Araiel was surprised to find Aerin still asleep when she awoke. She was used to waking early in the morning. Hamir always awoke at dawn to begin the day. Araiel would remain in bed, but she heard every step he made when dressing and bathing in the morning. Soon she grew accustomed to it.
Celevon stirred and fluttered his eyes opened when she stood up. She looked down at Aerin. He looked so peaceful and beautiful as he slept. She remembered he was always a late sleeper. A brown strap of leather was fixed around his forehead, but it could not hold back the straying strands that continued to fall on his forehead. Araiel knelt beside him and lifted her hand to touch those hairs. Yet, just as she did, a sudden impulse stopped her. She pulled back and left the cave. Celevon followed her.
Araiel did not have to walk a long distance. They had settled in a cave beside a calm still lake. It was perfect for her tastes. The bathing pools in Elendriel were far more ornate, but this would do. Araiel stripped off her dress and waded merely in her white shift. It came up and around her body like a halo. She quickly plunged in to accustom herself to the water and came up her hair soaking to her back.
It was then that she noticed a movement out of the corner of her eye. Without warning, a wall of water was sent in her direction, and she instinctively began to splash back.
"Aerin!" she screamed in retaliation as their water fight continued.
They finally reached a stalemate and ceased their fire with gasping. Aerin crookedly smiled and winked at her.
"You've gotten better, Ari."
She nodded. "You'll have to watch your self, Rin."
"It's good to hear you call me that now. I also see your much less self conscious,' his smile deepened.
She looked down at her chest and instantly blushed folding her arms across her. He waved a hand.
"Not to worry, Ari. Not to worry. Ye want me to leave so ye can finish bathing?"
She bit her lip and then replied softly. "No…no I don't want you to leave."
He inched closer toward her.
"What do you want?"
Her eyes glided across his well muscled arms and hard chest. His hands were rough showing the years of hard work and effort he had endured. She noticed scars scattered across his back possibly from being whipped by pirates or cut.
"Ari?"
He broke her thoughts, and she suddenly realized how close he was. She felt his breath across her cheek. Those two brown orbs delved into her own. His scent, his touch so familiar. He smelled like spices and like the forest and a faint fragrance of the sea lingered upon him. She did not try to run nor did she tense when his wet hand trawled across her cheek.
"Aerin," she whispered.
"Araiel…do you want me?"
His words hovered across her mouth. What did she want? The shininess of the object upon her left hand drew her attention away. She looked back at the gem, and Aerin noted her gaze. He stepped backward and turned away.
"I'm not him, Ari," he merely stated and pushed himself out of the water.
Araiel remained watching him enter back into the cave and leaving her standing in the water.
