It was unclear how time had moved, only that at some point he was angling attention towards the sound of footsteps creeping up to the door of the place occupied and was moving to shelter Araminta beneath the blankets. Even lightly moving her to take up residence to where his heated spot was.
Rising carefully as not to wake but crept to open the door and almost immediately found himself leveling a less than enthused stare at someone he had believed for nearly twenty years had been part of the afterlife. Seeing how Talon’s face from shocked to embarrassed and eventually apologetic. It was strange to even look at the man and know that he hadn’t particularly aged much either. Still looking the part of healthy mid twenty year old even if he was closer to his mid forties. And motioned that he was to step back because he wasn’t entering the abode that Araminta was resting in. Stepping out at least gave him a chance to see they were in a place that he could tell was not part of the imperial lands.
A moon itself was large. Basking silver light over ocean tides and homes of plenty were aglow with evening lanterns. The sound of distant voices seeming unbothered to much of anything and well, Talon was standing here. Fumbling for words by the way his lips were flapping with no sound.
Earning a look up and down before, “Have you eaten?” Theon narrowed his stare at him further, “The way you look at me, you’d think I was the enemy, rather than your brother.”
“Half.” Theon pointed out without any real emotion. “And dead.”
Mouth parted but seemingly hesitated. Looking at the hut a moment but stepped back to show that they could talk a bit further without leaving the place. Something he at least agreed too till they were stepped on the sandy path before the place. “I think that last comment can be erased in your mind. I’m clearly not dead. In fact, I saved you both from that terrible shit hole. Shouldn’t that count for something.”
“Thank you.” Theon offered but crossed arms over another. Causing Talon to gesture rather randomly. As though he were expecting something more and well, wasn’t getting it.
“Theo,”
“Theon.”
That drew pause and a frustrated huff, “I think you are looking to split hairs here, Theon. I’m not the enemy.”
“You aren’t the ally either. You are someone that was part of a past that belongs as such. Today was a new day and the means of a beginning is just that. Starting now. If you are looking to implore something of pity or warmth from a history that is no longer relevant, you are wasting air in such frivolities.” The red head tipped his head in a cordial manner. “Do not rely on the former to gain you favour now, Talongrath. Trust is built, not earned upon the first sight. I would suggest you start to build.”
Once more his mouth flopped uselessly. Twisting up to scratch at his head with a muttering of nonsense before throwing said arms up. “Boy, she wasn’t lying when you said you don’t trust easily.”
“That is not something I could give easily like a rich commodity. Do not expect it to come so easily because blood is shared in halves between us. You are a stranger to me. And I am not fond of strangers due to their ability to lie, steal, cheat and maim. Whatever you want, Talongrath, you may speak it but I do not need to meet it.”
The elder one stared then. Searching eyes over him and frowned deeply. “I don’t want anything. Well nothing physical. I just… well I want to check on you. You might not feel anything towards me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t. You’re still my little brother and I do care, Theon. I know that alone is hard to believe because our family is ten ways to fucked up. However, this meeting. This timing, you have to believe it was not planned. But something given to be. In that place? You have to believe there was some reason for it.”
He didn’t. But he could see that Talon felt the opposite. “Let me help you. Let me help you and Araminta. Because well… I think I’m going to need your help as well. Both of yours.”
Araminta was so worn down, so tired, that her Theon Senses did not go off as they should have when he once again escaped bed to leave her. Not that they ever really did anyway, for some reason he was very good at lulling her into such a deep sleep that it made his escapes that much easier! She slept through his absence, though, and even longer still. Might have even slept for days if her dreams hadn’t shifted and twisted into such uncomfortable terrors that she very reluctantly forced herself to rouse back to the waking world.
Her head hurt. There was no more frozen numbness, that was for sure! Because now absolutely everything hurt in some manner or another from a pounding migraine to aching muscles. Chilly too despite the blankets she seemed to be tucked into and tried to burrow further in. Somehow cold and sweaty all at the same time. Huffing a soft disgruntled sound, Araminta supposed it was only a matter of time before she caught some sort of flu. That’s what it felt like, a nasty little fatiguing flu.
She couldn’t stay in bed being a lump, however. With Theon’s elder brother in the picture, that reunion was going to be such a weight of stress for him. Araminta wasn’t about to let him go through it all by himself, even if the only thing she could do was stand there and hold his hand.
What a way to meet your sibling again. If she found hers, she would be so overjoyed! Only, she and her siblings had grown up close in a home full of love. Even if Theon had once liked this brother, the circumstances were so very different. The man was surely a completely different person now, and so was Theon for that matter.
Why was she still sitting here? She huffed again, struggling to push the blankets back and sit up. To throw stiff legs over the side of the mattress and bring herself to a stand. At least the air smelled fresh and pleasant! While she glanced around trying to remember where she tossed her boots, she very much liked the idea of taking a long walk with Theon to explore the place while they recuperated from the last trial.
Just because Talon had not proven to be someone of trustworthy use as of yet, he also hadn’t been so wicked that he personally couldn’t thank and show gratitude for what had been done. Yet, that was as far as it went. His head was already far too full of all the sort of wild emotions that felt like they had no room to move. Conflicting against another. Good against evil. Light versus dark. Conscious understanding against subconscious familiarity.
In the end, their conversation had only come to a drawn point. With the elder attempting to win over favour in some means but saying he wanted to simply help. Not without receiving some in return which honestly made it feel more realistic. If Talon just wanted to help, he’d be far more uncertain. But if the other was seeking equal treatment in that, then it was more of a business deal than just good faith.
It became a strained silence then for Talon. Watching shifting from foot to foot till he couldn’t help but speak. Asking him to say something in which was simply, where did one get food and water because he’d just need to know for the proper morning. Catching the dragon born off guard with how his face warped into disbelief. Then something that looked like frustrated hurt. Shortly shaking away into a watery smile and showed where he could get some things when applicable.
They’d walk in complete silence then. Only at the show of the pub did Talon try to speak up only to be shot down by no more than a mere thank you. Staring silver to brown a long strained pause till the latter wilted. Nodding and then bidding a goodnight. Seeming understanding that no amount of force –gentle or aggressive- would work on wearing down perfected walls against those he considered strangers. Or just people in general. There were only a few thus far that had weakened that protective barrier and even now, he was wondering if he should have reinforced it rather than let it crumble.
Almost as if he knew his resistance came in a physical manifestation of what was sitting on his chest. Only made real because that of someone he had the only real good memories he could recall, was present. And knew that this pressure on himself was a fear of being abandoned. Since that was all he really knew. Family never existed. When it did, it fell through. And with a long internal look, he could clue in that it was the same sensation he felt yesterday… still with Araminta. Having intense feelings of what was becoming clear as separation anxiety paired with his overwhelming desire to simply please. Do anything he could to keep them happy. Whilst knowing he was unworthy of the feeling that was apparently love whilst paired with the amount of insecurities. He had developed a benefit to being reluctant to commit and showing his struggles with managing to gain that emotional closeness with anyone. It all just came with the ringing words of the lich and echoed that dullness of a void all the more.
It was strange how seeing Talon made that knowledge real. And now, with it being finally named; he wasn’t sure what to do with it. Daring not to speak about it. Keeping it contained within was likely the solution he felt safest with as he waited till the break of dawn so he could return back the ways of a walk with things that he figured would be best to bring to Araminta.
His return with a small tray that he would return back to the pub, had him entering to find her attempting to look around for her boots.
Stepping in as the door was gingerly closed so he could set the acquired items upon the side table of the bed. It was no means anything fancy for the way of a meal but it at least smelt decent with the brown sugar porridge. Something that was at least lighter as he quietly motioned to it with a step back. She didn’t look exactly well still and that seemed to be enough for him to take a seat in the chair. Making no motion to urge conversation or even to insist on doing anything!
Despite the fact nothing was broken, bending and twisting was such a pain! She hadn’t felt as battered since another dark and evil castle, and since she didn’t want to think about that one at all, Araminta pushed it right out of her mind and gave herself a little mental pep talk. This was a new day with new challenges, and she really did want to get out and explore a new place that she’d never seen before. Having powered through worse things, all she needed was to just breathe through it.
It helped that Theon returned, setting her into that instant bright smile. Only faltering when verdant green eyes could clearly see there was something still off-kilter there. Watching with interest as he set down the tray of a morning’s breakfast. Something that smelled sweetly wonderful, though she didn’t feel much desire to put anything in her stomach. Not finding that strange at all, since that was pretty normal for her when she’d been sick.
For the moment, she was doing that thing again of looking him over while he sat. Trying her darndest to attempt to read his mind again. In most cases it was easy to surmise or even take a guess at what was bothering him. There’d always been a one, two, three step of events with clear incidents to help her figure it out. This time, the trial had been such a mess of things, with so many surprises that Araminta could not pick out any one thing!
Then maybe that was the problem itself. Theon was feeling overwhelmed with it all.
And Araminta was tired of leaving him be! If she couldn’t take care of him when he needed it, then what good even was she!
“Did you get enough rest? Did you eat?” she asked, moving to him instead of breakfast. Running hands through red hair first before softly stroking her knuckles against his cheeks. Oh so subtly checking to see if he had any dark circles or if he was still worn down from the manna sickness. “We’re near the ocean, so we could go for a little fishing and make you something very nice? I could go menace your brother as well, if you are not ready to deal with him.”
There was a mere still moment where he seen her all grins and then attention dulling. He’d been around long enough at this point to tell she was doing her mental probing thing. Expressing how wordlessly clever she was but merely assessing body language. Or the lapse of it. But not bothering with the meal in which had him then considering her. Aware that she wasn’t exactly the sort to deny such things, so that brought his own attention to a stronger alert. Paired with the fact that she seemed to be less than her usual self. Guessing much of the day prior had properly taken it out of her, as that had been more than any one person could have bargained for.
And made him guess it had been why that particular sight was not chosen often to be the trial of succession. Not that the rate of success had been good in the first place.
They were in a obvious limbo that was shortened when she had seemingly decided to get closer. Asking questions that were easy to answer while he was trying not to think too heavily about the action of sweetened touch. Feeling watery about how he wanted to respond and how it made him uneasy in turn. “Yes.” To enough rest. “No.” To the eating part because well, they both knew he was still working through that.
Of course Araminta was already three steps ahead by mentioning fishing and the means of making it into something if something was caught. But mentioned Talon no sooner and how she would go bother him if necessary.
“He was already here.” Theon stated so she wasn’t about to go tracking him down when Talon had already tried to start a peace accord. However, he wasn’t so dull that he couldn’t tell that things were not as well with Araminta either. Reaching up to still her grasp lightly, “You are unwell?” He asked and let the argent rings glance up to show he likely wasn’t about to be sold on anything she may want to sell to convince him otherwise. Especially when said gaze went to the prepared food in such a way, “You are not eating.”
Araminta wasn’t sure she liked the thought of Talon already poking and prodding at Theon. While she was certain now he probably had good intentions, he did not know Theon as an adult and was liable to accidentally shoot himself in the foot if he tried to push his brother too fast into a friendly relationship. It had taken awhile even for Araminta to get the man to open up and speaking to her beyond a few short words!
Short words he was back to giving her again, which was a concern for sure. Not surprising, though, was that he’d turned the questions back at her as to her own state of being. Leaving her giving that soft smile while she straightened up his hair out of his eyes.
Telling him she was fine would be a terrible mistake! He’d fret and worry about what she wasn’t telling him. Better to tell him the truth of it, so there was less to get mixed up in those thoughts of his, even if Araminta didn’t think it was worth the fuss.
“I suppose I am not very hungry,” she admitted. “I hurt in an uncomfortable variety of ways. Between the blood loss and that lich giving my organs frostbite, I think it’s let me catch a flu. But-” she paused holding up a finger before he made his usual guilty frown. “It was all worth it to keep you safe and now you can take care of me as you wish. I’ll behave and do as you ask, so long as you let me stay with you.”
Waiting in curiosity and almost expectation that she may attempt to bluff her way through what she might be feeling, one could admit a sense of relief that she simply went for the direct route. Even if the statement that she wasn’t particularly hungry was enough to draw him to look up at her once more. Rolling around the meaning of such because he had seen how she had been with the black ichor of the demon taint. How she was impressively good at pushing through painful situations with a grin and a laugh.
Knowing that her stating that she was hurting was certainly better and that she was feeling off as a polite way.
But she said something with that in which simply twisted an unseen knife.
Safe?Safe—
“I do not have anything to ask of you.” Which was mostly on par for the course. There was not a habit thus far in him to enforce, ask or vaguely yet imply things outwardly in her direction. Disliking even the thought about doing it with a private sense of repulsion. Having a strong reaction that made him properly want to avoid even doing such things.
