Chapter 14: Light upon the Distant Shore

Warning: There will be some explicit content in this chapter.

*The night before the ball*

"Do you truly have to go back out tonight?" Alphinaud asked in worry as he watched her pull on her gauntlets. "You may still need some time to rest and no one would begrudge you for resting for another day or…?"

"I fear that I have been away for too long now," she answered solemnly before she had gone to the wardrobe and opened up the back to reveal a few different types of weapons for her to choose from. As she examined them, he had set to work by adding a few potions and ethers in case of emergency to her bag. Rope, compass, and a flask of water… he would have added more but he knew she couldn't carry too much if she hoped to move quickly enough to make it as far as to Lakeland and Il Mheg before dawn.

"So there are supposed to be sin eaters about the area?" he asked worriedly.

"According to G'raha, yes," she nodded as she picked up a lethal-looking katana and seemed to be trying out the weight in her hands. "He has guards positioned all over the city but he's worried about some of the other settlements and I'll be passing through there on my way to Il Mheg to check and see if any poor souls have gotten lost there."

"Isn't that place the home of the pixies?" he asked worriedly as he held up her bag. "I heard that if you cross them they will turn you into… leaves?"

"Leafmen actually… though they really are nothing more than shrubs… but I recently helped at least one person to return to their true self, he's since been acting as a guide for other people who accidently get lost there, but it's good to keep an eye on things and make sure that the pixies haven't gotten… carried away," she answered before deciding on the katana and tucked it to her belt.

"It will still be dangerous," he reminded her as she gave a half-hearted smirk.

"You knew that it would be dangerous when you learned of what I do for a living. Sadly, it's not like I'm heading out to find an opponent to play Triple Triad against," she shrugged, "Though that can often be more irritating than fighting sin eaters. But I promise to be careful."

He bit his lip but nodded in understanding as she tucked her bag to her side as well before picking up her mask. As he watched her go to the window, he suddenly thought of something and called, "Wait!"

She paused and looked at him when she was halfway out the window and he pulled out a small handkerchief from his pocket. It was the same one that his own mother had used to wrap his lunch for him when he left home all those months ago and he asked her to hold her arm out. Blinking in surprise, but doing as he commanded, he tied the cloth that was decorated with little carbuncles around her wrist and said, "For good luck. Now you have no choice but to return to me when you're done."

Claire just stared at him for a few moments, as if she wasn't sure what to make of this, but she smiled gently at that, holding her clothed hand close to her heart before promising, "I'll be careful with it."

Upon hearing that, he felt some of his worry fade as he nodded back and stood closer to the door as he watched her leap gracefully out into the cold night, where he found himself feeling oddly heated despite the chilly air.

*Present*

Alphinaud had no idea what it was that she wanted to show him, but his curiosity was now overriding any feeling of exhaustion despite the ache in his feet. She took his hand and pulled him along away from the palace and more out onto the snow-covered lands. He shivered as the skies had cleared for the moment to reveal the moon to give them some light to see by. The snows around them shone with an eerily light as they headed more to the west, crossing over the hills with nothing but the crunching of snow echoing in their ears.

"W-Where are we going?" Alphinaud asked, trying hard not to shiver as she clenched her hand around his.

"Don't worry, we'll warm up soon, you'll see," she promised as they continued on closer to the cliff-like edges of the island. Not too the massive wall of stone, but close enough for them to be cast in its dark shadows.

Eventually, just as Alphinaud felt his feet were in physical pain, she pointed out where they were heading. He looked to see sitting on the outskirts of the island was a lighthouse. He had seen it a couple times before during their outings but had never given it any thoughts about it.

"The lighthouse?" he questioned as she nodded and flashed him a smile.

"It's known as the Seagazer," she explained, "It used to be a beautiful lighthouse and it was one of the few pieces that Vauthry saw the need to keep up and running because of the sharp rocks could damage ships. Come, let me show you the view from the top!"

He wasn't sure why she was so eager all of a sudden but he didn't have the heart to tell her that he was too cold and tired for this. So he let her pull him along after her as she all but raced up to the door, which she pulled out a small key from a pocket in her dress.

"I managed to make a copy years ago just in case," she confessed with a rather sly grin, causing him to smirk, wondering what this was about. He groaned as she had him climb up more stairs, but she gave him a playful push in the back as they moved up the spiral staircase. But as they neared the top he suddenly felt a rush of warmth and he sighed in relief, though also in confusion. Where was…?

