Droullin is nearly asleep in her narrow bed at the inn when a knock at her door startles her to her senses. She sits up, heart pounding, and reaches instinctively for her weapon. It is a comforting weight in her hand as she slides from her blanket and goes to the door, uncertain what to expect. Her muscles sing with tension until she cracks the door open a sliver and a familiar dark eye becomes visible in the opening.
Just the sight of it makes something twist in her gut. She is immediately both invigorated and terrified. "Yes?" she prompts. It does not come out as steady as she would have liked.
"I wanted to check on you," Vitalis says.
Droullin debates within herself for all of a moment before she sets down her mace and opens the door wide enough to admit the other woman. She enters, and suddenly the room seems much too small.
Droullin closes the door and turns to face her. Alone and unarmed, she feels too unsettled to meet the hellion's burning eyes. Instead, she focuses on the bird skull amulet resting between her collarbones. "I am well," she says, and it is not completely a lie. "I have been recovering."
Vitalis sees right through her. She tilts her head in what's almost a reproach and says gently, "You are not alone, you know."
Droullin swallows, the knot in her gut winding tighter. "The Flame burns within me," she dissembles.
"That is not what I meant," Vitalis murmurs. She moves closer until she is towering over the vestal from only inches away. She lifts her hands to the edge of her green hood, but there she pauses, waiting.
Droullin's breath catches. She is aware that she faces a choice. She could step back, push Vitalis's hands away, and preserve her purity. Or…
Droullin closes her eyes and holds very, very still. Vitalis takes it as the permission that it is, and Droullin feels the hellion slowly push her hood back, revealing neglected shoulder-length brown hair. The fabric falls around her shoulders with finality.
Without it, she feels bare. Vulnerable. It has been years since anyone saw her exposed in this way; intentionally. She tries not to wilt beneath the old fear of punishment that it awakes.
Vitalis's fingers curl beneath her chin, and Droullin opens her eyes to find the hellion watching her with concern. "Why are you afraid?" she asks.
"This is forbidden," Droullin replies through a dry throat. Her heart is pounding.
Vitalis lowers her hand, and the lack of contact is both a relief and a disappointment. "Should I stop?" she asks.
For a long, fraught moment, Droullin can only stare at her. Nature and nurture war within her. She wants this woman more than anything, but she knows from experience that desire is a crime worthy of grave punishment. Simply allowing herself to entertain the thought invites a harsh rebuke.
But, she wonders, who is here to punish her now?
Droullin feels her fear settle. It is still there, but it is no longer any match for the hunger surging up inside her.
"No," she says, finally.
Vitalis lets out a relieved breath. "You are beautiful," she whispers, reaching up once again to run her thumb along the vestal's jaw.
It's the final straw. Throwing off the fetters of guilt and uncertainty, Droullin surges forward and kisses her.
…