Asher stepped into the bedroom, rolling his shoulders. His hair was still a bit damp from bathing, muscles a bit sore from archery practice, but he felt good. It was dark, save for a light on the nightstand at the bed, glowing softly. Getting to the bed, a soft smile spread across his face.
Sarid lay on her side, curled up in her pajamas. He went around to see her face, the soft light falling over her. She looked calm and relaxed, hand under her pillow and her other on top of it, head slightly turned into the pillow. He just smiled more. It was a sweet, rare sight to see her sleeping in such a way.
He went back around to his side, and carefully sat down to avoid disturbing her. Though she was curled up, there was no sight of tension – just the slight rise of even, sleeping breaths. Lying down, he carefully moved over and wrapped his arms around her, one under her neck and the other over her side. He held her close, chin on top of her head, faintly able to feel her heartbeat and her even breathing against him.
They were still, Asher enjoying the quiet. Sarid rarely had trouble sleeping, but he had noted she preferred sleeping on her back. It made sense, knowing she had had trust issues for so long. Hard to sneak up on someone positioned like that. For her to be laying on her side was odd, but he dismissed it. It was just nice to be able to hold her.
He could faintly inhale her scent, faint green apples and clean clothes. Absent mindedly, his fingertips were tracing circles against the soft fabric of her pajamas, able to feel the warmth she was giving off.
Her breathing changed, taking a deep breath and her head moving, he able to hear a quiet hum. His fingers stilled and he lifted his head, slightly pushing himself up to see her face. He saw she was still relaxed, though her arms and legs stretched straight out, then relaxed and lay still. Her eyes blinked open sleepily, and she turned her head to look up at him, seeing his soft expression. He saw a light blush come to her face, though she just looked up at him, still sleepy.
They watched each other a moment. These were rare occurrences, when she was half asleep. During these times she was less…guarded, for lack of better wording. Granted, the walls only went up with foreign dignitaries visiting or perceived threats – which were always correct, though now they were rarely dealt with blows. Vulnerable was perhaps a better word, but without the negative connotations.
Her head tilted back, her chin pushed up. He recognized the gesture, and leaned down, kissing her lips. There was a quiet hum, and he settle down more, arms moving to wrap around her again. Her hands moved up to his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. His fingernails gently scratched against her scalp, Sarid humming again. Her head turned, breaking the kiss but nuzzled against his head, Asher turning into it. He kissed along her cheek out to near her ear, then down to her jaw.
Her hands moved again, up to his shoulders and onto his back, arms wrapping around his neck. He paused a moment and looked back her, her eyes closed and looking like she was about to doze. It was also rare for her to just lay still and not think. Her eyes opened slightly and looked at him, seeing his soft smile. She blinked, then tugged at him and tilted her head back more.
This gesture was also recognized, and he pressed soft kisses to her neck, his fingernails still light against her scalp. She shifted some to better face him.
He thought again about how she was just being. Old habits die hard, he knew, especially ones from developmental years. So many years of early life she had just been thinking, what she needed to learn, needed to do, gather, read, design…it had come to fruition. The kingdom was tiny, yes, but it was well-off and peaceful. All thanks to her, but the habit lingered. Trying to get out of her head difficult for her, so moment like these were rare and precious, more so than any pearl.
One of her hands moved, going up into his hair. He lifted his head slightly and she looked at him, pushing her chin up. He kissed her lips, holding her tighter to him. Her hands moved to hold his head. She sat up slightly, and he pulled back enough to look at her. She still looked sleepy. He moved his hands to caress her face, and her head turned into his hand. She melted into the touch, laying back down. His soft smile widened a bit, and he kissed the top of her forehead, right along her hair line.
Her hands moved down to his chest, fingers again curling into his shirt and she tugged slightly. He looked at her, seeing she was looking up at him with half-lidded eyes, her expression completely calm and relaxed. Her legs moved so she lay on her back, and she tugged again. He recognized this as well, moving so he was over her. She tugged a third time, also pushing her chin up.
