The Tea Sorcerer
Evening

Garfield jerked awake as he felt the nip of a beak at his fingers. He sat up with a gasp and pushed at his hair, mumbling apologies between his sluggish lips. After a moment of the world spinning around him, he seemed to grasp onto the fact that it was the middle of the night and he was awakened by Metrion. The bird grumbled low in his throat and turned its head in the direction of Raven.

The small fire she had been working around had burned into practically nothing, and the only light that spilled in was the faint silver of moonlight and starlight that pooled in from the open door flap. Raven must have fallen asleep a while ago. Her body lay half draped over a the chest she had been using as a workstation, hair splayed across her shoulders and falling into her face as a small glass bottle of something clear dangled from her fingertips. Zinthos had nestled next to her left shoulder, and only opened her eyes when Garfield looked up. She made the same grumbling noise Metrion had, and hopped away, choosing to move closer to her mate.

Garfield yawned and stretched his muscles, hearing them pop and creak with his movements. He really couldn't remember when he had nodded off, but Raven must have kept working by herself until the night wore on and she lost consciousness. He seriously hoped that she hadn't worked too hard over this, it wasn't worth her losing her health over. A minute passed in silence as he stared at her petite form, letting himself have the freedom to explore her beautiful features. She looked so sweet and peaceful, innocent almost.

Garfield felt a smile pass his lips as he stood up and worked any kinks out of his limbs. After he felt his body crack back into comfort, he bent down and gathered her small body into his arms, carrying her like a child through the tent and into the other room. She curled up into his arms and pressed her face deep into his neck, her warm breath curling around his skin like ribbons. Something strange twisted in his stomach, and Garfield felt his entire body blush as he looked down at her. She shifted in his arms and wrapped her fingers in the folds of his rough, peasant shirt.

After he moved into the other room, he saw a white, feather-filled bedroll laid out with silks and embroidered tapestries on it. It looked surprisingly luxurious, but also rather old, as if these things had been handed down through generations, or taken as payment for services rendered. Garfield somehow managed to pull back her covers, and set her down in the cloud of feathers. A moment passed and he pulled the covers up over her shoulder, brushing the hair back from her forehead.

"Mm…" Her eyes fluttered open for a moment and she reached out for his hand. "Thank you."

He chuckled and sat down next to her, pulling the covers now past her shoulders and up to her chin. "Don't fall asleep when you're working, Miss Raven. It's not good for your health. I'll go sleep in the other room." He moved to stand up, but her fingers tightened around her wrist, tangling in his sleeve.

"Don't go." Her voice was whispered, and she seemed nearly dead with exhaustion. "Stay."

Garfield felt a blush explode on his cheeks. "Er… Miss Raven, it's not proper to uh… think about such things. In fact, it's far from it."

"You keep the nightmares away, Garfield Logan." Her eyes closed and she rolled over, smoothing out the covers over her body. "I have not slept like this in years… don't… don't go. Stay here…" She drifted off for a moment, her fingers still tight on his wrist. Garfield moved to walk away, but she jerked awake again. "You can sleep on top of the covers if it makes you feel better. No one will know, we're nearly seven miles from another person… and you'll still be a perfect gentleman."

"Miss Raven…"

Her eyelashes lifted fully, revealing the dark depths of her eyes. "Please."

He couldn't resist that pleading expression - that honest fear one got from being alone. He knew that fear all too well, and he never wanted anyone to have to suffer the same way he did; the fear that no one would ever be beside him again. Something painful and sour rose up into his throat, and before he knew what was happening, he laid down on the bedroll next to her. A sigh escaped her lips and she pulled his arm around her shoulder.

"Thank you, Garfield Logan."

"You can just call me Garfield, Miss Raven."

"Garfield then." She sighed and her body fell limp against him.

He felt his eyes start to drift close, lulled by her deep, even breathing, and the sweet scent of tea and lavender. Her hair tickled his cheek, but rather than being annoyed by it, something about the touch seemed intimate. He stared at the curve of her cheek and ear from his position, watching the moonlight fall over her alabaster skin.

A bated breath was his only pause…

And then he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.