Instead, he gave a soft nod. “If you need to rest more, this is the time.” Instead working it that way, “It seems safe here. Quiet and secluded. A good chance to take it as a chance to let things happen without the stress of something unknown striking, if possible.” He’d look at the tray, “I can remove that then if it is not of aid. I will stay present as you need as well.”
He’d said it so quickly it gave her a moment of pause and a sharp little inkling of fear that he was upset with her. He had nothing to ask from her, because why? Because she had been so reckless with herself? Or because she had stolen away that sense of independence and making of his own choices, when she demanded he stay put. Araminta had thought then he’d be furious with her for herself into danger, but she still thought that he would understand the necessity in the moment. What she hadn’t considered that he might be angry that he didn’t get any say in the matter.
Having no more will to stand, Araminta sank to a seek on the bed across from him. Her mouth twisted to the side, chewing into her lip in thoughtful silence. Rest might be what she need, it just wasn’t what she actually wanted. Only it felt cruel now to insist he stay with her to help make her feel more secure when he himself had no security at all. Because of her own fault and now his brother’s appearance and everything else along with it.
“…you said you would tell me if you were feeling overwhelmed, yes?” she reminded him. Though that was a problem too, in that she’d forced her care on him again during a moment he didn’t want it! She needed to let him go breath and not cling on to him like a soul sucking leech!
“I will eat,” she shifted gears instead. “I’ll eat and I’ll rest and if you wish to speak to me I’ll be right here.”
As she sank down to sit rather than standing there potentially feeling the aches and pains of something that may need to be looked at sooner than later, he only expressed more the thought of he had no desire to tell her want to do. Simply because, he didn’t like doing that in general. Knowing she knew herself better than anyone and what she might need to do.
Save that she came out to point that statement in which he had agreed to speak up when he had felt overwhelmed. The very thought alone was a fine gentle ringing in which caused him to think inwards. Searching for that and ultimately, “I don’t feel overwhelmed.” Which was true, because it was probably more than that. “I don’t know what I specifically feel at one given moment. Just that it is plenty and has no defined ability to find measure to be spoken.” That was more the truth. It was just a lot in his head and trying to untangle it all that it might make any logical sense. Even to him. “I am conflicted.”
Identifying things that were troubling was one thing. Getting any sense of courage to speak about them was another. A constant sensation of too much being a fair reason to why he didn’t want to voice it. Able to know that this was a mechanism he had developed to keep himself safe and avoid others being harassed or even developing a need to think twice about him. Even if Araminta was the one person thus far that was trying to crack that.
Looking at her then and thinking with a critical sensation. Before, “What do you want me to do to help?” Voicing out that he was willing to do what she needed to help her because he found it easier to be at least given an understanding of what she needed or wanting, rather than taking that decision or choice away from her. Where he could learn rather than enforce.
It seemed Theon wasn’t even sure how he himself was feeling right now, which gave Araminta a good measure of peace. As long as he could at least say this to her, instead of going silent it helped a great deal. …and so she told him as much!
“It helps me when you talk to me about your thoughts,” she encouraged, allowing now her own worries and fears to come through her expression in the form of a wrinkle nose and a sheepish smile. “I was worried that you were angry with me, or that I hurt you because I made you stay still somewhere safe while I did something reckless.”
Araminta took in a deep breath only to quickly sigh afterwards, plucking her hand at the rustled blanket on the bed. Guessing that it might make it easier for him to sort through his own thoughts if Araminta herself would share hers.
“You always protect me with your entire self and it scares me to death sometimes! But I would never ask you not to because I would do so for you in a heartbeat. This time it was my turn to protect you. I didn’t mean to take away your agency, I only didn’t want to risk them catching up to us when you weren’t ready. You needed time to rest, so I ran circles around the ruins so they’d be chasing a goose.”
“I didn’t know an entire dragon was going to come attack the whole castle, else I never would have left you there alone at all!”
“Many of my thoughts are not pleasant.” He replied almost too swiftly, something he rarely did. Even as his brow wrinkled slightly and vision was cast aside. “Full of lack of confidence, self depreciation and private loathing.” That was probably more than he would have ever said before but the additional unspoken part was he didn’t want to share such negativity with her. Preferring to keep it to himself as if that would just mend. But her mentioning that she was also worried pairing with the expression that wilted away to show such, he was shortly giving a low hum to her.
“Not angry. Hurt is better to describe it.” Theon wasn’t about to lie to her, even if he didn’t want to expose a lot of these things, he would still admit when something was close enough. Just pausing when she needed to share her thoughts.
Listening and actually understanding her thoughts better in this moment than before. Just it felt criminal at the same time. Nodding to agree that no one could have foretold that a dragon born was going to crash down at the same time either. “You’re the only thing worth protecting in such a way for me.” The words left after a few pauses to let the moment ruminate in them each. “These trials are important to you. And the lich was a threat that I did not wish for you to go against even if many of my skills are beneath subpar.” It was glaring at this point that while he had been comfortable with his limited magic before Araminta and relied more on just physical prowess, now it was a show that he certainly was quite literally nothing. It kind of surprised him that the queen herself had even bothered to keep him around with such knowledge too.
Hands folded and he thought again. Grazing teeth over inner lip with a weight that seemed like it wouldn’t matter if he spoke it or not. It was going to exist regardless. “Talongrath’s arrival was not something to know of. But it also allowed me to realize that why the idea of you doing what you thought was best, hurt; was something I can see now and recognize as a fear of abandonment.” It felt truly disgusting to even say it out loud but said no less. “You are the only thing that I’ve come to care about, Araminta. That alone is… worrisome. It drums up many more doubts and adds to my own turmoil that I don’t want to show. And being reminded well of my glaring ability to be nothing in totality, I do not know what to make of any of this. The trials are going to get harder. More dangerous and I don’t know if it is wise that I continue with you when there is too many potential chances of failure when you are doing well in continuing and dominating these challenges.”
“It may be better if there was separation in a permanent state as to avoid any further chances of me breaking the promise to you that I agreed too and distracting you.” Lids closed to half, “It does no good if you are worried about me when your focus ought to be the trial and the dangerous it has. This rinse and repeat is doing nothing more than bringing problems. Things that should not be on your plate.”
A breath pulled and he side glanced her, as if waiting for her to start the means of lecturing in the effort of why this was wrong. The mentality and the likes.
There was no hiding what Araminta’s true feelings and instincts were, as of course her first reaction was to reach her hands up and look as if she were about the leap off the bed to throw her arms around him again. Every little urge in her body was wanting to pet him and fuss all of his concerns away, the moment he admitted he had indeed felt hurt and even abandoned by her. As if she would ever abandon him!
Araminta had to fight those instincts down to keep her rump right where it was, instead placing hands at her sides to grip that mattress so that he could actually speak his mind without her trying to brush it all away. Glad that she did because it seemed he was well on his way to recognizing feelings and where they were coming from on his own… even if she did frown to hear himself echo the words of that lich. To call himself nothing when that could not even be further from the truth.
Worse yet to allow that feeling of being nothing to sink down so deep to once again question whether or not he should stay with her.
That one hurt.
Araminta had been so certain they’d finally gotten off that merry-go-round of doubting whether or not they should stay together. Her constantly trying to reassure him must’ve felt more like throwing a blanket over him. To hear it so much it no longer meant anything at all. Which wasn’t really his fault, she didn’t always know when to be quiet and let it be.
This might’ve been one of those rare moments she didn’t know the right thing to say. So she took a breath to address the only thing that really mattered.
“You aren’t nothing. You’ve never ever been nothing. You’re my home and my future, and I know that only means something to me and isn’t enough for you right now. If it hurts you to keep going forward through the trials with me, I won’t ask or expect you to keep going. You do not have to, Theon. I’ll still love you even if you’re not with me.”
Observing her as he gave the chance for his voice to work and to express as best he could the overall parts of his thoughts that were at least spooled enough from the knot to give life too. There was still more. Still wrapped up that needed gentle care to pick apart without wounding or ruining the efforts, but that came with time. And surprise that Araminta hadn’t become a rabbit to spring over and latch on!
Giving him a chance to study her expression and see that she was taking what had been said. Milling it like grain to become powder so it could be feasibly digested. Till there was a gentle hold of a pause that when she looked up at him, the focus was on things that was both surprising and not at the same time.
“Home and future?” Repeating them gingerly, “You’re right. They don’t have much reference for me. Although I don’t think that’s from a lack of trying but more just a lack of knowing the foundation of even starting them. It’s something that seems simple to others and I can recognize that there’s envy somewhere inside myself for that very thing.”
Back straightened and shoulders rolled to square themselves. As if the action was enough to roll away the pressure of a turbulent mind. “That is the conflict, or one of them. Till recently, being nothing was entirely normal. Acceptable. Known and not something I had issue with. I still feel similar to that and then the direct opposite. Likely because of you and your care. Which is not something I regret but I don’t know entirely how to make it functional either. Which feels like a great disservice towards you.” Lungs inflated as readying a reality to spill from tongue. “The other conflict is just the fact of the trials. If I cannot perform at the highest calibre to avoid breaking my promise to you but I also cannot fight or defend where is necessary, then that presents problems for you as well. Where you become distracted from the trial and put yourself at further risk.”
“I wish to help. To be useful. But in the same breath, I also know that is not feasible. It was easy to be simply a tool used by the Imperial Queen because if death happened, well… it happened. It was accepted as failure and in turn, there would be repercussions for it. More than I knew of but still, there. Now… if I fail you, it puts you at a greater risk. And you’ve got the weight of an entire kingdom on your shoulders. To be present, puts you and that very thing under constant duress. And perhaps, this acknowledgement that my fears make it difficult to build a bond closer because well… I’m very accustomed to the end result of it all being isolation. I know you wouldn’t do that but I also don’t know you wouldn’t. Everyone has a price. A point of no return. An end.”
Theon shrugged indifferently. “I am also a bit sick and tired of my own insecurities presenting themselves. That is not something you should bare and it is wrong to ask you or even think that you’d do so. Love is still a alien concept but I know enough that I don’t want you to bare my trauma or burdens. Especially when you are doing so much already. It feels cruel and that… I can’t do to you.” Hands patted at knees, “So, I do not know what is to happen. Merely that… conflict is my cross right now and you are unwell. Which this is likely not helping in the least.”
There was no possible way for her to love this man more, and somehow in that moment she really did. Even though his heart was leagues away, he still found the courage to lay it out bare and raw for her by the reveals of what he feared. Araminta was so stranger to these same fears herself! She was always afraid she was being selfish to put him through all of these terrible moments. That somehow she’d become a new sort of leash for him instead of a person that could be his own home.
The only difference was that while he feared that Araminta will eventually be done with him through frustration or other means, Araminta knew that would never happen. Even if one day Theon himself had grown to a point where he no longer needed or wanted her in his life, she would still be there to support him unseen and from a distance.
Sitting there leaning forward on the edge of the mattress, it was still taking all of her willpower not to pounce on his lap and ruin this moment of candid expression.
“You don’t need to be perfect for me,” she told him softly. “You don’t have to protect me or always be successful or stand in a corner trying not to distract me. All I need is you. I do prefer to be with you, because you bring me peace and make me feel like I am actually capable of doing all of these grand things. But the trials are my our burden and trauma, and I do not expect you to bear them with me if it has grown too much. As long as I can still come home to you.”
As for being unwell, Araminta might have left that part out on purpose. This was far more important than any headache or tiredness she felt.
“I wouldn’t say perfect but decent would be preferred.” Either this had successfully broken a wall that allowed him not to sit and percolate on a reply first but instead saying what came first to mind. Turning to see how she was staying so still and it seemed to eventually click that he moved and readily opened up his body language to express that he wasn’t against her getting close. Honestly, it was still pretty unusual how he seemed to enjoy it even when it sometimes felt highly unnecessary.
Guessing that was still part of the overarching comprehension that there was plenty inside him that was damaged and needed to be repaired by his own hands too.
“You make it sound simple when you state the it as no more than all I need is you. And it aids the worst thoughts inside if you are being sincere.” Taking in a deep breath, he’d come this far so why not go further. To avoid more of that miscommunication and frustrations that bubbled when they just assumed things.
Turning a palm up to offer, “The negative portions of everything want to say that it’s better to be separate. Make it sound like it’s an entirely reasonable thing but a more logical and quieter part knows that’s just part of the whole fear I possess. To push away while making personal excuses to avoid what hurts. If I push back first, then I can let go first without attachment.” So he had been thinking about this smartly and did register it in ways that could identify what was not exactly right within. “You are capable of doing great things, that part I don’t think I could ever not point out. But that could also be part of why I worry heavily too. I’ve built up this image as I typically do about others. Just you… are,” He gestured to suggest on a higher tier than anyone else.
Which maybe wasn’t hard since he didn’t interact really with people. And those that he had, always had motives to use him for.
“I do want to be with you. Helping. Doing something rather than not. And the idea of not being present does press on me too. As we do not know what the Imperial Queen has lying in wait alongside the last time well…” The last time they split things had not gone well!