He had his answer when they arrived near the top and they were surrounded by windows and a large fire crystal was set upon a platform in the center of the room. It glowed brightly and its warmth filled the small space as he eagerly walked towards it, warming his hands by the comforting glow.

"Is this what you wanted me to see?" he asked happily before looking around and realizing that she had disappeared. He was now baffled until there was a slight cold breeze and he turned again to find that she was standing near the window that overlooked the ocean and had removed the glass so that the scent of frost and sea was carried into the room. She had her back to him as she seemed entranced upon whatever it was that drew her attention, causing him to approach and gaze out with her.

He stared out in awe at the sight that was awaiting them. The sky was pitch black like a blackboard while the ocean beneath it reflected the fragile light from above so that it looked like they were staring out into a vast expanse of stars. It was so beautiful and with the warmth of the fire crystal driving away the cold at their backs, he felt very peaceful all of a sudden.

She leaned against him, their shoulders barely brushing against the other as they stared out together, watching the low-hanging moon reflected in the waves below them.

"It's beautiful," he told her honestly.

"You should see it during the sunset," she told him softly, "The whole sky looks like its glowing. I haven't been able to come here for a while. You know, it was here that I decided to do something to help the people."

"Right here?" he repeated in surprise and she nodded.

"I was already getting used to sneaking out, but I couldn't really travel too far from the castle," she explained softly. "I was afraid of getting caught going too far away at the time. But whenever I came here, I could forget all the bad things that my uncle had done."

She leaned forward so that her arms were resting upon the railing and she stared out with a faraway look in her eyes, as if she were lost in her own memories.

"I wasn't happy here," she confessed softly. "I hated everything about these lands. How Vauthry ran things, the endless feasts while the people outside the city walls were constantly starving… just how everything was falling into disrepair…? It was almost too much to take."

She lowered her head as he moved to rest upon the railing as well, looking at her as she continued to think about it all.

When she next opened her eyes she had also reached up to the back of her head and grabbed the pins that held her hair in place and pulled them free. Her long hair fell in a silky tumble down her back before the locks blew freely in the wind and she added, "It was here that I knew that something had to be done. But it wasn't like we could wait for someone to come and change things."

"You decided that you had to be the one to do it," he finished and she nodded as she stared down at her hands grimly.

"It wasn't easy, even in the beginning," she whispered. "It just started off with me stealing a little food from Eulmore and distributing it around Kholusia. Then it came to slaying a few sin eaters to keep the villages and settlements safe… Thancred and Y'shtola were the first to discover what I was doing. The looks on their faces…? I swear I never heard either of them yell as much as they did then."

"They didn't agree with it?" he asked in surprise.

"They didn't want me to risk my life like how I was doing," she answered with a shrug. "But when they realized that even these little acts of kindness were bringing hope to the people, they decided that they would assist me. Soon it grew to include others like G'raha and before I knew it, we had this entire system all across Norvrandt. I look back and I find it hard to believe that we have come this far."

"Thanks to you," he reminded her as she looked over and he gave her a gentle look. "You were the one who brought the people together."

"Am I?" she asked softly, but there was doubt in her tone, "I'm not so sure anymore."

"What do you mean?"

She looked down at her hands, frowning at them before whispering, "I was born for it. Fighting… I realized this almost right away when I started taking down sin eaters. It felt… right. Much more right than attending balls and those stupid lessons about manners. Wearing armor felt more like me than any fancy dress… even now…?"

She then pulled her dress up to her knees where he was startled to see a dagger strapped to her leg. Had she have that all night? Was she expecting trouble? But as he thought that she unsheathed the blade and held it up so that her own eyes were reflected back in the cold steel.

"Even now I can't bring myself to ever let my guard down. Even on such a night where it should be alright for me to relax and let go… I can't bring myself to ever be able to do so," she confessed. "I can't help but feel that I am trying so hard to pretend to be someone that I'm not out of fear of my uncle. I hate it so much."

Her hands clenched around the hilt of the dagger at those words and he knew not what to say or how to help take such darker thoughts from her.

"Alphinaud?" she asked softly, gazing up at, "I must ask… have you ever killed anyone?"

Of all the questions he was expecting, this was not one of them. He stared at her, not really sure what to say before slowly shaking his head and she gave him a bitter smile.

"No, of course not," she said, still in that eerily calm voice that he didn't like. "Why would you need to?"

