Johannesberg was Rory and Jessryn's chosen destination. They arrived by train, a mode of transport that Jessryn soon discovered he detested. Rory quite enjoyed the train ride, one of the few times she'd left Barton Downs Station as a child had been to go to Adelaide by train, a journey she still fondly remembered.
Jessryn however, had almost refused to get on board the 'mechanical dragon' and spent the entire trip huddling in a window seat wishing only to get off the train in one piece, which he doubted was possible.
'Settle down, Jess, we'll be there soon. Here, have some of these,' said Rory holding out a bag of sweets she'd bought at the railway station.
He picked up this strange looking thing, wrapped in a queer sort of paper that was transparent. 'What do you do with this thing?'
'It's a sweet, look take the paper off, and eat it.'
But Jessryn continued to regard the sweet suspiciously until Rory ate one and appeared to enjoy it. He then finally unwrapped the sweet and popped it in his mouth, and to his surprise it was enjoyable, so much so that he asked for another. Laughing, Rory took a handful of sweets and surrendered the rest to Jessryn.
For some time there was silence between the travellers as they looked out of the windows and ate sweets. Eating and watching the countryside out the window seemed to relax the half elf quite a lot, even if he considered the train travelled far too fast and smelled dreadful. So Jessryn was very relived when the train stopped at the main station in Johannesberg and he and Rory could get out of that dreadful machine.
Rory decided that they'd catch a taxi to the hotel they'd been recommended, the Queen Victoria. Jessryn almost panicked at the thought of getting in another mechanical monster, even if this one was much smaller than the train. Sighing, Rory took his hand, and pressed it.
'Come one, I won't let the taxi hurt you!' she whispered, speaking so quietly because she didn't want the taxi driver to hear.
That brought a smile to Jessryn's face, and he got in the taxi, sitting beside Rory without letting go of her hand, in fact he'd tightened his grip so that Rory knew she wouldn't be able to free her hand without hurting herself, curiously, she found she didn't want her hand free of Jessryn's so didn't resist as his fingers tangled in hers.
Rory payed the taxi driver once they arrived at the hotel, and they walked hand in hand to hotel reception, Jessryn carrying their one bag. Rory took the time to look at her companion as they waited for service, and decided that the modern clothes they'd bought in the town Rory's military friends had dropped them in rather suited him. And with his hair loose, covering his ears he looked quite well, normal, except that she decided that he was very handsome.
Finally, they got a room key, 10th floor, room 27, but not until Rory insisted they were married, obviously management were old fashioned. Off they went, and Jessryn liked the lift, considering it a marvellous invention. Once in their room, he seemed to relax even though he thoroughly investigated the small room and adjoining bathroom. The shower puzzled him; as did the TV until Rory explained both, and turned the TV on to show him.
'Are you hungry?' asked Rory after making them both some tea, like most hotel rooms this one had a kettle, and both she and Jessryn had been thirsty.
'I am, but where do we get a meal in this place?' he asked.
'They have a dining room downstairs, we can go down and see what's on the menu.'
'Soon?'
'If you're that hungry, we can go now.'
'Yes, before they run out of food!' he said, and Rory was pleased to see that Jessryn had settled enough to speak light heartedly.
They ate a nice meal, and Jessryn enjoyed dessert, which wasice cream very much. As they walked back to the lift, he amused Rory by announcing he could live on a diet composed entirely of ice cream quite easily.
Back in the room, they discussed plans for the next day, which of the gem buyers they would see, and then, relying on Rory's knowledge of mercenaries, where they would buy the gear they needed. As they spoke, they watched the TV, Jessryn soon getting used to this strange form of entertainment, which he soon discovered also gave weather and news reports. Then they spent some wondering how poor Brin and Glorfindel would be, left with strangers.
'Although I know you would never have left them if they weren't safe with your friends,' said Jessryn, 'I am worried as to how they are coping.'
'They'll be fine, Glor has the radio hand set, and he knows how to operate it, we'll hear if they have a problem.'
'Perhaps we should speak to them,' said Jessryn, fretting.
'Ok, if it'll make you feel better!' said Rory, even though this went against her military training to stay off air unless necessary.
Quickly, she contacted Glorfindel, whose only complaint was that the food was awful. That, and he had no idea where they were, except underground, in some sort of artificial cave. Brin was asleep, and yes, they were both fine. They arranged to speak again at 8am the next morning.
It was 10 o'clock when Rory yawned and said she would go to bed, they'd had a long day, and tomorrow would likely prove to be as tiring.
'I'd better run our breakfast order down, how does 7 o'clock sound?' she asked.
Jessryn looked startled, then saw how sensible having breakfast in the room would be. They ordered bacon and eggs, and Rory quickly ran the order down to reception, picking up some chocolate at the same time.
Jessryn was still sprawled on the bed watching the TV when she got back, and he made the tea this time, showing off that he'd learned quickly how these odd electrical appliances worked.
'What is it, that thing you are unwrapping?' he asked, handing Rory her cup as she opened the small block of chocolate.
'Chocolate, if you think those sweets were nice earlier, wait till you try this!'
She gave Jessryn some, and he cautiously tried it, his wary expression changing immediately. Soon the chocolate and tea were gone, and Jessryn looked hard at Rory, who was seated curled resting against the bed head, and he seemed to come to a decision on something that had been bothering him.
'I will sleep on the floor,' he announced.
'Why?'
'Because it is not seemly to share the bed with you, and I know that you are a little afraid of me.'
'Should I be afraid of you? I suppose I might be a bit, but I know enough to know I shouldn't be, and anyway, we're both adults. Besides, who will know except us and you'll sleep better in the bed.'
He had to agree that he would rest better, but still, 'If I do share the bed with you Rory, at some point in my sleep I'm likely to snuggle up to you, and you might not like that,' he said worriedly.
She considered this, her head on one side, like a little bird. Jessryn again thought of his name for her, sparrow, for that is exactly what she looked like.
'As long you have some clothes on, I won't mind too much, I think. Let's see how we get on.'
'Very well then, little sparrow.'
So Rory stripped off to her singlet and knickers, and Jessryn to the boxer shorts Rory had insisted on him wearing under the jeans she's convinced him to wear as real modern clothing. Jessryn hadn't liked either the jeans or the boxers much, but one had to fit in.
The TV was switched off and they got into bed, snuggled down, and Rory turned off the bed light. Some light from the street lights filtered in through the curtains and Jessryn complained about traffic noise below.
'Don't worry too much, you'll get used to it,' said Rory sleepily.
A few minutes of silence followed, then Jessryn carefully rolled towards Rory, who was lying with her back to him.
'Sparrow, would you mind dreadfully if I did cuddle up to you? I promise to just hold you, but I really want to be close,' he asked softly, his hand reaching out to stroke her hair.
She froze for a second, and then spoke, 'you might as well, as you said, you'll probably do so in your sleep.'
Slowly he moved across the bed, and she felt him curl himself against her, his left arm draping across her. His hand ran down her arm, to take her hand in his.
She felt his breath on her neck when he spoke, 'Are you comfortable?'
'Mm, yes actually. You're lovely and warm!'
That made him chuckle as he wished her a good night, and she responded sleepily.