Brushing it aside not to hold onto further, “It’s a lot. More than I can verbalize entirely. And I am… concerned of what will, could and can happen. I know easily that I’d not think twice in the effort of rendering my end if it means you’ll succeed. And I don’t know if I can adapt to understanding that you likely have that same behaviour.” Brows tensed then, “Love is an unusual emotion. It feels entirely convoluted.” It was truly the dumbest thing to feel! “But, I do want to keep it with you. Not sure why that makes sense.”
Theon tilted his head with a thought, “I think there has to be an agreement between us that I can’t use the magic I possess as readily. If we continue, there has to be an realization that that what the lich said is true. Ugly as it is, there is fact in what was uttered. And cultivate different actions so you don’t need to run around like a goose and I don’t stress you out.”
The very moment he opened himself up to gesture that she was welcomed into his space, she was off that bed with her arms around his neck and on his lap. Bunting against his temple with all earned affection but not pushing it too far, simply because the man still needed to speak! It might have been more than he was accounting for, but it was everything she needed and surely he needed this comfort too. To know that even if they were speaking about things this serious and difficult, that they could still be close.
“Love is messy and does not always make sense,” Araminta did admit. Despite the fact she felt this love made the perfect sense to her, it was still a little messy in terms of trying to figure it out all together. Not the love-at-first sight kind of love she always expected to feel when she eventually met the right person. Or the epic passionate romances with riveting moments. Somehow this was better though and she’d not ever want anything else.
“I would still worry about you even if you were the most powerful mage in the world. You would still worry about me too.” she reminded him, tapping his chin with a finger to turn his face in her direction. “But if you want to be more than what you are now, then I will help you.”
“Your brother has ideas of what to do about your heart,” she did reveal with a twist of her mouth. “You won’t like my favorite option, but there are choices to make. None of which involved sneaking into the Imperial Queen’s castle, as he has very jovially called me a fool for insisting I could attempt it.”
There was no time wasted. The moment the opening was there, it was filled. And something about that stirred a tickle in his head. Pulling a gentle tug to lip. If there ever needed to be confirmation that Araminta thrived best with physical contact, it certainly would have been a great example. Intertwining his own grasp around, easily accepting the means of affection that didn’t make him uneasy or cautious to think there was something else coming.
Sighing no sooner when she echoed that this emotion was absolutely messy and made so little sense. Strange to think it was a natural thing when it had so many added bits to it that it might as well have been both a thistle and cotton.
“When you state it like that, yes. It’s likely true.” Turning visage to her as she wished for and found himself frowning at her bit ominous statement of more than what he was now. Sounding like the sort of pitch a wicked witch would be offering to a damsel in distress. Which it may as well be! For when she said Talon had ideas about said missing organ, he didn’t resist the whole change in his features. Looking more perturbed about both Talon and apparently the heart. Adding just another when she stated that he was probably not going to like an option she found favour too. “When you state it like that, I feel like I ought to pre-raise my hackles.”
Although when she suggested there was no option of trying to sneak into a castle and in turn that Araminta had been called a fool, he already knew she had made that opinion known. “Do not attempt that. Even servants in the castle die for less and they know the way around the palace.” Tightening grasp around to hopefully express he might actually agree with Talon in this case.
Bunting his nose to her own, he wasn’t too sure he wanted to know what their thoughts were regarding something this enchanted. However, “We can speak about it later. Right now, you should be resting. Properly. Without attempting to ignore when I draw attention to the means of you being unwell. We do not have Master Reeves present to heal whatever could ail you so deeply again if you seek to try to hide it.”
This time it was Araminta sliding a look towards the bed as if it were a monster ready to snap it’s jowls around her. Nearly picking up the air of being a petulant child ready to pitch a tantrum about being sent to rest. Only softening because she didn’t want to give him more reasons to fret about her.
“There is an entire new place to explore…” she revealed her reasonings for being stubborn about it. Not good reason in the slightest for allowing any needless suffering, but now that she was satisfied that his inner worries were no longer being crushed down inside to become a new festering wound inside him… why not ignore her headache so they could go off together and see what sort of place they’d landed in now!
“And I am certain you can heal me just fine once you’ve eaten something proper.” That sounded like a flat out refusal of rest altogether, and she did let it sit there for a moment, debating how much she could actually get away with. Only to soon sigh and bury her face at the crook of his neck to give a muffled agreement of I’ll rest.
Lingering there for as along as she could, for he was warm and after the mess they’d been through, having these moments felt so much more healing than anything else. Finally pulling away enough to give a brief kiss to the cheek.
“I’ll eat too if you eat. But I want to explore with you later. And have a bath. I suppose we’ll both need a bath.”
“It’s not going anywhere?” Confusion spawned at her statement of why she might want to refuse the means of climbing into that of a bed. Weren’t these over softened spongy horrors, one of her favourite things!? And yet, here she was. Not eating, not taking up the chance to flop around in a mattress before spiraling up in blankets. Rather it was like they were monsters which only doubled his fraught that she was actually more unwell than she was saying.
Especially since the next thing out of her mouth was suggesting that he could heal her after a meal. Which got him to look at her in a way that was probably akin to trying to search her over for some sort of infestation and if she had developed a second head. Just that she was burying down into his neck making it tickle with the heavy exhale of warmth. Sparking goosebumps to spread across arms and neck alike. Setting the fine hairs to stand on end.
Eventually retracting out from the little self made burrow that he felt her pecking cheek. And of course a sort of agreement that was being offered. “I will find something to make for myself.” Indicating he would do so when there was a chance. Not about to eat anything made by anyone else because as potentially safe as this place was, it was full of the unknown. And that was more than enough for him not to get too wild in stretching outside his comforts. “I can prepare the means of a bath eventually,” Theon paused and looked at her. Likely thinking something before he just had to steel himself.
He’d already come to the revelation of why he acted they way he did a lot. How he was plenty tired of those very thoughts holding control when in truth, he had the ability to start changing it. It would take time and he’d slip back. Knowing this profoundly but, he had to make the effort otherwise it was just complaining without doing the work as well.
And of course he did worry greatly that if he didn’t start trying harder, Araminta was going to get plenty sick and tired too.
So, even if there was a thought to just ask as he might usually, he didn’t. Nudging to bump nose to nose. At first and then pecked a chaste kiss to mouth. “Try to rest or sleep more first. It will do no good to eat if you do not have the stomach for it.”
Was there ever going to be a moment where just the most simple of innocent kisses didn’t make all thought fall out of her head? It really did just make any desire to fuss or make a reluctant crawl to bed disappear in a flash.
It also was never really enough either. After her moment of blinking surprise she nodded her agreement to his request, he was rewarded with a kiss of her own. Not quite as chaste in the way she lingered, but sweet enough to follow with a broad smile and gentle stoke of fingers through red bead.
“I’ll nap for awhile, then,” she acquiesced. “If you do spend time with your brother, try to… Hmn. Try to remember he is likely over excited to see you again? And it is okay to tell a sibling they’re being obnoxious and annoying. Siblings will do that and not be trying to hurt you.”
That was the best advice Araminta could give him for now. Hopefully Talon too will realize that Theon was not someone you could just force your way onto, and not take his silence too much to heart. Another reason, really, she didn’t want to rest when she could be such a good mediator between them, but she would rest as Theon needed her to and she did have to admit she was very tired.
There was a bare hinting of red crawling into cheeks when she took that motion he had thought about probably longer than necessary and repeated it. Dragging a length to it that niggled a sort of muted innocent awe. Aiding that bleed of red further when she was offering a grin and stroking touch. Thankfully she wasn’t seemingly as refusing to just take the time seemingly necessary to recuperate from the whole ordeal of the day prior. Although he wasn’t sure there was anything he could do for healing seeing as they both knew it was highly untrained. If there was something direly wrong, they’d have to find someone who knew how to do even a inch of what Padma and Reeves could.
But she mentioned Talon and well, he wasn’t eager at even the mention. The night replaying in his mind to find bubbling uncertainty there.
He was only a child when Talon died. No answers and really no questions either. But to have a person return to life after he had seen other ones of the half siblings all lay waste to another, it was hard to think that there was still one of them there! And well, Araminta would know better how siblings behaved anyways. Even if she got a bit of unconvinced look when she suggested it was fine to tell a sibling that they were being too much.
That was probably not something he would have ever done in such a blunt way because well, history was still clear that doing so would have resulted in repercussions.
“I will be nearby.” He stated instead giving a slight motion that she was to crawl back over and make herself cozy in the horrible bed. “Determining our location. Supplies. Busy work.” Things that were normal for him to do rather than making an effort to locate any rogue brother. Honestly, he’d be fine never seeing Talon again too! But that was doubtful to happen.
“I will be here when you wake up. Depending on how you feel, we can do what you wish to after.”
“I want to explore, to fish, to try food, and watch the sunset… maybe figure out where Ry’seth was absconded off too.” she mumured, already following the instruction of climbing off to lap. Stiffly standing for a moment to grimace again about how everything was so sore and aching! Maybe not as wretched as when he’d been forced to heal her broken bones… but surely as bad as when those blasted harpies smashed her against the cliffside.
Recovery time was going to have to be taken into account for future trials, if this one was any indication of how much worse it could get.
Araminta did climb back into the bed, though, burrowing deep within the blankets almost with a shiver until there was nothing left but a peep of dark hair and a nose. She might have even muttered a muffled Goodnight Theon as she always did, but if there was anything else to be said, Araminta was truly much more tired than even she realized. It didn’t take long for her at all to doze away once she was good and comfortable.
Making sure she had successfully crawled in and bundled into something that looked like it was a blanket monster with hair and a nose, he merely waited to be sure that she was sleeping. Before departing the hut and looking around the area once more now that the sun was lifted well into the sky. Truly making his mind work in the way of just where they had been taken too. Guessing it was towards the south since the weather was not made for wintery clothing that Bo had put together for them. Just how far south? Well far enough that he could safely say this place was not part of the Imperial Lands.
That very thought alone was enough to bring a sense of relief. And by the way the ocean seemed to loop around to two points of the tucked away village, he’d venture a guess they were either on the tail end of a peninsula or an island all together. Secluded regardless.
He’d barely gotten to walk along the pathways back towards where the pub had been and a few other sporadic shops, before hearing the telling sound of footsteps that foretold an approach. Almost wondering if Araminta knew that Talon had been lurking around rather than just telling him that the sibling was nearby.
Although he was not as alone as previously. There was a man at his side with eyes as dark as the moonless night. Noticeably sporting a pair of twin scars from chin to ear in a curved ragged bend and hair that had been cropped short. Making them stand out all the more was the olive skin while Talon bent a easy grin onto his face and it took everything in him not to scowl in reply. Feeling strange that such a reaction was his first desire anyways. He’d never been this emotive and was convinced that this was a result of his time with Araminta. Not sure he liked it, either.
“I was just going to make a stop by to see if you were up and ready to wander through the little town we have. Darien, also wanted to meet you.” The man just gave a nod as Talon came close enough to be half an arm’s length between them. Opening hand in such a way that even as he dared to reach over, Theon side stepped. Looked at the offending limb as though it was a poison laden trap and seen how quick Talon looked baffled at the clear motion of do not touch. Stumbling once that turned into a nervous laugh. Swiping fingers through hair, “Theo is just a bit you know…” He was what? “Never mind, where’s your prickly little mountain cat this morning.”
“Araminta.” Theon stated clearly, watching as Talon seemed to be struggling to realize that he wasn’t about to be able to get away with disrespecting Araminta even in jest. “She is resting.” That was enough, adding another step to the side to show he was not about to hold a conversation. Not that it particular stopped Talon. Rather the other made an awkward hop after him.
Blurting out that he would catch up to Darien later after he has smoothed things over but the other man scoffed. Giving a whole good luck with that but moved on. Seemingly smart enough to know that company was not asked for. Guessing that Talon’s draconic side was just purely too stubborn to pick up on the same clue.
So they walked a moment in awkward silence. Awkward for Talon, not for him. Considering he was fussing with his hands and then his hair. Whistling turning into mumbling and eventually, “How long is this going to take?” Blurting out a broad question. “This. Talking to me. I tried last night and it went about as well as trying to convince a porcupine not to shoot its quills. And now, you’re still all pissy and stuff.”
“I am not pissy. I am just quiet.” Eyes met the older sibling in a level composure, challenging him to say otherwise.
Not that it convinced Talon. “You came out here for a reason, did you not. I mean I’d think that you might have been using the private time to get all intimate with the spicy little—” Suddenly choking on his tongue when there was more of a glowering being pointed his way, “Araminta. But you’re wandering out here and we could use this time to talk. Figure things out. You could ask questions,”
“Where are we?” Theon asked then catching the other off guard, “Where is there a place suitable for washing up? Is there a person that knows healing magic or healing practice? What sort of supplies are present and how does one leave this place.”
