woman opened one of her magical bags and pulled out a woodsman's axe, "Here you use this."
"Frank roo!"
Chop chop chop chop!
Bishop held tightly to the tree, "Avera! A little help please!"
"What? I thought you liked everyone to fight their own battles?"
"Oooh she's got you there, Bishop!" Yelled Qara just before popping a marshmallow into her mouth.
"You can't let her do this. You are too good a person."
Avera touched Shandra's arm, "Well … I guess if you are willing to take punishment for trying to sing that song."
"He is a bad singer." Grobnar announced.
"That he is." The hobbit leaned against the tree's trunk and admired the cuts, "Man! You get one good swing? Who taught you to throw an axe like that?"
"I had an uncle who was a tree farmer."
"Punishment? Would that punishment be administered by you, Chickadee?" His voice carried volumes of suggestiveness even from that height.
Shandra lifted an eyebrow at the hobbit and Avera backed away from the tree.
Chop chop chop.
Bishop grabbed tighter to the tree, "Ok! I will accept punishment!"
The blonde woman turned to the smaller one, "Do you think he is being truthful?"
"You have an axe and he's up a tree with no escape." She watched as the ranger slowly climbed down but stopped out of Shandra's reach, "I think he has motivation to behave for once."
"Hey." He snarled then jumped behind the hobbit and kneeled with his hands on her shoulders, "So what is my penance, Chickadee?" He put his head close to hers to breathe down her neck and watch Shandra more closely.
They could hear a rumble of distaste coming from Casavir. The paladin looked as if he was close to starting to chase the ranger about this time.
"I say that the punishment should fit the crime." Avera walked towards the others with Bishop close to her side opposite to Shandra. She brought him to a space a small distance from the others and motioned for him to sit. She pointed to a tree for Shandra to sit and watch the ranger. Shandra sat as directed, "Grobnar?"
"Yes Avera?"
The ranger looked over with concern, "No."
"Bishop has just volunteered to help you with 'Orc Flatulence.'"
Bishop put his face in his hands as the gnome ran up to him and groaned, "Oh have you, Sir Bishop? That is so wonderful! We will have a great time with this one. Are you staying to listen, Shandra?"
"I wouldn't miss this for the world." The lady grinned.
Grobnar jumped up and down then pulled out his paper, "Ok! Let's start with making everything rhyme!"