Thar Shaddin

Jerial drew closer, his eyes full of sympathy. "Whatever your father did to you, may the crows eat his body, it won't rule your life." In one swift motion, he undid her sword belt and tossed it away. "I don't care about those." He pointed at the discarded weapons. "If you want to stay with me, stay with me of your own accord."

This was unusual in the highest degree. Normally he was the one confused and unable to think while desperate, loving women tried to coax his true self out. It made him feel even worse about Fayane and her apparent lack of the human need to be cared for.

And if she wouldn't realize it herself, he might have to make her realize it.

Fay's jaw dropped - literally. He'd taken off her father's blades! Insulted her father! Why- unless...? Refusing to think further - thinking always just messed things of this genre up - Fay moved forward, grabbed the lapels of his shirt and kissed Jerial full on the mouth. Her body moved instinctively closer, pressing herself against him. She wasn't sure this was what he was aiming for, but it felt right to her.

Jerial tried his best to act anything but completely floored by Fayane. Instead, he acted calm, pulling her close to him, letting her do what she felt she needed to. He decided he liked this new side of her a great deal better than the melancholy, emotionless Fay. MUCH better, he amended.

He wasn't responding the way Fay'd thought he would - with enthusiasm... or maybe even just a hint of joy? No... all she felt was a studied calm almost. He'd pulled her close, though she sensed his shock. Then the patience with hints of enjoyment. Why wasn't he truly enjoying this? Maybe she wasn't doing it right...

Kicking it up a slight notch Fay tilted her head and nibbled along his bottom lip, careful not to bite too hard even as she drew off her gloves, dropped them and slid them into his hair. Even as she played with the silky strands she pressed herself more fully against him, trying to coax a reaction out of him.

He could not want this... Fay assassinated the voice in her head once more. If he didn't want this, he'd have kicked her ass by now; or at least so she hoped.

Fayane...really meant it. To say the least. However, he sensed a moment of hesitation. He smiled under her affectionate...actions.

And made his feelings known perfectly.

She felt his smile and was gonna grin back when one of his hands came up to grip her hair as his lips moved against hers. His other hand pressed against her lower back, pulling her closer, pressing her lithe frame closer and more firmly against his only slightly stronger one.

Fay purred and moved with him, dragging her nails ever so slightly down his back only to end at the waistband of his trousers. She grabbed them and pulled him closer still, ignoring that her hair had fallen from its usual messy bun.

When she finally managed to pull back, it was because she was in desperate need of oxygen. Panting she stared up at him, asking the silent question: so what now?

Jerial woke to the mid-morning sun with an unconscious yawn. He looked down to see Fay still asleep. He reached down to ruffle her hair and gave a light kiss to the crown of her head. Trying not to wake her, he rose and dressed in his clothes once again. He took a walk around the lightly wooded area; it was the first chance he had gotten since the start of the turn of winter into spring.

He spoke at length to Elohim, having a much-needed time alone with his deity. He eventually saw the sun had moved in the sky. He guessed it was early afternoon, and he had spent much too long away. With a sigh, he ambled back to camp.

Fay woke not long after Jerial and sat up slowly, languidly. She felt used, oiled, and well... pretty damn good. She shifted partially to listen to his foot-steps and to listen for anything hostile. Stretching she dressed and wandered over the few feet to where her blades lay, picked them up and belted them on, grinning as she remembered.

Silently, but moving faster, she began the ever familiar dance, still listening for Jerial's footsteps. What she was starting realize was that her dance was now more energetic, had more feeling. If at all possible, Fay had become more deadly. Why? Because she now had something she'd die to protect. And with that realization came a fear, a fear she quickly banished.

She was his now, and she would trust him to lead her through any form of hell. Just as she trusted her blades to protect him from any and all demons. And with that she finished her dance with a flourish it didn't normally possess. And with that, Fay allowed herself to smile truly for the first time in years.

Jerial came up behind Fay, slipping an arm around her midriff. "Look, clouds to the south. A storm's coming. I think we should wait here. There's no more woodland for leagues, and I would much rather not be caught in the elements. What do you think?"

Fay leaned back into his touch and sniffed the air.

"I think you may be right." She turned slightly and lightly kissed what skin she found. "I'll even let you light a fire for warmth. She grinned up at him before looking around, her ears twitching.

"I can scout the area or you can, though I feel you may be able to find things faster... well depending on your other half." She grinned up at him, an easy humor in her eyes.

"Would you really like to know?" He felt very nervous, especially now, of what she would think of him, his 'other half' as she whimsically called it. "You're my other half," he said lazily, having no idea what he meant by it.

"I'm sure you would be...surprised, to say the least."

She started a bit at first with his initial reply. She was his other half? Wasn't it a tad bit soon for that? The his second reply was sounded and Fay realized that he must have been joking. She wanted to be irritated at him for taking something so heavy so lightheartedly; only to realize she just couldn't. Instead she looked up and said simply:

"I trust you."

Jerial sighed and backed up from her embrace, sighing. He crouched down on the forest floor, using his hand to keep his balance, his eyes focused on the ground in front of him. With a flash of fire and heat, a phoenix, grey-colored with matching flames emanating from him, appeared. He ruffled his feathers, his head still faced toward the ground.

He had tried to back off from her to give some space; he hoped she trusted him as she said she did.

Fay bit back in initial panic that flared when all she saw was flames and Jerial in the center of them. She couldn't stop the gasp when he was revealed. Silently she knelt before him, shaking and sweating slightly. She did her best to ignore the fire, the roaring heat of it (or so it felt) as she reached forward and gently scooped him up.

The panic rose and almost engulfed her as the flames of his magic flickered over her hands. Quicky she closed her eyes and breathed. In: no pain, only pleasant heat. Out: Trust him, trust him. Over and over she repeated the process until she opened her eyes to meet Jerial's own bird ones.

"See?" She managed weakly. "I trust you. Y-you're fire. But I trust you." Pushing her courage further than she thought she could dare she closed her eyes and buried her face in his feathers, trembling as she fought another wave of her fear.

He was extremely relieved by her acceptance. Jerial nuzzled Fay's arm tenderly. After a minute of her acclimation, he pulled away, flapping once and angling for the ground. His feet landed on the ground, elven again. A smile played across his face. "Now, who will scout out?" He said softly, nonchalantly.