“What a minute. That’s not what I meant about asking questions?”
“Then the means of conversation is over. That is all I have to ask.”
His cheeks puffed into a pout, “I think I liked you better when you were silent a few minutes ago.”
There was nothing a good nap couldn’t cure. Or in this case, sleeping half the day away because one had been so bruised and battered in such a fun variety of ways that she did not realize just how terrible a shape she was actually in. At least this time her mind had been tempered with ease, knowing she was somewhere safe and that Theon too was somewhere safe nearby. What dreams she had were nothing of consequence to remember, and the few moments she did wake all she did was nestle further under the blankets trying to keep that sense of warmth.
At some point late in the day her brain had decided it had enough of sleep and no amount of burrowing was going lull her back to it. To her relief her head was no longer pounding like beating drums. A little achy, but that was to be expected as all of her was still aching. Unfortunately naps couldn’t do much for a body covered in bruises.
The only odd thing was how chilled she still felt, having thought this was an island, surely the weather should feel so much warmer and uncomfortably so with the layers she still wore. All that really confirmed to Araminta was that she’d caught a sickness and that was nothing to be concerned about. As long as she didn’t start sniffling and coughing, there was no reason why she couldn’t do as she pleased.
Which was very much getting out of bed so she could have a decent bath and see what interesting things this island had to offer. Siting up to pointedly push her blankets aside and pretending that it didn’t immediately make her want to shiver!
Much to Talon’s chagrin the attempts to move past anything superficial was met with strong resistance. More than acutely aware that the sibling was and had banked on their former relationship to be comfortable enough to act like the last twenty some years hadn’t happened. Save, that was the mistake there. They had happened and he had a pretty good memory of how it all went. From the moment that Talon never came back and to the ultimate realization that the sibling had also met the fate that others had.
Death.
Now they were both adults, rather than simply one of them. With strongly different lives, personalities and experiences.
The dragon born had been in a way, freed from those shackles. While he, was still with some of them. It wasn’t about to be swept away. That was clearly the largest portion of frustration for the red scaled leviathan. Not that he wasn’t persistent. Even as it was abundantly clear that Theon wasn’t liable to just suddenly warm up with a snap of fingers. It had taken even Araminta a time to get him to speak more than a simple yes or no. To open further was a challenge and they were still experiencing it. Talon, by all measures, hadn’t earned any of that.
Still, once it was clear that Theon was about to be very true to his word that the means of conversation was going to be wholly one sided, Talon gave in.
They were on an island, but it had no name. Finding that particularly amusing when he explained you couldn’t find a place that didn’t have a name on it. Waiting for a chuckle and was met with a lingering stare that simply expressed a need for the man to just keep answering former questions. Fidgeting awkwardly if not entirely started to pout yet again. Not sure he recalled Talon being this dramatic but he had only been young when the elder sibling interacted with him.
With begrudging reluctance, Talongrath explained the remaining queries.
There was a person that healed in town, by the name of Pitha. And she was a very reserved person that didn’t much care for company too often. Usually sending out her apprentice Sarah, if there was something needed. Although she would make house calls if absolutely necessary. Which that whole line of wonder led to just why he was asking. Talon being met with a stare that simply stated it was none of his business. Encouraging frustration further and a sighing explanation that there was a place to get supplies but it wasn’t anything wild. And to leave the island, apparently they could take a boat. Depending on when it showed up.
They were in a cluster of islands and the boat didn’t exactly come to the ocean side here. It went to another island but it was unclear its schedule so Talon helpfully added that he would take them back to the imperial lands if they needed. But expressed he would like to talk to them candidly to determine a plan of action because once more, he expressed a need for their help. Something Theon himself had been resistant too.
The whole washing up part was limited in the way that there was a wooden tub situated a bit in the cover of the trees. That he would have to haul water from the ocean. That the tub had a metal bottom to keep the wood from burning, because if one wanted it to be hot well, he would have to cut up wood and start a fire. Talon made it sound far more laborious than it was probably necessary but when it was clear that he personally wasn’t bothered by the means of work, the sibling had a strange gawking expression. Developing into something that seemed like it was about to be a personal question. Being squished into silence when he simply asked for a bucket and where one chopped the necessary wood.
With a bit of pressing, Talon answered.
It was only after a bit of realization that the means of interaction was over that Talon had tagged after him.
Unclear as to why considering the sibling had taken up mantle of sitting, watching the work of logs being split to set into place over some tinder beneath the tub that had been located. It wasn’t terribly far from the little hut they occupied. Well within sight as the idea of the location being tucked away was more of a thought rather than truth. It was out in the open but had a strange contraption of wooden shelter that rolled on some sort of pulley system that allowed it to be closed off from prying eyes.
Setting up a new piece to balance on the worn trunk, Talon dramatically sighed. Then stared at him. Trying to get attention because one would think the other had been so deprived of the very thing lately! Balancing a chin in palm while he sat on his own little makeshift chair from uncut wood chunks. Highly disliking being ignored!
Despite the fact Araminta’s mind was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ready to get up and go – her body was fighting against her. Sore muscles and achy bones made shifting around to dig out a fresh set of clothes grumbly affair. Even if needing a bath first, she didn’t want to wander around this new village looking like she’d be dragged in by a wild dog. There was no surprise in finding bruise after bruise and a scrape here and there. Truthfully it could have been so much worse! The injury on her arm was not so bad either, a few deep puncture wounds, but they were not oozing with infection or any sign of poison that she could surmise.
Araminta did need to eat though. With all of the bloodloss and these bruises, eating was going to build it back up much faster.
Eating just felt… unappealing. Sick for certain, then, Araminta decided. Which meant, forcing herself to eat whether she liked it or not. Taking at least a few moments to sit on the edge of the bed and swallow a few bites of the porridge Theon had left for her. As beautiful as it smelled, she could not seem to taste more than the faintest hint of sugar. Disappointing for one who very much enjoyed her meals, but not unexpected. she finished as much as she could stand, then waited a few moments just in case she’d acquired some sort of vicious virus that was going to force it all back up again.
When it didn’t she gave a sigh of relief, focusing then on taking her hair down and giving it a proper brushing and to check on that lump on her skull. Without any blood or open cuts there, that was another good sign for her. A few days of being uncomfortable was perfectly fine compared to having her brains spill out! It helped that Araminta was so tolerant of pain too.
Theon hadn’t yet returned and Araminta was too antsy to simply sit and wait. Once she’d shoved her boots on, she stepped out of the small hut to find herself greeting a bright warm sun with another deep relieved sigh. Tilting face up to the warmth and giving her arms a good rub. While she might have been feeling better in some respects, she was so blasted cold! Likely from all of that bloodloss, was her best assumption. Getting herself moving around should help, at least.
Not wanting to stray too far, lest Theon find her missing and worry, Araminta explored the immediate surroundings outside, delighted to see new little things that were so different from her mountain home. Even crouching down to find an impressively huge stickbug to pluck up into her palm.
“Leave it to you to be someone that plays with bugs.” A voice spoke up apparently having gotten the hint that he was not welcome to try and mend or start to repair a rift that had been created! Talon had come upon the little wayward miss playing with things that even he found were not worth it. Grimacing obviously and sheltering the desire to slap it out of her hand and stomp on it.
Maybe it was a Edmonstone thing that they didn’t like bugs, but then again it only seemed Theon really hated spiders.
“I hadn’t seen you yet and was starting to think that you’ve sent out the other as a servant to work and toil like he enjoys it or something.” Casting eyes up and around as if waiting for someone else to materialize into the wild unknown, Talon sighed. At her, at himself, at everything. “Besides playing with living sticks, what are you doing just wandering around?”
Araminta cast a slight twisted mouth frown at Talon, if only because he’d dared assumed she’d be treating Theon like her personal servant. Having to remind herself, he was one that liked to make wicked teasing statements, probably for the fun of riling people up and creating his mischief. Not something she dislike – Araminta had a streak of mischief herself – just, she didn’t want anyone to aim it towards Theon… not even his possible ally sibling.
Making an ally of Talon would remain to be seen!
The princess rose slowly, stifling any grunt or grimace that might’ve slipped out. Holding that little bug in her hand to give a friendly taptap of a pet to it’s buggy head and then to hold it out towards Talon.
“I want to explore, but didn’t want to wandered off and worry Theon. I’ve never been to an island before and I like to find interesting things like this little bug. You can find some like this in the mountains, but they’re little twiggy things that live on trees. This one is very chunky,” she explained easily and perfectly friendly. Giving Talon a bit of her usual up and down examination.
Restless and frustrated was an obvious thing to pick up. Araminta could bet that he’d tried to push too hard with his brother and got a very cold reception. It softened her tone and countenance quite a bit.
“He doesn’t like being idle,” she told him. “Theon feels his best when he is doing something useful or practical. If you join him, you might have a much easier time of conversation.”
“There isn’t much to wander off too. I mean there is island but it’s just that. An island. You’ll make it to the other side in fifteen minutes if you hoof it pretty hard.” Naturally he didn’t know or understand the whole idea of being so nearby that it would keep the other from worrying too profusely. However, it seemed that this woman was simply exploring because she had unsated curiosity to where she was holding up the stick bug like it was a trophy. Earning a wrinkled nose. Just that he stopped himself from saying something about it because it was clearly he might be annoyed enough to go torturing someone else.
He wasn’t used to being ignored. It was a pet peeve to be ignored. Most couldn’t and he thrived on that ability to make sure someone always paid heed to him in some way. And well, Araminta was being pleasant thus far instead of running away to escape him. This time.
Crossing arms then, features grew into obvious surprise that she was mentioning that of Theon at all. “Join him? I’ve been trying all morning into the afternoon. Even watching him chop wood for that damn tub,” He pointed the direction to indicate where the other was, only pausing. Eyeing her as if she had said something outrageous, “He likes manual work. Good grief, he really wasn’t raised properly for a royal, that much is certain.” Head shook a long sad second before giving her a strong once over. “I don’t know how you can express there would be any easier of a time conversing with someone who evidently doesn’t like to talk at all. I’d be convinced we weren’t siblings if I didn’t know any better.”
“All that mattered to him thus far was well, the bath. The supplies. Where we were and how one leaves. Other than that, well… I think I’ve had better efforts rewarded talking to a rock than my own flesh and blood.” He spoke at her not really expecting a whole lot. “I don’t know how much more I can join him if sitting there being present isn’t enough. And people think dragon’s are stubborn.”
Araminta listened as he blathered on, taking first an amusement at the way he looked so incensed by her new buggy friend… and then wondering if this was how she sounded to Theon when she talked and talked. Finding that Talon was the very picture of someone royally spoiled. Suspecting that despite the horrors of Heirra, he himself had been so used to being someone of status and power because of his very threatening dragon form, that he hadn’t a single clue how to think and behave like the average person.
Magic and power could certainly twist the way a person experienced the world, she pondered.
Finally erupting into musical laughter at his huffing about manual labor and people calling dragons stubborn, compared to his cold stoic brother. Of course he could not find a way to reach Theon, he did not understand people at all!
“You have met your match, it seems, Talongrath. Someone immune to all your mischievous charisma, and unimpressed with your intimidation. I have a feeling it is the first time in your life,” she mused out loud, still having a giggle about it.
Araminta shifted a few steps away, taking her bug friend over to a collection of bushes to set it free before dusting her hands off. Turning back to the dragon born with a bright smile and a renewed bit of mischief of her own.
“You might try picking up an axe and chopping some wood yourself. Or look for some of the supplies he needs. Do something to help him instead of sitting nearby tying to goad him into asking all about yourself. Why not ask him about how he has lived these years after you vanished and left him without someone that could be his support and friend,” she added very pointedly. Because that was the real issue for Theon that Talon apparently was not picking up the hint about. One couldn’t just abandon someone so small and then show back up in their life as if things were still just the same between them!
Purposefully he glared at her for her sheer insubordination! Calling it out so mercilessly the truth that he truly contemplated flicking her away like that of that horned annoyance the day before. But if he wanted to get into his brother’s half decent graces, flicking away the woman that had somehow becoming that of his significant other was absolutely not the way of doing it. Settling for huffing heavily and grumping something nonsensical under his breath. Rolling eyes to look away seconds after. “I dislike that such truth and therefore I am going to ignore it completely.” Maturely too.
Even if she was right, did she have to say it as such. What a mouthy woman telling him such facts he didn’t want to listen too. He had not consented to such violent truth!
Still, it was true. Resulting in tensing the cross of his arms. But then she returned with a smile and the worst sort of commentary that was liable to get her burned at the stake. “Me! Manual labour.” Hands shot out to wiggle each finger for effect, “These do not touch such barbaric things. Do you know what happens when you do such manual things? Calluses. You get calluses! And I am not ruining my skin in such ways.” Lips pursed and loudly harrumphed at her utter nonsense
Never mind that he was looking at her again and scowling, “I don’t care for you and your honesty, I hope you realize. And secondly, I did not vanish. Well, I mean I did but… shush. It’s not as though I had much of a choice and he was only what… seven or eight when it all happened. How was I supposed to know it would mean much of anything. There was eighty billion of us and… and…” And he was making up more excuses than he had assholes.