"Claire, please, is this conversation truly so pressing that we need to have this now?" he asked and she just held his hand.

"You said you have started to care for me… but can you still say that knowing what I am? What I had to become to fulfill my role?" she asked as he stared at her, uncertain to what to say as she shook her head bitterly and finished, "You said that you wished to know more of me… but that is the problem. This is what I am."

She was suddenly shaking before she cried out, "I am violence incarnate! Just some wild beast who knows only how to fight! Trapped in a web of my own mistakes! What was I supposed to do while see the suffering around me? It doesn't matter what stance you take with me because all who cross my path will fall to my trail of carnage sooner or later! Do you know how many people died because of me? How much blood I had to spill over these last few years? I lost count myself! That's how bad it's gotten. And the worst part is that I know that I can't stop it! If I do… then…?"

She trailed off, turning away from him and hugging herself as if she were trying to keep herself from falling apart.

"But you do not fight to kill for the sake of it," he said and she actually let out a harsh laughter.

"You still don't understand then if you believe that!" she cried out, anger edging in her words. "I brought you up here so that we could talk about it… so that I could explain…? But no… even now…? I can't… I just can't…?"

She leaned against the next window as if she were about to collapse under the weight of the burdens she was carrying and that suddenly sparked a new anger in him as well.

"I see you perfectly clear," he challenged back. "If you disagree then why not prove it and kill me here! Go ahead! Strike me down. After all, a wild beast won't bother to hesitate in killing me otherwise…"

In a fit of anger, she spun around, anger flashing in her eyes but he was quicker for once as he flew forward and grabbed hold of her wrists. She cried out, instinctively fighting to break free, but he moved so that she was pinned against the opposite wall so that she had no choice but to stare at him in the eyes and could see the seriousness that gazed back. At that, the madness that had been in her suddenly faded as quickly as it had come, leaving her to just stare at him and he could see the exhaustion in her features so clearly at that moment.

"You…" she growled. "You are wrong. I am… I'm…?"

But she no longer sounded certain as he slowly reached up and caressed her cheek, causing her to freeze as she gazed back as he smiled sadly.

"You are not a monster," he said with a voice that was both soft but also filled with absolute conviction. At that, all of her anger disappeared as she pushed him off of her and she staggered a few steps away from him, her dagger falling to the floor with a clatter as tears raced the weapon on the way down.

He was breathing hard as he watched her, a little startled by his own daring at how he handled that, but she seemed to have calmed down and he took the opportunity to continue on.

"Claire. Please don't say such things about yourself. I know how hard it must have been for you. You fought and fought and fought for the sake of those who can't fight to save themselves," he reminded her softly. "That is what I see. The toll you have taken on would have broken anyone. But if you were truly nothing more than a snapping beast, then you would not be shedding tears now, would you?"

"No… no… you… you're wrong," she whispered even has she shook and cried, slowly sinking back to the floor as he moved slowly towards her. "I know only how to fight and kill now. While I fantasize that one day I could be more than… this creature of shadows… I know that it can't come to pass. I am too far gone at this point that even were I to stop… I still am covered in blood."

He walked around and crouched down onto the floor while taking her hands in his own and she just looked up at him with dull and blood-shot eyes. Seeing such a heart-broken expression reminded him suddenly of their wedding night and how miserable she had been. He could not stand it.

"You became what you needed to be for the sake of those you love," he corrected softly. "You are a blade but not one without a thought or care in your head. You rose to meet any challenge and that includes standing against Vauthry."

"I am a beast," she muttered but now there was confusion in her tone. As if she had told herself that so many times she honestly believed it… but now that someone here was challenging if that was true… she no longer knew how to answer that.

"You are a woman with her own hopes and dreams," he corrected softly and his fingers brushed her cheek now and a shudder seemed to go through her at his touch. "A mindless creature wouldn't have done all those incredible things otherwise. "

"That is not as simple as you make it sound," she whispered, unable to look away from him and he realized just how beautiful her skin looked from the blazing crystal next to them, seemingly giving her a golden glow that made his mouth go dry. "I just… I've been… this… for so long now that I don't think that I can…?"

"It doesn't have to be tonight," he reassured her as he moved his other hand to her side as the glowing light was reflected in her eyes that made them shine like gems. What was she doing to him?

"But no matter what… know that I accept you for who and what you are," he whispered. Her eyes widened slightly at his words.

