Chapter 21. The Afternoon After and the Endless Dream
The cries of sea birds filled his ears. The scent of sea salt permeated his nostrils. This morning such sensations seemed worth his attention. Talion stood in the seawater, naked but for a pair of shorts. He and the Wraith were hunting for fish that dared swim near the cove. When a fish ventured near Talion, the Wraith would take his place and skewer it with an arrow. Until then, the both of them searched. So far they had found three. One more would be enough.
It was not long before they found their last fish. The Wraith continued to wait patiently outside the cave as the ranger brought the fish to the front of the cave. He built a campfire from driftwood and set it aflame with his sword. With his dagger, he filleted and gutted the fish. It would not be a fine breakfast, but it would do.
Talion walked over to where Ursa was sleeping. He looked down at her for several minutes. She was sleeping on her stomach, her arms and legs sprawled apart. Her breathing was soft and steady. Her eyes were still. The ranger could not help but smile. He knew this morning at least he didn't' have to worry about her well-being.
Ursa's eyes slowly pried open. She heard the sound of seawater hitting the walls of the cave. For a moment, the half Orc wondered where she was. Then her eye calmed and a small smile crossed her face. She knew she was with him.
Ursa suddenly jumped out from under her blanket.
She said, "My lord? What time is it?"
He said, "It's only now past noon."
She said, "Please forgive me. I've made you wait."
Talion said, "How long has it been since you last slept? Seeing you sleep so soundly put my mind at ease."
She said glumly, "I hoped to spend the morning with you. By now, my Uruk are frantically searching for me. I've been a bother to you all."
Talion walked up to her. Ursa blushed as she took in the sight of his bare torso. She could see it far clearer now than back in their midnight passion. While she was recovering herself, he handed her a large clam shell. In it were several pieces of grilled fish.
He said, "Stop worrying. Here, eat up."
After she finished her meal, Talion began to look at Ursa worriedly. His face seemed a bit flustered and his eyes darted about the cove.
Ursa took notice and tilted her head. She asked, "Talion?"
He said, "I-I was wondering…. I was wondering if last night was to your liking. Was I too fast or rough?"
Looking bashfully to the side, Ursa said to him, "Last night was amazing. I was hoping… if it's not too much trouble… if we could continue…. now"
Talion said, "We must be mindful. We are not alone. Still, as your lover it is my duty to see you satisfied. Until now, I did not realize your desires were so strong."
She said quietly, "I've wrestled with these desires daily. Pitiful is it not?"
Talion shook his head and said, "Not at all."
He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips.
She closed her eyes and said, "This feels like a dream. Even now I have trouble accepting it. Am I really Warchief? Can it be true that you've accepted my feelings? Is this happiness really mine?"
Talion wrapped his arms around her. He said, "Perhaps it is just a dream. I care not. I know my love for you is real."
He slowly pushed her down onto her back. His hands came down upon her, pinning her down by her arms. Ursa looked up at him, her eye wide and aware. Talion's cool gaze was full of affection in that moment. Seeing him like that removed all her fears and doubts. Nothing seemed more beautiful than his eyes as they peered into her heart. She knew he would set loose his passion on her any second now. Her heart began to race as she waited in anticipation.
Talion and Ursa spent another two hours together. By then, they realized she could not be separated from her duties any longer. By horseback, he took her down a back road Orc seldom traveled. It was not long before she was back at her base. As she tried to slip back to her tent, an Orc guard spotted her and called the others.
"Commander, where yer been? We thought the Ranger musta stabbed you! We been looking for your corpse."
Oh, he stabbed me alright.
Ursa said aloud, "I apologize to you all. I've just been so busy lately. I had to slip away from it all and put my mind at ease by visiting the Sea of Núrnen. I did not mean to be gone so long."
Flog appeared now. He said, "Your lax use of us bodyguards is one thing. Now you are running off on us."
Ursa bowed and said, "Please forgive me. It will not happen again."
An Orc some distance back whispered, "What she apologizing for? Ain't she Warchief?"
Another told him, "Maybe she forgot."
With the matter settled, Ursa gathered her strategists and alerted them that she would be postponing her trade negations another day. All of them seemed to understand it was for the best at this point given evening was so close at hand.