Squeezing eyes shut tightly. “How was I supposed to know how things were going to turn out? I thought he’d be dead like the rest of them… you make sounds as if its so easy and let me tell you, he’s already said that we are strangers. Not to use the past as a sort of foothold, so I don’t think your ideas will work either.” Talon scowled, “It’s not as thought I can just flaunt goodies at him.”
At least the man knew she spoke truth, and it caused Araminta to give another tittering giggle when he insisted he was going to blatantly ignore such truths. Finding that she quite like that he was honest about being a troublemaker, even if it was such a silly and foolish thing to do.
And through these actions he also earned her complete and total lack of fear regarding his glares and disgruntlement. He might have been a fearsome thing before when he was ginormous and spewing flames… but now that she was getting a peek of the man beneath the scales, it was quite a different picture.
A brother desperate to reconnect, with absolutely no self awareness or idea on how to do so. It was sweet.
“You couldn’t know how things would happen,” Araminta did admit with a soft nod. Easing away from him then in the direction he’d gestured Theon would be. Not too fast, in fact in just a subtle enough way that it hinted he could follow along as they conversed, instead of a fleeing escape.
“But things did happen and he’s lived a life without you to grow into someone new. For him, you died and he had to live on his own without anyone that loved him or even gave him an ounce of care. Now he knows you are not dead, and you never came to seek him out. You only found him by accident! I would feel abandoned and betrayed myself, and feel you only want to use me up for what I am worth only to disappear again.”
More hard truths he could wriggle uncomfortably with, but she eased it with a smile and a tilt of her head.
“Theon’s not going to be convinced otherwise with pretty words. You’re going to have to start from the beginning again and try to be his friend. And friends do not have huffy fits because they are not getting the attention they want. So come with me and lets have a nice evening with Theon, okay?”
Oh she was a slippery little eel, that much was certain. For she could speak so brashly, boldly and smile like she was not saying such mean spirited things. Or truthful in this case that he really just didn’t want to accept. Because if he accepted it, it meant he had done more wrong than he already thought. Of course one could look back in history and see the mistakes that were clear as day now. But at the time, it wasn’t so.
Yet she would point out such things and then secondly remark that he hardly could’ve known.
Oh yes, she was a royal. One made with a tongue that could stab sharp and sweet all at once. A back handed compliment with a poison laced ring. Cutting on the whim of accident when it was nothing but purpose. Ry’seth said she was pronounced with fae blood, he was starting to see it. Vexing person she was and it made him wonder somewhat just how the hell his brother had come to be with someone that was so mean!
Not that he was any better but, you know what? He didn’t care.
“I didn’t abandon him.” Those were malicious words that struck a bit too deep even if he didn’t realize upon her turn to gravitate the way he had come, he had sought to follow. “I didn’t.” Pouting at that, he had believed truthfully that well… they’d all died. Of course he heard tell eventually of one surviving and being the ol’ saggy tits little hound, but he had not actually thought it would have been Theon. It was no offense to the once upon a time boy, but he was notoriously weak. He did not fight. He did not interact. He hid away from everyone as much as possible. After his nanny had attempted to save him from that attack of a sister and was killed for it, the boy had been more of a mouse. Tucking away in places that most would never think to look.
Crawling along the walls and now? Now he was the one that had been made to be the knight of a murderous twat. Somehow let go to trot after this faeling girl and show that the mouse had become a gravely silent, hard to read… well he wasn’t sure what Theon was now. Not a mouse but also not something else either.
Stepping after her in a means of thoughtful silence, eyes found her again eventually. When she spoke up about having to start from the beginning. Throwing hands up, “Again, you make it sound so easy. How does one start from the beginning when we share blood. We are not just two strangers passing on the street, love. We have half of the same blood. Siblings. I think your view is skewed because you are a pretty young lady that managed to skirt under defenses of a cold statue.” And he felt the words on his mouth and loathed it. “He’s a statue and I hate it.”
Fussy, fussy… He likely did this too with Theon, and no wonder he was being ignored! Why would anyone want to chat with a grown man having a tantrum because things were not as easy and simple as he’d wanted. Only growing her smile even wider when he sulked and pouted, letting him have this moment to at least get it all out of his system.
Once he’d fell into step next to her Araminta hooked her arms with his. A gentle thing she’d done with Theon plenty of times – mostly to keep him from gesturing around wildly and looking like a proper maniac, but too to help sooth that ornery temper.
“You both share blood with Heirra too, so blood doesn’t mean much now does it?” she pointed out. “It’s very sweet that you wish to have your brother again, but you cannot just appear and expect a relationship to happen.”
All the gods knew, the more he tried to force it on Theon, the more Theon was going to fight him and resist. All of his own fears and insecurities was going to be hard enough to get past without giving a terrible impression on top of it. Leaving her only to frown at calling the man a cold statue.
“He isn’t a statue,” she warned him. It was a subtle shift in her tone that she wasn’t going to allow him to speak poorly of Theon. “He had to do much to protect himself and be able to survive with all of Heirra’s demands set on his shoulders. While you’ve had all of this time to grow into what you are now, Theon is only at the beginning of shedding away those shackles. Have some patience for your brother. You can be good for him, if you’ll just allow him to breath in his own time.”
“I don’t recall swearing at you.” Taking the offense entirely to be reminded that Heirra’s shitty ass blood was in him as well. Such a thing was truly like spitting at someone, he was certain of it and by all means, had he not declared clearly how much he loathed that ancient cow? But he did get what Araminta was saying whilst his mind seemed to catch up to realize she had taken his arm hostage.
Straightening up to act as a proper escort to the feral mountain goblin; mouth still frowned. Deeply. Threatening to make the corners act as tripping hazards for how far they fell. “I wasn’t expecting a relationship to happen. I was… expecting there to still be one.” Bitter about that. Disliking his fault in this and feeling that flare of pride that wanted to point out in turn that he was also trying to get his little sibling to open up too.
But he’d have better luck forcing a clam open to give up the pearl!
However as they walked and the sound of chopping wood became more prominent, he said something that had clearly made her displeased. Correcting him to not identify the other as a statue even if that was pretty much what he was! Rather than potentially having them spring apart in the threat of throwing fisticuffs around, he just listened.
Hating it. Hating every sort of viable truth that this woman said while wanting to just once more start flailing. How dare the facts of it all be so real in front of him. Being very accustomed to either winning people over with his easy charm or just threatening them into it because well, he was hardly not a threat. But that wasn’t going to work for the other. Scratching at parts of him that didn’t like just not getting his way immediately.
“Patience is so laborious.” Letting out a world weary sigh, he wasn’t sure how one had patience when again, he was very used to people just doing that whole opening up thing immediately. “You’re a smart little thing when you aren’t trying to dupe me.” Talon admitted but shook his arm free of her no sooner when they cleared around a slight bend to find the man chopping the head of the axe into the cutting stump. Having made himself a nice little collection of wood, Theon was already aware of them.
Seeing the sort of disregarded glance over and the strict focus that bloomed when Araminta was present. Nothing like irking him further to be ignore again.
“I have still to haul the water but this is the only thing suitable for bathing.” Theon spoke then, motioning to the wooden and iron tub sitting on a bed of wood. “Were you able to rest?”
“Oh, I didn’t even ask that, did I?” That got a sort of more annoyed look from Theon when he looked at Araminta to size her up. “Hmm, well you seem fine.”
Now she was smart, then? The statement only prompting a pleased giggle before he finally escaped her through a shake of his arm. Soon to find the reason why when they turned a bend to discover that chop-chopping was Theon himself, busily cutting away.
That smile of hers shifted to something oh-so-soft in an instant, something uniquely special that only ever seemed to be aimed for Theon.
“I am no longer full of splitting headaches, the rest will catch up,” she told him, eyeing that annoyed looked of his to follow it towards Talon who truly was going to make this difficult for himself, wasn’t he!
Though once she actually realize this was where the bathing was meant to happen, that warm expression of hers shifted to a blink of surprise. Followed by every single part of her trying to do her absolute best not to look like a mimic of one of Talon’s tantrums.
This was a bit exposed, wasn’t it! Just a bathtub out in the open without being in a house, or even having walls! Even the hot baths of the Sable Fawn with their public spaces, had at least walls so it didn’t feel like to were exposed to the entire world. Anyone and their brother could come sauntering over to see every bruise and scar and blasted demon mark she had. Araminta willed herself not to start flushing red in the cheeks.
A bath was a bath, though. She ought not complain, especially when Theon had already made himself busy to set this up for her and apparently had to go hoofing buckets of water to even make it a proper bath at all.
“Talon can help with water fetching,” she suggested quite suddenly. “You’ll feel much better with a bath yourself after chopping all that wood. I shall help too.”
There was a strong resistance on his part not to be very physical when they had approached. Mentally sort of sighing at the fact that Talon had located Araminta and returned. After the other had decidedly declared in his own way that he was leaving to go look for something more interesting to do, that was the end of it. Or so he had thought. But here he was and honestly he shouldn’t have been too shocked.
He also had a feeling that Araminta had probably encouraged the return of the dragon born.
It was all the more reason why he spoke up about how he still had to get the buckets of water from the ocean to start boiling into something hot and less salty. So she would be able to wash down and hopefully feel a little more mortal after so. Still he wasn’t blind not to notice how she looked around. “There’s a screen that rolls on a strange contraption that will be brought over to avoid it being so open.” Theon told her, so she wouldn’t have to panic. It had also been a thought on his mind to assure that Araminta wasn’t scandalized by bathing out in the broad open.
Just if he was about to say anything more, she volunteered Talon to help him. “I will what?” Horror wrote itself onto his face with such work. Turning his hands up and looking at them for some reason or another. Muttering to himself and well—
“I’ve prepared this for you. I don’t need the hot water.” He’d wash down at the ocean later and it would be fine. “And I don’t need help in getting the water.” What he didn’t need was someone tagging along, nattering about everything, anything and trying so desperately hard to make a connection that it was more like a damn noose.
“Are you saying I wouldn’t be helpful?” How he could shift sides so fast was truly a feat, getting a side eye in that matter. “You think I can’t help you! How rude. I might be outrageously stunning, Theo, but by the god’s balls, I am not helpless.”
He didn’t know what he had done to deserve this sort of punishment! Facing that of Ara instead, “Would you like me to get anything else for you?”
“Always ignoring me now! This is what I get for being shoehorned into helping you dredge up water from the ocean so Araminta can make herself all clean again! And you,” That got his attention mostly cause well, they likely knew he didn’t take well to people narrowing their gaze down to Araminta. While they were pretty equal in height, it was a clear factor that Theon was wider than Talon was. “Yoooouuu… have you seen a bucket nearby?” Promptly swallowing down whatever sort of comment was about to spark up. Looking around for a bucket as he internally sighed. Lending a look to Araminta that probably said more to her than most. As impassive as it was, he wasn’t thrilled to keep being pushed together with a sibling right now.
“How do you not know where the things are in this village,” whispered Araminta to Talon with all concerned seriousness. Hoping that in all his spoiled nonsense he’d not been treating any of these people like little servants for him, simply because he could spark flame and scared them into it. Although it was probably more likely that he and his massive dragon body just flew off to elsewhere in the world where he could be pampered and fawned over.
She was very much second guessing helping him reconnect with his brother, if he was going to keep getting in his own way.
“All I would really like is for you to stay nearby since this is… an unusual sort of tub,” she did at least admit her discomfort to Theon. At least then she’d not have to worry about a stranger barging up into the space with no where for her to run and hide. Even with a rolling screen, that didn’t exactly feel secure.
“I can still help with fetching water too, three pairs of hands will be faster. And while I am soaking, maybe Talon and go search for a lovely place for us all to sit and watch the sunset. I bet he would love to hear about our trip to the city of Essurn and the sunset we watched there.”
“I have plenty sense where things are.” Retorting back at her whispered words. “I know where the pub is. Where they fish and stash the drinks. I also make treks to the other islands for trade, so I know where things are. Just, I don’t fetch water. Usually I have others do that for me.” It was probably impossible for him to look any more imperious than that moment. Unaware that Araminta was on the money about how he would just go elsewhere when he felt like he deserved to be fawned over as a dragon born ought to. Behaving like a right brat in the worst circumstances till he got his way and often was busy being pampered.
It was also a sure fire way to have Theon looking at him like he was lesser than dirt too. Born both in the ways of royals, just Talon had time to adopt to that high and mighty behaviour. Where Theon hated having anyone do anything for him. Preferring the lack of such things, and fighting them as Araminta would know. A cold bath was normal. Sleeping on the floor was normal. Cat napping was preferred and he made his own meals.
