OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part Seven

[brave_kreyu]

It turns out that 'guarding the lair' involves more than just staying in one place. Kreyu has a goal today of scouting outside their borders, looking for possible trouble.

Given that Skellig can't speak the local language, yet, they're not trying to pass as locals. Skellig is just wearing a kilt as they stalk through the forest.

The wilderness is truly wild here, only barely touched by humans. Beasts of all kinds live in these woods, wolves, deer, boars, birds, rabbits, and more.

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[27_53]

"I have heard that they are souls returning to the realm of earth after they have been away," he shifts slightly to allow her to curl up next to him in the way that she just seems to 'fit' against his body. Automatically, instinctively, he begins to stroke her hair, the motion gentle. "Whether that is true or not, I do not know."

(Briefly, he wonders if stars fell on the day he arrived in the desert.)

"But it is that way with most legends. The stories are passed down."

[brave_kreyu]

Maybe they were made for one another, for this. She likes it when he strokes her hair like this, makes a contented sound.

"I've heard that too. Or that they are embers from the braziers that light the path of the dead to the afterlife."

They might have fallen, Kreyu was far too busy to notice

[27_53]

They were BOTH very busy during that day. He keeps up the work of his hand, his fingers as he glances skyward.

"Could be multiple options," he admits. "There is no one answer, if I had to believe."

He leans in, presses his lips to her forehead. "What should we do after you have let the refugees seek safe haven in the city? What should I expect after your appearance as the Goddess?"

[brave_kreyu]

"People will be surprised, emotional," she allows. "But it shouldn't change much for us."

She soaks up his touch for a moment. "We can't do much about the slave trade," she says quietly, voice tight with regret. "WE may be largely immune to attacks from humans, but OUR humans aren't. If we were to start attacking the slavers as ourselves, other nations would take it as an act of war, and the three of us can only be in so many places at any given time."

[27_53]

Nodding, he continues with his touch, sensing the underlying currents of 'want' that are running beneath the surface of her emotions, alongside the regret and sadness. She needs the touch, a sign of his reassurance, his understanding.

"It is unfortunate, but I get it," he says. "Not every soul can be saved, the greater good must be considered at some point."

As disappointing and hard as it may be.

[brave_kreyu]

"Thank you for understanding, Skellig," she says, voice soft.

Then, a thought occurs to her. "On the other hand. my giant eagle shape is NOT known, and you are not yet known as my husband. We might be able to make things...difficult for a slaver or two before we risk too much."

She snuggles into him, pulls the blankets tighter around them. "You make a wonderful hero, you know, dashing in to rescue the innocent. A winged hero whose touch can heal. Add in your loyal giant eagle companion who is human wise and capable of speech, and we make for quite the tale."

[27_53]

"Legends in our own right," he helps her to adjust the blanket a bit, contemplating the thought as she settles against his body. "It is not a role I had ever considered for myself, but I suppose I may have to get used to tales being told of the both of us, if I am to be seen by your side."

Even 'dispatching' those who do bad things (such as bandits, raiders, pirates, and slavers) causes him to take on some of the Dark, but there is enough Light and Karma in his system to override it.

"I have never seen myself as the hero," he continues. "It is...an odd image, in my mind."

[brave_kreyu]

"There will be tales about you if you are around me, for a certainty," she tells him. "Part of the cost of being known as my husband, I'm afraid."

She hopes she's worth what she will cost him, in that and other ways.

"You have always been heroic," she tells him. "Healing and helping those in need."

[27_53]

Skellig keeps quiet for a moment, considering her words.

"It is just...what I am feel as if I am called to do, when I have the opportunity and choose to do so." There have been times when he has looked the other way, or chosen not to heal, not to help. (Does that make him the villain?) It is obvious from his tone that he feels some inner conflict at the thought. "Before, it was merely...survival. Thriving as I am in this world we are in is...a new experience."

[brave_kreyu]

"Wherever you were before seems to have been a cruel place, cold. I'm sure you did the best you could under the circumstances."

She tilts her head to kiss him, soft and reassuring. "We will learn how to navigate this world together."

[27_53]

Even with his reserves of Light as filled to the brim as they are, he is still very grateful for the kiss and the reassurance, allowing himself to pull just the faintest hint of Karma from her reserves, working to settle his nerves and indecision.

"I look forward to it," he says honestly once they break the kiss. "To have a partner is a strength I am most grateful for."

[brave_kreyu]

"I have worked with my brothers before, but I am always the 'little sister'." She tries to put the feeling into words. "They are older, wiser, and though they love me, I do not feel I am their equal."