"W-What?" she whispered back.

"I accept you," he repeated slowly and clearly so that she could not hope to miss it. "I accept you, Claire. Both for the beast you think you are but also for the woman that I can see you as."

She stared at him, as if she could not believe what she heard and he realized just how romantic that all sounded. Yet, strangely, he found he did not regret his words despite them not being planned. He didn't know what was happening to him, but he just knew that he spoke the truth and he knew that if he had to relive this moment, he would say the same thing.

She then surprises him by all but collapsing into his arms. He gasped in fear, thinking that something was terribly wrong, but no, she was just holding onto him as she silently cried, allowing herself to fully break free of these burdens she chose to carry for herself for who knows how long now.

He just held her back, breathing hard as his own heart was fighting with all manner of temptations of what he longed to say and do, still struggling to put a word to the feelings that were turning inside him. There were no secrets from each other at this point, he realized, and that… that terrified him as well as enraptured him all at once.

He ran a hand through her hair before whispering, "You have become the beacon of hope that all the people look too across a dark ocean. Much like this lighthouse. Don't ever forget that."

As he stared at her, finding himself drawn into her eyes as his heart beat rather painfully in his chest, he was struck once more by how beautiful he thought she was. He gulped as she seemed transfixed by him as well, despite the awkward situation they were in with her in his lap, leaving clearly wasn't the first thing on her mind.

And then, without even thinking about it, he lowered his head and his lips found hers and he thought that his heart would explode with joy.

She froze at that, his hand upon her back as he pulled her in close, all but feeling her heart hammering between them. This kiss was nothing like their first kiss on their wedding night. This was tender and sweet. There was a longing there, but layered underneath it was something else, something that he felt that he had been carefully avoiding for a long time. He kissed her as if afraid of scaring her off or that he might never get another chance to do so again and wanted it to last. His hands rested upon her as if she were the rarest treasure he had ever known.

He finally came up for air and she dragged in a breath and her eyes opened to stare at him.

"I confess that for all evening… I was… overwhelmed," he confessed, stroking her cheek.

"What?" she asked in surprise, "I thought that you were born for stuff like this."

"Not by the party," he admitted, "By you."

She blinked at that before turning her head away from him with red dusting her cheeks as she grumbled, "Do I look that idiotic in this dress?"

"The exact opposite," he promised softly. "In truth, I found it hard not to stare at you. I was almost afraid I couldn't control myself. I… I frightened myself with what I was feeling."

She looked back to him as he looked back kindly, trying to portray his feelings in his gaze. He had tried to make sense of it all—tried to justify that it wasn't at all what he first thought and that he had simply grown fond of her presence. But here, in this place with her in his arms, he knew the truth but had been too stubborn to realize it.

He thought back to early this morning when she had snuck back into their room from another night of exploring the world and helping those in need, he came to realize just how much he worried… how much she came to mean to him and how he wished he could do more to help her. But more importantly… he couldn't deny any longer just how badly… he wanted her.

"May I kiss you again?" he asked and she smiled and closed her eyes as he came in for another.

And at the first brush of lips passion sparked to life once again. They kissed again, this time harder and longer as her hands came up to touch his face. He sighed dreamily against her lips as she hummed in response. She climbed up into his lap, pulling him in a tight embrace, which he reciprocated. Tongues soon flit into open mouths, kisses deepening with each new sound they pull from one another, a ferocious surge finally catching the admiration and attraction that had built between them in so brief a time.

Never had he been so enamored with another like this. Her lips were immaculately soft but her hands were covered with callouses as the longing became clear to them both. As if they were always meant to come together in this moment, Nymeia conspiring to spin their threads of fate into one.

It took everything he had to pull himself away, breathing hard as he ached with a different kind of longing. But he knew that if they didn't leave soon then reason would give away to something else entirely. Tonight was the first time that they were allowed to venture outside without the constant observation that Vauthry forced on them and he didn't want to risk them losing it because they never returned to the palace. Besides, if they were caught out here…? He didn't want to think of the punishment that could await them.

She seemed to realize what he was thinking as she nodded back in agreement, but she also seemed disappointed as they stood back up.

"We should talk more when we get back," she said softly as she noticed him shivering.