All in all, Talon preferred to be clean and complain about it if he wasn’t.
Theon would do all the work himself without a single mutter.
“I’ll be stationed to ensure you aren’t exposed, Ara.” Knowing her discomfort and figuring that besides it being a very peculiar open space, there was still the fact that recently she had been properly waited upon with closed doors, hot water and privacy at the Sable Fawn. It worked well on his thoughts to be even more attentive to assure she was not bothered by things not being proper all the more.
Although he was less enthused when she spoke up about the whole fetching water. Eyeing her at least in that way that spoke he wasn’t happy about her doing so. She was worn out and bruised up and he had already been quite the pain in the emotional ass. But he said nothing about it. Not about to impose against her because that wasn’t his nature.
It was the other who would. Crossing his arms, “I’m not a messenger pigeon you can send off for your own whims, love.” He looked positively bored at first. Seemingly needing time to clue in that Araminta was really trying to extend an olive branch that he was being rather dense at taking. “Why the hell would I care about your trip to… where?”
“She is trying to give you a chance to be involved.” Theon spoke but his tone –while it didn’t actually change, it was notably cool. “Where she is being courteous and generous.”
That seemed to surprise Talon, “Oh.” Scratching his chin for added point, “And that doesn’t bother you then?”
“It’s what Araminta wants. I do not voice complaints where she is doing her best and above her best.” Theon turned to motion that he was walking away to start the means of work. Where the buckets were stashed by the tub, clear as day and where Talon could have seen it. Picking up the yoke in one hand and the buckets in the other.
“Show me your pinkie, I think you have him successfully wrapped around it.” Talon leaned over to squint, “Most women would be vying for how you did that.”
Araminta closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, holding it a minute before letting it out slow and easy. Opening her eyes again to watch Theon head on away to begin the means of fetching water. Waiting a bit until he was out of ear shot before she went to pick up a single bucket – carrying two with a yolk no less surely would’ve been too much for her right now, she could admit that.
Then with a quick smack, she hit Talon in the arm with it. Not so rough that’d genuinely hurt him, but enough to get her point across along with an incredibly frustrated scowl in his direction.
“You have all the sense of a potato!” was her angry hiss. Not wanting to full on shout, because that’d alarm Theon and it’d surely ruin any chance of making some sort of connection with his brother if he thought Araminta was vexed with him. “A prince should have better manners than this! I want to help you so that Theon might finally have a family to enrich his life, but if you cannot respect others then I will not allow you near him at all!”
She almost swung that bucket a second time, but thought better of it. Instead giving him a very chiding wag of her finger.
“Do better,” she ordered, giving a huff before stalking off to follow Theon.
“Abuse!” Hissing the word as he rubbed the spot from where he was brutally assaulted by the water bucket. “You really are a mean mountain lady!” Deciding that if he was about to warm up to her and deem her smart, it was gone. This was no princess, this was a mountain witch! Using common buckets as weapons to harm innocents. “And such insults too. I don’t see why he follows you if you are such a bully pants!”
Of course he had been surprised that Theon spoke up in general and seemingly knew what Araminta was up too. But didn’t complain about it. Just that the very princess was lecturing him shortly. “I have manners a plenty. But I can’t force something when he clearly doesn’t want it. Good grief, do you expect me to sit here and chat his ear off all day, every day about nothing at all. And I respect others just fine thank you very much. That really smarts.”
Only tempering when she was waggling her finger at him, “Do better! I am doing the best I can with the resources I have!” Decidingly picking up the last buckets and second yoke to go chasing after her. Ready to give her an earful.
“Do you often beat people with whatever is closest at hand cause that’s a problem, you maniac! And I’m helping now too. What more do you want from me?” Looking up to be sure that Theon had a good headstart and wasn’t looking back at them currently. “Do you think this is easy or do you think I am really not trying. It’s been like twenty some bloody years since we’ve interacted and the last time we did, he was eight years old.”
“I am thinking that my first impressions may have been right after all, and that you’re nothing but a snarly old beast that doesn’t care about anything other than his own wants,” she shot back at him. Shaking her bucket at him too as a good threat, because if he thought she was a mean mountain lady, Araminta was happy to rise to that title if he didn’t shape himself up.
“He is not wrapped around my finger, as you think. I can help make a bridge for you, but that will only work if you’re not shoving your own foot in your mouth and behaving like a toad.”
She sighed again and that frustrated look faded away to this bewildered wonderment. How can the man be this dense, and somehow still alive! He likely made enemies all over the world being like this. ….and this man thought he wanted to throw Heirra off her throne to take it for himself! What an absolute disaster that would be.
“If you were gone for twenty years, then time to sit and chat should absolutely be what you give him. If you want to know him and be his brother. Otherwise, tell me what you actually want from him, so I can give it to you and you can go away.”
“It’s been twenty years for me as well!” Talon barked at her and suddenly stopped walking. Glancing up and seeing how there was no hesitation or pause of the one walking the way down to the beach to gather up water for that of his old lady. And just stared. Brows furrowing up, “It’s been twenty years for me as well…” Repeating the phrase with more of an indication that he really had no idea what to do with all of this.
He hadn’t expected to find her or him at that plague house of undead. He’d already accepted a life that was his own and had been particularly successful in living it. Plotting the overturning of the Imperial Throne so that he could remove that old bitch from it and start making changes. To give a chance back to the lands and the people and everything in between. But in turn, he hadn’t thought about anything else.
“Listen.” Talon spoke softly. No pomp to his posture or trying to fit the means of being better than what he was. “You can preach and bark and whatever else you want at me. This isn’t easy. You said it yourself, it was an accident yesterday to find either of you. And now, it’s happened and I have not a damn clue how to do any of this. I’ve not thought about him. About any of them for that long because in my mind, they were all dead. They’d all killed each other off and now it was only the big old dusty corpse on the throne that was remaining. That was my objective. To get her out of here before she could hurt more people. Do more harm to every living thing. And now, its been twenty damn years. I don’t know how to interact with someone that resents me in such a way. And how dare you act like your better because you seemingly have all the answers. It’s rather easy for you to stand on your pedestal while saying such crap when you don’t have any idea either what it’s like. I know my faults, I’m the one that lives with them. Not you.”
Talon shifted then, “Because the way you talk it sounds like you’ve never made a single mistake at all. And I doubt that highly. I get you and him have some sort of relationship or whatever, but god damn it Araminta; don’t make me a villain. I’m not good at this stuff because I’ve not thought or acted as a sibling in so long. To make myself feel better by knowing that I left them all to die to save my own hide.” Lips pressed and he shook his head in clear frustration. “I know you had siblings. I’m aware of Caeldaelmor. And I know about the demon invasion too, but can you say perfectly that you knew everything about your siblings and if they were in front of you now, would you know what to say? To explain why you did what you did by going to the Imperial Queen? Rather than staying and fighting something so terrible that it scares the hell out of you? Because unless you do, I don’t think you can criticize me.”
Taking in a breath and sighing once more. Then made a motion for her to go on. Apparently he needed time to think and not be in her company or a person who didn’t much care at all.
When he stopped, Araminta did too only to find herself on the receiving end of an entire lecture, for she was apparently presenting herself as his better, painting him as a villain, and he seemed to thinking bringing up her own family and situation was a good example. None of it was even remotely true nor was her situation even comparable! He’d been behaving like an entitled brat this entire time and all she was trying to do was help him. It was enough to want to throw that bucket at him and wash her hands of the entire thing.
Only, this was the first time he was actually being genuine about himself and his feelings. To take these things out on her wasn’t fair, but it seemed he did have his own emotions bottled up inside somewhere that he’d never actually took out to deal with. This unexpected reunion with Theon had forced him to face some unintended consequences for all of his choices and now he was floundering to navigate it.
And here Araminta was tryin to fix everything again when she needed to leave it alone.
“I’m sorry, Talon.” she finally responded with all sincerity. “I only wanted to help you connect to the man he is now instead of the boy you used to know. I’ll stop my meddling.”
There was a quick flicker of her eyes looking him up and down to be sure he was at least okay, then Araminta was stepping back and turning on a heel to follow and catch up with Theon.
Now having a piece of something to chew on herself with a small frown and a renewed sense of dread. For what were going to be her unintended consequences of taking on the Imperial Queen’s trials instead of finding some other, faster avenue of getting back into the mountains? Would she return to find out her absence had only made things a thousand times worse? All of these good and wonderful moments she’d found here on this side of the mountains, while everyone in her home could be suffering even still. Maybe she was truly just as awful as he’d imagined her to be.
Pausing to consider the sand under soles as it moved like velvet beneath and its white gleaming state, he could imagine that the walking part here with water would be a bit problematic. Smooth and slippery. Prompting a need to look back and only finding that Araminta had tagged along. With a single bucket. One that was going to have to be wrestled away from her as he suspected she was probably feeling rather sore still. Needing not to worry about over extending that of limbs or body because she wanted to just help along. Although now there was the unwanted absent party member that was walking in the other direction.
Leading his eye along, he couldn’t say he was relieved or upset to know that the other was wandering away. Actually, it was just a neutral sensation that maybe later he could think about when he had time to think without said person in his ear at the same time.
Undecided on what he felt towards Talon. Outside when the one was being a bit more mouthy about things relating to Araminta that he most certainly didn’t care for.
As she approached, her features were murky. Usually where even a small smile was typically plastered, was a frown. And she seemed to be deep in thought. Warranting wonder and maybe concern that the two of them had said something to another. Though Araminta was coming towards him rather than huffing off in another direction. Speculating then that she likely was her typical self and gave the older Edmonstone a bit of a verbal enlightenment that he might not be ready for.
Once she was close enough, a finger extended. Pointing at the bucket she carried and waited. A clear motion that he would like her to hand it to him so he could fill it and then play eventual keep away with it. He’d have to make more than a few trips to get the tub to a reasonable fill and it would be better if she wanted to help, for her to keep an eye on the fire so it didn’t burn the bottom of the tub or the water because too searing hot. “Ara?” Asking softly, “You look concerned. Are you okay? Is there something I can help with?”
Without recognizing he was going to pull shenanigans with the bucket as she usually would, Araminta handed it over without complaint or suspicion. Simply with a quiet shake of her head to his question.
“I don’t need anything,” she answered first, crossing her arms into herself because it was still so chilly and glancing around up and down the beach with mild and thoughtful curiosity. “I think I have overstepped with your brother and meddled too much.”
This was her greatest flaw, it seemed, the one she could just not seem to learn her lesson on! Meddling with Theon, meddling with his brother… meddling with the entire whole of the Imperial Kingdoms trying to fix this and that! What was one supposed to do when it was your very nature to try and help make things better? It would be like trying to tell the sky to stop being blue or grass to not be green!
“In any case I have told him I won’t push or insert myself anymore, and will leave the two of you be.”
She waited patiently for Theon to fill her bucket and once it was done, she was reaching for it. Guessing it would take many trips and she ought not waste their time with her chattering.
There had been some expectation for her to withhold the bucket. To know his intention and offer him an sly smile while making some verbal compromise that would have her successfully completing the task she’d set for herself. Not immediate compliance. Even as hand took the bucket, her expression hadn’t changed too much.
Just a head shake. And a statement she didn’t need anything. Where body language shut in on its and not the way she did when she was developing a plan or three.
Suggesting that she may have crossed a boundary with that of official last living sibling.
He could see the conflict then. Now given a name. Paired with the understanding that Araminta wanted to help in any way she could, whatever transpired between the two of them was clearly now weighing on her.
Setting the bucket down to allow himself to step up closer, she could reach for it but it wasn’t ready yet. Rather, he’d move to lightly drop hand to waist and pull her into him. Well aware now that she thrived with physical reassurance. And, he wasn’t upset by it either.
“I know your intention is to help. It’s not meddling. I don’t feel it is.” If he was to candid with anyone it would be her. Wrapping hands to twine and rest at the same of back. “Some may not be ready for your insight. Especially when it’s likely similar that Talongrath is trying to figure this out. Not realizing the sort of help and information you could give is closer to fact than fiction.”
Of course he knew that he wasn’t receptive either. “I appreciate what you’ve done. And try to do. But all that can be done now is letting it be. He’ll either take your wisdom or not. I simply do not wish to construct a relationship with someone that has manifested out of nothing.” Theon reached to brush fingertips across her arm. “I trust you, Ara. And know your intentions are genuine. It’s another good part about you. A list that gets added too daily.” Letting his gaze wander the way Talon went, he hummed softly. “He’ll see your point if he wants too. If not then whatever he is hoping to force won’t happen. I’ve learnt plenty that my patience doesn’t need to be silenced because of being around you. Learning from her.”