[27_53]

"Even though I have only met Elihu," he points out. "And I obviously did not meet him when he was at his...greatest levels of strength...I would not consider it a contest. You each have your own different angle of attack that you have struck from when it comes to the public eye."

He presses his lips to hers, lingering.

"Between the three of you, each of you have strengths that balance the others."

[brave_kreyu]

"That is good to hear," she tells him when they break to breathe. She's slightly flushed, but from happiness, not embarrassment.

"It might be good for me to see myself through your eyes." An owl calls somewhere out in the dark. The wild things that come out at night are waking up, going about their business.

[27_53]

"I am more than willing to report on my observations as you'd prefer," he says. "I am quite interested to see how the city folk will react to their Goddess in the flesh, being able to worship you in such a manner if you would appear. I will have to do my best to play the part."

He smirks slightly - he is not too concerned about being able to distract them from his presence, not when everyone will be focused on HER when she makes herself known. He is just a random traveler, passing through the capital.

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu flushes. "There are temples, but direct worship is usually only something that happens at festivals and such. You needn't bow or any of that nonsense."

"Should you need to address me while you are playing a part, they generally call me Great Lady, or Great Lady Kreyu."

[27_53]

"Great Lady Kreyu..." He rolls the words around in his mouth, letting them fall from his tongue as a 'test' as he speaks, shifting his hand to stroke her cheek with the back of his knuckles. "It suits you."

A sidelong glance.

"I doubt I will be calling you that in our chambers," he adds - knowing full well that she would likely NOT want to be addressed as such when it just them together. "But should I need to speak to you in public, I will be sure to use the appropriate titles."

He presses a kiss to her hair. "I would not wish to make you uncomfortable."

[brave_kreyu]

"It was a compromise," she explains. "Better than Goddess."

"Thank you, love. I would not wish to be Great Lady to you, not in private." She grins. "No need for such formality between equals, between husband and wife. Especially when you've known me so well," she adds, teasing. 'Know' in the biblical sense of the word.

[27_53]

"I would argue that you are my goddess," he teases gently. "And worthy of all the worship befitting your role."

He sobers slightly, but his smile remains, faint as it is as he studies the stars above them. "Though if I am to make that argument, then I must also accept that I am worthy of the same from you, as we are equals," he adds. "Which I am...getting used to. That I am worthy of the same treatment."

Which is a big thing for him to say.

[brave_kreyu]

She smiles, so very proud, because it IS a big thing for him to say.

"Your life has been turned upside down and shaken beyond recognition," she tells him, kissing his cheek. "You are are adapting remarkably well, my love."

She looks up to the stars. "You are worthy of every good thing, every joy I can manage to give you."

[27_53]

Even though he cannot remember much of his life Before, he knows that the depth of stars was not this great as the field that covers the sky above them in this moment, now that the last hints of sunset have faded from the western horizon.

"I know I am," he replies. "And I am starting to even believe it, also," he quips, twirling a lock of her hair in his finger. "You have given me more joy and instances of Light and Karma to fill my soul and my heart than I could even imagine possible. I am very grateful for that."

[brave_kreyu]

She chuckles softly at his quip. "I am grateful that I could give them to you," she tells him. "For you have given me so much, Skellig."

There's starlight reflecting in her eyes. "More than I could ever say."

They're probably protected enough to fall asleep out here, beneath the stars, wrapped up in one another's arms.
Or if his stamina has recovered, they could entertain one another under the stars in other ways...

[27_53]

His stamina has recovered decently enough, but he is also feeling quite lazy and comfortable with her body curled around his in such a manner. His ears are 'listening' for any potential threats, but there are none within range, simply wildlife at a distance.

His fingertips shift to her upper arm, stroking gently upwards to the edge of her chiton at her shoulder.

"I am finally feeling deeply connected to the lines," he mutters softly, relief in his tone. "I know it has been several days since we have been here, but it has taken some time for me to grab hold of them fully. I am much less...overwhelmed."

[brave_kreyu]

"That is very good news," Kreyu tells him, relief and delight in her tone. The gentle strokes of his fingertips feel good, soothing.

"I hope you will get the sense you had Before back also, with time."

[27_53]

"I feel it returning," he says. "Every time that I connect with the lines, it takes less effort. I have not yet felt...pulled as I have before, but perhaps that is because I am not needed."

Skellig smiles. "Which is a good thing. I do not mind helping, but it is nice to be able to just focus on you."