The two of them were silent the entire walk back to the tower; as they made sure to move quickly across the snows and enter the palace walls when they could hear the sounds of partying still continuing down below them with the city. He rolled his eyes, no longer concerning himself with such things as they hurried to the tower to get warm. There were no guards this night, and therefore no need to lock the door… but this time when they entered their room, he made sure to lock a chair underneath the handle this time, not wanting to give anyone the opportunity to come barging in when morning came. He couldn't help but wonder if there was something he could do to convince Vauthry to give them a little more privacy. Yet as he wondered that, fire burst in the hearth and warmth quickly filled the room where he sighed in relief once more as the chill left him. As he turned around, he saw his wife sitting upon the window seat, having finally kicked off her delicate shoes. Upon seeing her rubbing her feet he was horrified to realize that she had been wearing nothing but those shoes while trooping across the snow?

He immediately took off his jacket to shake off the remaining snow off his shoulders before he strode across the room to examine her.

"I'm fine," she reassured him as he crouched down and saw how her feet were already red-raw with cold.

"You should have told me," he frowned at her from where he knelt and she just gazed back as he ran his hand over her feet and cast a gentle healing spell to take away the cold she must obviously felt. Once he was done and looking up at her once again, those feelings from earlier suddenly came back in full force and he felt that longing rising up.

He wished that she would turn him away, told him that they should just go to bed that night, for he knew that he could ignore what was happening inside him… but she just stared down at him as if she was as conflicted as he was. Neither of them knew what to do in this situation and it was driving him mad not knowing. This was nothing like the romance novels that his mother was so fond of reading and yet he couldn't help but feel that this was similar to some plot that that she gushed over about in the past.

What was he to do? What was he supposed to say? He wished he could read her mind and see what it was that she wanted from him…?

"Alphinaud…?" she whispered as their eyes met once more and he felt a tremor of pleasure roll down his spine at the sound of his name upon her lips and he swallowed, his mouth having gone very dry.

She came to him just as he moved in and their lips met once more, but this time there was much more energy behind it then the one they shared before if that was possible. That kiss was still filled with so many uncertainties and confusion… but this one…? This one held no fear or hesitation… and certainly no chaste movements as she moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he reached up and entangled his hand into her long hair as he held her there.

Soon enough their lips weren't enough and he tasted the inside of her mouth, their tongues twisting with each other as something seemed to be racing through him. His entire body was…? What was the word? It was a like a burning heat that left him feeling both full and empty at the same time. His sudden fevered mind wasn't sure what it was that he was missing but he wanted it badly.

He just compromised by pulling his wife closer and deepened the kiss even more. He wanted her to know that he was here with her. All that she is and all that she believed herself to be… he accepted it all and wanted her to know that she wasn't going to frighten him away anytime soon.

He wanted to pull apart for air but she made a needy noise as her fingers dug into his clothes and he felt another shiver. He answered by gently pulling her hair to force her away so that he could get a breath, but with her neck now exposed, his lips found the skin and left a trail of kisses there as well. She shuddered and sighed at the sensation that caused his toes to curl in an excited way. He had never heard her make such a sound before but that burning heat was suddenly growing with every time she made the cooing noise.

He kissed up her neck, trailing across her chin and cheeks as she closed her eyes. A look of pure contentment passed over her features that sent a wave of joy through his heart.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered between kisses before moving lower to the neckline of her dress and the hands holding onto him twitch at the feeling. He carefully moved the dress back slightly to expose her shoulders and he trailed kisses there as well and she held him tighter against her body as he seemed to finally understand what this feeling was. But all that his feverish mind could think of was 'more… I need… more.'

During this they both moved to the floor and he gently pushed her back upon the thick rug. A split second later he was directly above her as he continued to caress every part of her face, deeply and reverently, losing himself in such a kiss.

"Alphinaud…?" she wheezed out when they broke apart for air once again. "H-Have… have you ever been with anyone else?"

"No," he confessed, not really having expected the question but should have guessed that it was heading in that direction. But as he looked down, her long hair fanned out about her head while the afterglow from the fire next to them caused her locks to gleam with the color of hot embers. He simply could not take his eyes off her as her eyes shimmered with many colors in the warm light and her pale skin was dyed with a luscious pink. He looked at her swollen lips before realizing that her dress had dipped down even lower than before so that her breasts were half exposed.

"H-Have you ever…?" he questioned and she shook her head as he felt sweat dripping down from his face as he realized how this was quickly shaping up. He could stop this now… get off her and things could go back to how they were before…? But could he bring himself to stop this sudden desire that rose up from within? He wanted to ask her but he could not speak… having found himself spellbound and was powerless to move from where he was as her chest heaved for air and she gazed back up at him.