It was a gentle motion and it made his ears turn red but did so regardless. Laying a kiss to knuckles as he lifted fingers up. “Don’t alter yourself to fit another’s opinion. You merely care and speak in ways others don’t understand. Even I’ve only truly started to see that.” Brushing thumb over the back of hand, giving it a squeeze before releasing it. Stooping to collect her bucket to fill properly.
So wrapped up in her own thoughts, Araminta almost missed the fact that it was Theon himself initiating that affectionate contact, where usually it was her stealing hands and arms or sudden clinging. At first even giving him an expression of dubious disbelief that he didn’t feel she was meddling, only to find herself surprised to hear him say in his own way that Talon was just not ready for her style of helping. A gentle explanation from a gentle man.
Finding herself softening with every word, even if he tended to believe far too good of her when she really didn’t deserve it. Flushing a warm pink to discover they had drifted into a sort of affections that were so sweetly endearing. Regretting that he even let her go at all.
While he stooped to fill up her bucket and she stood there watching, Araminta knew that it wasn’t a mistake to be here. Whatever accidental repercussions were to come, for Theon alone all of it was worth it. There was no need to feel guilty, because anyone who met him would understand why he was so special and deserving of all the care she had to give.
Instead of snatching up her bucket and running off, she stepped aside to kick about the the soft white sands while he set to filling his own buckets. Having shifted from that closed arm self hug back to her more natural stance and a softly muted smile.
“It’s hard not to worry,” she admitted, stopping nearby to kneel and sweep her fingers through the sand. “He’s reminded me of home and my own siblings, and it makes me wonder if they are still alive back in Caeldalmor, if they’ll think I abandoned them too. I don’t regret starting the trials and I still feel it is the right thing to do… now for even more reasons than when I began. Only will they be able to see that, or will they think I’ve forgotten them?”
She made a soft delighted little sound, plucking something out of the sand and dusting it off. Standing quickly to return to him and offer the small flat prize, with the strange natural flower shape formed in the shell.
“It’s a sea cookie, I think! Look how pretty it is.”
Then, like an absolute devious fox, the moment he took it she was grasping for her bucket of water. Back to her usual mischief even if she was still a little muted than normal.
Scooping the salty water into the bucket and setting it down so he could grab the other two; he wasn’t about to get into any sort of lectures. Feeling as though his efforts were clear enough to express that even from where he stood, Araminta wasn’t meddling to be a pain. She was trying to bridge a gap that the other sibling likely was too blind to see. Set in his ways right now and probably far more accustomed to just being able to bulldoze his way in whether someone wanted him too or not. Just that his efforts were too bold for his own liking and was met with strong resistance. Fairly that wasn’t just Talon, he didn’t really give any that chance to elbow their way into his tiny secluded world.
There was things he also had to deal with right now about this sudden change and having the older brother just shove the emblematic door open was not going to happen. Needing time to digest, form new thoughts and understand what sort of emotions lay in his stomach.
When it came to Araminta, he’d learnt that while she was ready to leap to anyone’s aid; she did so out of care. Not out of secondary hidden intent. Although it was sufficient to say there were times he did not agree with her efforts either but that was not his place to scold or chide her. She was who she was and there was nothing wrong with it. She could identify well enough on her own when there was a need to step back. If not, then that would be the means of needing another to try and declare to her gingerly that things did not need her guiding hand.
As she spoke and seemed to be reviving back more so to her own self, she spoke about how Talon had brought up her own missing family. Her kingdom and apparently that was enough to tell him that Talon seemed to know more about Caeldalmor than he had. “It’s okay to worry.” Theon expressed softly setting a second bucket down and looping the yoke through handles to be ready to pick them up. “They are your family. They know you and your convictions. I do not think they would disregard that knowledge and feel as though you’ve done something to forget them.”
With the third bucket filled, the sound she made was enough to pull his attention. Watching as she bent down to pick something out of the sand. Brushing sand away to cross over and offer up the little item for him to see her newly acquired prize.
Of course he fell for her ruse easily. Taking what she called a sea cookie and turned it over in his hand before she was snatching a bucket away and he gave her easily one of his looks. A glance to most but to her well, she’d learnt well enough to read between those blank stares. Mentally shaking his head at her but stepping around to put the sand dollar into the water. It just needed to be revived and had no reason to be taken from its home.
Leaving him to go and pick up the yoke to begin the trek back to the tub. “I will continue to fill the bath tub for you, if you are willing and able to keep the fire stoked once I start it. So it does not get too hot.”
The winsome smile she gave him was entirely unapologetic for her nonsense. Her success being short lived when Araminta soon discovered that her current state wasn’t nearly as robust as usual, and a full bucket of water was a bit heavier than expected. Forcing her to carry it with both hands and a bit of awkward walking so she wouldn’t be kicking it with her knees with every other step.
It made it a lot easier to acquiesce to his request.
“I can do that,” she agreed to keeping the fire stoked. While she wasn’t keen on Theon having to do all of the work of setting things up for her, a nice warm fire to huddle by definitely sounded like a good way to help get that frosty chill out of her skin while she waited for the water itself to heat. It was his own nature to always want to do things for her, and she’d not take it away from him. Instead, she’d find her own ways to return the favor so it was not always Theon doing the caring. She could make sure he slept in nice beds, and had enough meals, and could be surrounded by things that actually belonged to him instead of living as a ghost in other people’s lives.
Witnessing how her intentions to whisk away with the bucket had turned into realization that it wasn’t nearly as easy to do; he kept a vigilant eye upon her. Ready to swoop over to take the offending item so she didn’t end up breathless or stumbling over it. Aware slightly that she was still not as well as she had maybe wanted to be. Adding a silent worry to sit on his mind. A hen fat with the sensation on a nest that was trying to conceal.
Stilling his want to reach over and take it immediately, instead there was a suggestion that she remain and keep the flame at a peak suitable for heating the water and not boiling her into a red lobster.
With their walk back, he had made a decision to locate this Phita. To speak to them and have them check on that of Araminta to assure that she was not worse for wear than she even knew. While he was not sure their exact location, it shouldn’t be difficult to find them in the small place.
Setting down the yoke as to pick up the handles and begin pouring in that of the water to coat the base of the wooden tub. Motioning no sooner to take her own and do the same. Stacking the buckets that had grouped back up to four. Indicating Talon had replaced his and he would at least be able to bring the four back on the next trip up. For now kneeling down to the inlayed fire pit to spark at least the little bit of useful magic to start a flame. Blowing on it lightly to encourage it to take to the dry tinder and lick at the split kindling for use. Thankfully it seemed eager to feast on the offering and began to burn. Letting him pick the end of the tub to drag more so over the pit so the metal portion could start conducting the heat.
Looking around a moment to locate a small paper fan that had been prepared for helping provide oxygen to the flames. Offering it to Araminta. “I will be as swift as possible so you may enjoy your time.” Lightly tipping head in a courteous manner, he didn’t wish to drag on the means of her being able to finally rinse and rest as she wished too.
Though she did not like the fact this tub was out so exposed in the open, Araminta did love seeing the ingenuity of the setup and how it was made to work. Curiously watching and leaning forward with her hands on her knees as Theon worked to get everything started in the means of fire and water heating. Something like this wouldn’t be such a bad temporary solution for their tiny home in the woods until they were able to build something more lasting and convenient.
Taking the fan with eager interest, that soft smile appeared again at his tilted bidding that he’d fetch everything as quickly as possible. Filling her with such a ridiculously strong desire to tell him she’d like to kiss him and get married and have his children, which was all true but perhaps not something appropriate to blurt out just because a man was heating you a bath.
Certainly not when he had other more important things to be burdened with right now.
“You have my heart,” she said instead, a softly genuine thing, because she very much intended to give it to him in every way that was possible.
Offering her a curious look at the blurting of him apparently possessing that of her heart, there was some quick thought about that. Not sure where it had come from and not certain what one said back to that either. Just that it properly made some heat appear in his features and nod politely. Guessing well enough that she was pretty excited for the chance to simply bask in warm water rather than the blood and filth of the day prior.
All the more reason why he best be swift with accomplishing the task set out before himself. Gathering up to go and collect said yoke and addition buckets. Another nod to indicate he would be back as shortly as possible.
To begin the means of fetching water to start the means of finalizing the task.
It was by no means a swift process or as ingenious as that of the workings of the Sable Fawn. Although it could be replicated if someone wanted to build a tower around the area. Fill it with water and have a spout system that could be levered open to pour water down into the tub and then boil out the salt of it. But that likely would have been something that was not nearly as necessary when people probably just washed up as they wanted. If not entirely just washed in the ocean present.
The back and forth worked just as well to build a sweat as much as cutting the wood had. Taking long enough that the time had dipped eventually to at minimal forty five minutes and at least the tub had been brought up to a little over half.
Offering no complaint or botherment to the effort being given, he did pause at this time to consider the height of the water. Raking back the strands that had become saturated with sweat and turned to look around the area. Eventually testing the water gathered to see how it was heating and finding it was moderate. Not hot, but not cold either. Just above lukewarm.
Just, he hadn’t prepared that of a towel or gathered that of other attire for her to use. Something he would do after he stepped to aside to go collect the odd rolling wooden cover to bring and pull out. Becoming like an accordion to stretch and stretch. Being able to encompass most of the area as to add privacy, Theon internally sighed.
Offering a polite look and a silent suggestion that he would go and collect the items for her that was a drying tool and the pack so she could select clothing at her own leisure.
This tub filling took an agonizingly long time when one was still chilled to the bone, which truly just made her appreciate the efforts he made all the more. Not failing to notice that he was becoming a sweaty mess himself. If the tub weren’t so small, she’d have insisted he have a bath with her – it’d be easy to wash up with just her underthings on and share it with Theon! Only she knew he’d fuss and refuse, and today this was not the battle she wanted to have with him when there were other things on his mind.
She’d spent most of that time sitting next to the fire itself, giving it gentle fans and soaking up whatever heat she could leech. Here and there having to flex her hands and fingers just to work the stiffness out. Moving around had been better for her, she figured, as it kept her blood moving and worked out the soreness in her muscles. Grateful that this flu of hers didn’t appear to be too bad, though she considered a hot soup for dinner might warm her insides better if a short bath didn’t do the trick.
His silent communications were easy enough to understand, furrowing her brow when she realized she ought to have done that fetching herself while she’d been here waiting. Ultimately just nodding her head to allow him to go grab them, so she could remove what articles of clothing she felt secure enough to do without him there being a stalwart guardian.
The return was enough and honestly he should have expected some motion of her preparing to at least start the process of articles to be removed. Even if had he come to know it would have been the next motion of action, it wouldn’t have entirely prepared him either.
Stepping back through and immediately once more his features began to brighten into gentle embarrassment. This time averting gaze politely with an added bit of noisy movement to be sure that she could hear exactly where he was. Settling down the pack for her to dig through at her selection later, but moved to dangle the acquired towel for drying on top. Allowing frame to turn graciously to put back towards her and, “Take your time. When you are finished, just let me know and I can move further away as not to impose.”
As if they hadn’t been close before or that he had seen her in no more than a bare covering of her sleeping gown. You’d think he was the one that was innocent in the matters of bodily flesh.
Araminta had failed to see the pink flare of blush, which had her giving a soft giggle of her own. He’d already seen her down to her undergarments and sopping wet in a towel, so this bashfulness was highly unnecessary. Not to mention all the awful states he’d seen her in too! From looking like a drowned rat, to being a bloodied mangled mess!
“Thank you,” she uttered with all good humor in her voice. Giving a soft touch to his back for the added means of affection. “I’d prefer if you stayed as even if just outside the screen. I’ve not yet met any of these people.”
It was probably silly to be worried at all, but until she actually had a chance to meet and greet them face to face, one couldn’t be certain who was a friendly safe soul to be around, and who had dangerous intentions. When she was on her own, it kept her out of trouble to get to know people first before she did anything within a village even if she’d been desperate for a meal or a bath. At least now with Theon it made things a great deal easier.
She still couldn’t understand why he thought he was useless! He did so much just by being present, let alone the extra aide and care!
Once he was situated for his own comfort of not being a bashful waiting guardian, Araminta made quick work of removing the last of her clothing and climbing into the bath. Submerging beneath the water and letting out oxygen until there wasn’t a bubble left to give before she popped back up. Shivering even now still though she was certain the water was at a comfortable enough temperature not boil her alive. Deciding it was definitely worth not wasting all her time sitting there idle and soaking if she were just going to shake and shiver.
So through her usual routine, using the little bar of soap she’d been carrying along for just these lucky occasions she tackled the mess of her hair first and foremost. Making a few huffing sounds about the lumps there, but no other complaints. She scrubbed away the dried blood from her puncture wound, pleased to see that once all the grim was gone there was no hint of other problems or dangers to worry about there. Just a new scar to add to her growing collection. Dirt came away without issue until finally she was nice and freshly clean, smelling of lyre and whatever floral scents were mixed into the soap.