Gently, carefully, he settled down on top of her, holding her close and kissed her lips. He recalled once when they had been in this exact position, she told him it had been one of the safest she had ever felt. He wasn't so heavy she couldn't breathe, but it had been like a heavy blanket almost, albeit better: his breathing, his heartbeat, his natural warmth, all provided a kind of comfort that went beyond words.
They kissed gently, almost lazily, until she slightly turned her head, and he went across her cheek again, though up to her temple this time, his thumb brushing back and forth across her other cheek. He moved up to the top of her head, his hand moving so her head was tucked protectively into his neck. He felt her gentle, sleepy breaths on his skin, and he nuzzled against her soft hair.
They lay like that for a time, Asher's nails light scratching her scalp, his other hand tracing circles against her soft pajamas, and just gently nuzzling her.
His eyes opened a bit, seeing the soft light from the nightstand. It was a warm and soft glow, comforting.
He felt Sarid shift again, though this was more curling up against him. He looked down at her, her expression looking as she had just woken from dozing. She turned to the side a bit, tugging at his shirt. He moved off of her, though her expression changed momentarily, brows slightly up, and he heard little sound, almost a quiet mewl. It made his heart ache.
He lay beside her, his arms moving to bring her closer, though she then turned to face him, her hands tugging. He smiled softly and hugged her to him, just holding her. She nuzzled into his chest, her face rubbing against the soft, fluffy fabric of his open robe. He moved one of his hands from her, taking the edge of his robe and draped it over her, trying to tuck it around her like a blanket. She curled up into him, one of her feet rubbing against his calf. He lifted his leg and draped it over hers, her head tucked under his chin once more, and he kissed the crown of her head.
They were still again, his thumb brushing against her cheek, warm breath weaving through her hair to her scalp. He felt the tell tale signs of oncoming sleep: his eyelids getting heavy and starting to droop, breathing slowing down, mind clearing, and his limbs relaxing to wanting to be still, but he wouldn't allow that last one. Not until Sarid was deep asleep, lulled there by the gentle, soothing touches. She deserved it.
In truth, Sarid never asked for much when he thought about it. The most she normally did was accept offers when they came up, but rarely, if ever, went out of her way to ask things of others – and they were never for personal things. Advice, yes, though most of that could easily have been seen to try and keep doing her best. Asking a favor was almost unheard of. Also a leftover habit from her early years, no doubt.
Sarid was on the edge of sleep, memories drifting through her head, of times like this very one. Letting go of complete independence had caused some issues early in their marriage, though the memory of Asher's kind, soft face as he listened – really listened, to understand, which he did - brought endless comfort. It wound up turning into a sort of unspoken request system – he recognized gestures and touches, responded for confirmation, and then acted. Some were so familiar he just acted. He was observant, considerate, and loving. She adored him for it – every bit of it.
When the issues had surfaced, there was never a raised voice, just one of concern. Expressing how it affected both of them, and she never stopped thinking about it, appreciating it. It had affected both of them – not just him, not just her. Both. And that's what they were – two people together, until death. That very thing alone was enough to calm her mind enough when she needed it, whether down in the mine or out in the forest.
And now, coupled with Asher's presence, his touch, his scent, breathing, heartbeat, warmth…
She fought it a moment, just wanting to be there a bit longer, but then felt herself going into a restful sleep, lulled there by the soft tenderness of everything in the moment. She hoped to dream about it.
Asher noted his movements were slowing, though he himself was slipping into sleep. The room was a pleasant, warm temperature due to the season, though he knew they'd still get under the covers at some point. He'd let that be later, he knew from her breathing she had fallen asleep and had no desire to wake her. Besides, if they woke then, they could fall back into another soft scene, not like this, as rare as it was, but still tender.
A soft smile played on his face as his eyes closed, slipping into a deep sleep, all at the thought of how such actions conveyed their commitment to each other better than words.
He loved her. Deeply, dearly, and decidedly, until death.
AN: Just wanted to write fluff. Now I want to write more...dang it.
SO, FOR THOSE OF YOU WONDERING: For TRaK, I hit a wall. Just kinda...trying to figure out some things. I am sorry for the delay. I'll do what I can, and for the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this. Good day, and stay safe!