Perhaps she sensed the hesitation in him for her hands suddenly rose up and gently pressed against his chest to keep him where he was as he froze.

"How far do you wish for this to go?" she whispered in a hushed tone. "Alphinaud…? Please tell me what it is that you want. Exactly what it is that you desire and I'll tell you if I can give it or not."

He gulped down, his mind filled with both confusion and desire as she patiently waited for him to answer her.

In truth, he didn't know what to do. Even if they did go 'all the way' as they say, he didn't know how it was supposed to go or what to do or not. He didn't think about anything a moment ago and just allowed himself to lose himself in the moment. But could he be able to do so again?

"How far do you wish to go?" she repeated softly as a hand reached up to caress his cheek and he sucked in some air as he closed his eyes and leaned into her touch.

That was when the answer rose up from his lips as he said just as quietly as she, "If you will have me…? I wish to see you. All of you."

He opened his eyes and gazed back down at her as he waited for her answer now as she thought it over.

"Are you certain?" she asked in surprise.

He pulled her hand away from his face before kissing her palm reverently.

"If we wish to stop… then we stop," he offered. "But…? I fear that I don't know what I'm doing…?"

She smiled back up at him as she slowly pushed herself up to her elbows and whispered back, "Neither do I. But… I'm willing to find out together?"

With those words, any last doubts left his mind as he helped her up and they moved back to the bed. His face was hot and red, his throat feeling like it was burning as she sat down and removed her boots at the very least. He could see the blush upon her cheeks and knew that she was more embarrassed at this than anything else as he moved closer. He ravenously thrust his tongue into her mouth and her muffled moans tickled his throat while his insides felt that they were melting as he gently tilted her back down.

Her hands snaked up around his neck and he felt her hands in his hair as he felt the hair tie become undone and suddenly a curtain of white fell about his shoulders, creating a kind of barrier around their faces that seemed to block off everyone but the two of them .

He was surprised by how submissive she was being here, thinking that she would never want to lay on her back like this, but mayhaps she did trust him enough to not hurt her here. At the very least, he wished to take care of her tonight. He was on his hands and knees above her as he did the only thing that he could think of to do and that was to capture her lips once more. Soon that burning heat was back as he felt himself giving over to desire once more.

He picked up where he left off by kissing down her neck before trailing over her shoulders and across her collarbone. He felt his hands tremble as he worked at the dress and opened it up to reveal more skin. He pulled back to get a good look at her… and at that moment he felt his mind go blank and froze for she was so beautiful to him that he thought that his heart would stop.

Now that she was stripped bare, he could see her body in its entirety. A slim frame that was gently sculpted with muscles that—far from making her look more masculine—shone through to give her a beautiful figure.

There were many scars that crisscrossed over her body—revealing the years she spent fighting from the shadows and putting her life on the line. Across her chest was a scar that stretched from her shoulder down between her breast and across her ribs as if someone had taken a blade to try and cut her in half. There were also other such scars that resemble bite marks from various creatures that have attacked her. He could see a scar upon her thigh that left a jagged mark like she was impaled with a spear while near her bellybutton he saw scratches that looked like they had to been dealt with by something with large claws. There were also tiny round marks here and there that were left from being shot by arrows or bullets...?

His gaze raked across each and every one as she suddenly became very self-conscious about seeing her like this. She hugged herself, trying to cover herself and the many scars that marred her skin as sadness flickered across her features. His hand reached up to stop her and she looked back as he gently moved her hands away to continue gazing at her. She was breathing hard, clearly wondering why he wasn't saying or doing anything but staring at her… thinking that he was horrified by such marks.

But far from that, he was staring at her as the light hit her body in such a way that stole his breath. The light from the fire cast half of her body into a golden glow like the sun while the light from the shining moon coming in through the window cast the other half in a silvery sheen… light and darkness perfectly etched upon her features.

Even if his body was thrown upon a pyre he didn't think that he could feel any hotter than this as his gazed trailed over her form as a moan of yearning that he had been trying to hold back finally escaped his throat. Her eyes widened in shock at that as he knew that they it was too late to turn back now. He didn't even know if he had the strength to be able to resist it anymore as he reached out to touch her with trembling hands, unable to restrain himself as he poured burning kisses across her form.