By the time she climbed out her teeth were chattering though and it was a flurry of trying to dry herself quickly enough to drag her clean clothes back on, lest she freeze to death!
“As you wish.” Nodding and not quite emboldening himself to turn even as she pressed hand in motion to let him know she was right there. Not that he was about to even really stray that far that some random person could just appear and wander into the area either.
Sliding back away to the opposite side of said unusual screen, he’d meander a little. Just investigating the general surroundings till a suitable spot was found and he could sit. Feeling more of that exhaustion in body from well, the work of chopping and hauling the water. Being busy was fine and he still had other things to deal with. Making himself a list that would next need to be managed as to keep things functioning in the right direction.
If he wanted to be sure to make something that he could feasibly eat, then he would need to find ingredients. Although he wasn’t too familiar with what sort of things grew in this warm weather, it would at least house such things. Then it was locating this Phita person to speak with and seek their aim in helping Araminta with the means of bodily aches and bruising she had sustained. Likely also needing to take any bits of dirty laundry to wash. Which he would likely need more hot water for. So more hauling.
Assuring that things were managed for the princess so she might recuperate at her leisure. Then he’d take time once she was settled to go and deal with his own wash up. Mend anything that had been ruined in the day prior and he heard her express a want to find out where Ry’seth had gone. So the skull had come with, so he could probably find out such information when he went looking for Phita.
It was going to be a bit for him to continue the means of working to assure things were organized.
As always it took a good several moments to get her hair dry enough where it wouldn’t have her clothes soaking wet. Saving herself even more trouble too in winding it up in a twist to pin up and out of her way so she wouldn’t keep feeling that chill every time there was a breeze. It wasn’t helping much, but at least she had the warmer clothes from Bogart and that at least kept her from prickling into goosebumps, even with the shivers.
Everything else she tucked away into the bag so it could be delt with later, unaware that Theon was already plotting so far in advanced that it was practically taken care of already!
“Are you sure you do not want to me keep a watch for you and a hot bath of your own?” she asked when she did step out from behind the rolling screen. Gently setting a hand on him when she did, so she wasn’t liable to spook him with voice alone while he was so deep into his thoughts.
“I bet I could find someone with a hand pulled wagon and I could fetch plenty of water for you then.”
Tilting over that of the knife bright attention once voice had slipped between the inner turning cogs of thought, it was a shake of head. Not about to worry about such things and didn’t think it was necessary for her to waste her efforts in such things. Even a chaste man as himself knew that there was no need for her to even keep watch had he felt a need to be pampered with luxurious things as hot water. Aware that if there were to be prying eyes of any sort, it was generally after the fairer sort and she would have been probably a hot commodity for such attention had someone known that she was going to be in a vulnerable state.
Of course Araminta was adding on some nonsense. Encouraging the shake of his head to be further pronounced and motioned for her to lend him the pack so she would not need to busy with it. He’d come back after he was certain she was cozy once more in the hut to drain and clean out the tub for the next use. To settle the fire and to put things back where they belonged as not to unfairly burden someone else with the details that he could manage.
“There is no reason to make efforts.” Theon gestured as he decided that he would at least explain the means of what he had entailed for his next bit of work. “Once you are back at the hut and situated, I’ll worry about washing attire. Getting things for my own meal, cleaning up this area.” He listed, “There is a healer also in this place that I wish to seek out and have them check you over just to be certain all is well. At the same time, I will find out for you where Ry’seth is and whatever else is necessary to manage for the time being.” He noticed how she was wearing that of her wintery gear and he immediately grew more concerned.
Vision doing its loops over her and made more of an insistence for them to take her back to the hut. “I will ask for more blankets so you can be more if possible. Otherwise, once my cloak is clean, you can have it.”
So he had indeed been quite busy with his planning and plotting! Which meant he had so much on his mind and shoulders that he was doing his best to keep busy. There was a twist of her mouth, a little worried that he was using the means of all these tasks to avoid thinking about the Big Dragon Problem, but she knew now that it was time to leave it be and let them work it all out on their own time. She couldn’t help them through it any faster tha they were ready.
Araminta did wish, though, that she could at least do some of these tasks for him so he himself could actually rest!
“I am not so sick that I need to be tucked away in bed,” she lamented with amusement, despite handing him her bag. “If you’re needing to keep yourself busy, I’ll be alright. I can introduce myself to people here while I search for what windowsill Ry’seth has been tucked into. Then when you are ready for dinner we can eat together? I’d still like to sit and watch the sunset here with you.”
It was immediate the way his gaze went over her in such a lengthy manner. The whole not so sick and how the fact it was still very rather warm but she was bundled up looking like she was putting the finishing touches on getting fully suited for the coldest winter of all. Even as he took that of the bag, he listened.
And well, he knew Araminta was stubborn. Now having to conflict with the understanding in his mind that was both adamant about not saying anything or enforcing anything, while he didn’t believe she was being wise about her own health. “I’m not needing to keep myself busy. Simply that things need to be finished or managed and it would be unwise to merely leave them to the last moment.” Which was true and his attention shifted to the very tub situation. “Nor fair for another to be expected to tend to things that were not theirs in the first place.”
Searching a long moment while finagling that of pack onto shoulder. “If I am not to break promises that I’ve made to you. Then would it not be the same for yourself?” Indicating as gingerly as he could that she was not to hide being unwell in the future. “If you are ill, it is best to rest as much as possible.” Theon turned his gaze onto her. “You fuss over me when I was unwell. And do so even when I am not for the means of making sure I am taking better care. It’s likely the way you are bundled now will earn very strange looks. For it is warm here.”
But he also knew when Araminta fussed at him, she made compromises in some way. “If you rest, I will do something without complaint at your next request.”
The way Araminta glanced back at the tub area with a dawning blink, was a clear indicator that she’d not considered the mess left behind. Even opening her mouth ready to volunteer herself to handle the business of cleaning it up and straightening it all out. After all it was herself that was the last to use it, that was only fair.
To soon shut her mouth tight when it seemed she’d made a slip of words that was going to give him more space to worry. Colds and the like were nothing to make a big fuss over, she was functioning just fine. But it was hard to find any sort of reasonable excuse when he pointed out the way she’d bundled herself up in her warmest clothing. Nor could she really argue when he brought up promises made.
Still, she could’ve argued that she was well enough… until he made an offer so enticing that there was no hiding the surprise and interest in her features.
“That’s a very broad statement Theon, you don’t know what I might ask for,” she warned him, but Araminta was already hooked. They could have a nice dinner by the beach, or they could wrap up together in bed. She could have him take a bubble bath, or to let her get him some more clothing so he wouldn’t only have just have three things to change into!
“Okay,” she agreed with a resounded nod. “I’m only chilled, really and think I may have caught some cold or flu after all of things we’ve gotten into. But if you wish me to stay in bed for awhile longer, I can do that.”
Oh he was waiting for her to start issuing out different ideas to negate just taking it easy and letting her body do what it needed too under the heat of some blankets and a bed. Sure that mind of her could out pace him even if she wasn’t feeling well. However, he had learnt a few things in the time they’d been traveling together. And the largest was, if he offered a compromise of some sort first, she’d likely take it.
Which how her face worked up into awe, he knew it was the hook line. Because well, he was pretty resistant to doing much when it came to anything less than his familiar behaviours. And with Araminta, well he was giving her probably something akin to gold.
“Likely something regarding being in the bed for longer than I want to be.” He admitted seemingly knowing that it was currently the largest obstacle that he often merely only waited till she was sleeping soundly enough for him to escape. Having faith there was little else she would attempt to try while she could get him to comply without an excuse or gentle refusal.
As he motioned for a third time for them to walk back, her statement that she was only chilled had him looking at her clothing again. Doubting it was only chilled. And he didn’t think it was a flu either because he was pretty sure there would have been other symptoms paired with it. Although he might not know either since she had done very well to hide her discomforts. Her pain tolerance already was rather impressive.
With the bag being carried and her now with a once in a life time golden ticket to think about getting him to do something that was outside his normalcy of want or desire; he doubted she would do anything too wild with it. Probably why he made the offer. Anyone else, he would be highly suspicious of what they would do and how they would likely use it to make him do something he truly did not wish too. A noose once more.
Once they were back to the hut and the door was held open for her, he was already on that mission of thought. To now also take back the tray that had been the holder for the porridge this morning. Noticeably gone and he could return it properly back. Setting the bag down to the singular chair in the room with a telling watch that he was waiting for her to sneak into the foul object of slumber and that be it.
“I do like waking up with you,” she added with that beaming smile, as chances were he’d guessed correctly exactly which of the millions of things she might’ve requested. It was always one thing to get him into the bed to curl up with her, and completely different problem to make sure he stayed there for the entire night. Despite what he claimed, Araminta didn’t believe in the slightest that catnaps were enough to sustain a grown man’s body and mind. Especially with Theon’s variety of skillsets! He needed a full night of rest!
A saucier woman might’ve taken his watchful waiting as a way to be a flirting tease. To make a song and dance of undressing to be a mischievous minx and lure him into bed too. Such a thing didn’t occur to her and aside from removing her boots, she fully clothed climbed into bed and burrowed herself back under the blankets without so much as a complaint. Though there might’ve been the very visible sign of a shuddering shiver and a little huff about it and her chattering teeth.
Then she popped sitting back up again, with the most woeful of pleading looks.
“But the sunset! It’s not everyday one can see an island sunset, it isn’t something to be missed. Can we at least do that?”
He wasn’t particularly the sort to fawn or break at a bat of lashes but it was probably safe to say that had she tried, she might discover he was easily bent to her will that one might think. And it was hundred percent because of his trust for her. Knowing that she wouldn’t attempt to use him for a reason to gain favour as the singular other had.
Instead he kept his attention attentive. Watching her till she was properly in the bed –wintery clothing and all. Helping him feel convinced that she was not as well as she liked to think or say she was. After he tended to the clean up of the tub area, it was right to finding Phita. Because he didn’t want to be caught off guard and doubted Araminta would tell him now if she was worse than she was.
She appeared like a spring gopher soon. Looking at him with something he couldn’t entirely figure out but it did make his empty chest, ache. And “Is that what you wish to make your request for?” He asked being sure that she knew that it would be gone just like that. “I do not think we will leave this place till you are ready. But if that’s what you want, I will oblige to the agreement we have just made.”
Araminta almost said yes immediately, having to pause mid breath while she squinted and twisted her mouth. Doing that thing she always did when she was giving something careful consideration. Such a chance to ask for anything without his complaint was too precious of a gift to waste on just anything. An island sunset was rare – in fact she’d never seen one before. But it was it precious enough to up her one request so fast?
He’d already given her the answer. They’d likely be here longer than just tonight. There would be another sunset!
“No,” she deflated, a little disappointed but confident he’d sit with her for a sunset without her having to use this compromise. “We’ll have another day. I’ll save my request for something truly important!”
With a plop, one that fore sure meant she wasn’t pleased about this having to rest but was obeying all the same. Dragging her blankets up and over her head until she was gone altogether to be a grumbling lump. No exploring, no chattering with locals, no fishing and no sunsets, what a pitiful form of torture this would be!
Some part of him knew that this would not be the thing she took a rather special request too. Using it up so suddenly because if he knew Araminta, she would make that very golden ticket very particularly useful. As comely features were twisted into her considering turn, it was not too shocking that she decided at the end that this was not the thing she would use it for. Agreeing that they likely would have another day and that this was not the one thing she’d like to cash in the one thing for without compliant.
Rather making a dramatic plop to slip beneath the blankets. Becoming a ball that was all sorts of grumbling noises while she missed him giving more of a gentle smirk at the whole action. Soft and sweet and somewhat amused that she was so grumpy all the sudden because it was better for her to take care of herself rather than pushing potential buttons.
Footsteps clattered to draw closer to eventually reach out and lightly pat and rub the lump’s form, “I will be back in a bit. If possible, rest and stay warm.” It wasn’t often Araminta was like this but well, it would seem that she intended to honour the fact that it was wise to give recuperation time proper. She might be young but she was just as susceptible to being ill as anyone else.
All it really seem to need were those gentle pats for her to stop her grumbling, sighing under the blanket with a weary sound and following with a hum to relay she understood and would behave. Without her usual Goodnight Theon, because Araminta was not so tired that she needed to keep on sleeping!
How wrong she was, though.
Araminta waited and listened to his footsteps leaving, fully intended to rustle around and keep herself occupied one way or another. To dig in her pack and maybe play her music, or even just try to process recent events so that she might plan ahead their next few steps. Only as soon as she stopped rooting around under her blankets and was still again, frustrated with the shivering cold and trying her best to at least warm up little, those shivers started to fade and that sleepiness set in. As at least the cold made her feel numb enough where she didn’t notice the soreness of her muscles anymore.
Quick to fall into a deep, dreamless slumber without seeming to notice she might just be freezing from the inside out.