For a long time, neither of them said anything as she laid back in relief, allowing him to explore as she laid completely bare before him. His hands gently touch her body, exploring it as he committed everything to memory, mentally mapping every ilm of skin that he could find.

She then moans out his name, filled with yearning and love… for him. He buries his face in her chest, pressing kisses to it as she holds his head with her long arms. A hand reached up and gently squeezed one of her breasts where she let out a startled cry. At first, he feared that he may have hurt her, but he felt his face flush when he saw how her head pressed against the sheets as her eyes rolled back in pleasure.

To think that the one who was both revered and feared as the Warrior of Darkness was completely at his mercy at this moment?

He eventually realized that he was still clothed at this point, something that she noticed as well. No longer able to take this injustice, her hands found the front of his shirt and all but ripped the buttons off to have his chest bare as well.

Caresses followed down his sides and over his stomach as he broke away to savor every touch that he felt…? He whispered her name to get her attention before pleading softly, "Just for tonight… let me take care of you… please…"

After that, there truly existed no other secrets between them.

*Hours later*

Ran'jit was frowning heavily as he turned his gaze upon the dark lands of Kholusia, the sounds of the party directly below had died down considerably, bringing an unusual silence to Eulmore as a dim light spread through the gloomy skies. It looked like they were to be expecting more snow later today and he could feel the slight ache in his bones from the cold. He had his gaze turned to the ocean before retreating back inside Vauthry's chambers, stepping back inside from the balcony as his lord observed him darkly.

"How much longer will this plan of yours take?" he asked with his usual impatience as his general bowed low before him.

"Patience is key, my lord," Ran'jit reminded him. "Much like how a meal must be cooked to perfection before one can eagerly enjoy it. But know that everything is lining up like how we had planned. Not only that, but I believe that we will soon be confronted with the true identity of the Warrior of Darkness. If you just allow me to perform a more extensive questioning…?"

"And I told you before that the idea that you think my niece is the one who is plotting against me I still find ridiculous," he laughed as he waved his hand imperiously at his general. "All I need to do is use one word against her and she will have no choice but to obey me."

"All the same, my lord, I do believe that she at least knows something about your enemy," he offered.

"Fine! Very well, if that is what it will take for you to show actual results then I shall leave you to do what you feel is necessary! Vauthry snapped. "Gods know that you have nothing else to show for your times away from the castle. As for the rest of your plan… I trust all else is proceeding apace? Though I do confess that much of it goes right over my head. Bringing my nieces to Kholusia… arranging the marriage… not to mention what you have planned for the younger brat in a few days' time…? How is that going by the way?"

"It was a bit more complicated than I originally expected, but rest assure that what I have planned for the younger princess will be ready soon enough. I feel that her bodyguard has made my task… difficult," Ran'jit confirmed as Vauthry growled in annoyance.

"General! I have grown tired of this elaborate scheme. When will it all bear fruit?" he demanded, smacking his long arms on the plush carpet beneath him. "We have waited all this time and I expected to have seen something by now!"

Ran'jit waved his hands at him in a pacifying way before reassuring him patiently, "I understand my lord. And yes, I admit that it has taken us a lot longer than we had planned, but we must remember the circumstances involved are not normal and we have to work around different factors. I did warn you that it would take a long time and that everything would have to line up perfectly before we would reach the end."

Vauthry gave him a filthy look before asking, "You aren't planning on betraying me now, do you General?"

Ran'jit bowed low to him and answered back, "Of course not, my lord. I have served you for most of my life and I will be more than willing to give my life for your sake. Do not forget my lord, I have my own reasons for going along with this plan?"

Vauthry's beady eyes narrowed at him before he leaned comfortably back where he sat.

"I suppose you do," he conceded.

"If it's any consolation, my lord," Ran'jit went on, "We are nearing the end. The preparations are nearly complete and once we have captured the Warrior of Darkness then we shall have all we need to proceed. As I explained, before she died, Venat had set things up so that not just anyone could have access to where the Mothercrystal lies hidden. Just a little more time… and we shall have all that we need. Both with the Mothercrystal and the execution of the Warrior of Darkness."

(Short but sweet. They really needed some alone time for some romance! Never wrote explicit scenes like that before but hey, I thought it was about time. So please be kind about it… also, what is going on with Ran'jit and Vauthry? They are plotting once more and it seems that Ryne is about to be a part of it all? You'll find out very soon.)