Up Close

[Criala 729]

 

Spoiler

 

 

‘Wyrvun’s Landing’

 

“So, this is the tavern.” It was a soft murmur from an ‘aheral woman, head tilted up to look at the writing on the sign. Her frame clad in a long sleeve dark red shirt, dark trousers and a pair of boots. Just barely peeking out of the very tip of the shirt’s neckline was the head of a phoenix, done in crimson. A sword was sheathed at her left hip

 

»»————-　✼　————-««

 

Her shoulders shook, teeth chattering a little from the cold, something she wasn’t quite used to yet. But it wasn’t unwelcomed. There was something about the snow and cold of the city, something within it, that brought a feeling of being at home almost.

 

It was the ‘aheral woman’s first visit to the Fennic city. After all, it was just down the road from Irrinor, so why not right? Her exploration brought her in front of a building, blue gaze scanning the sign above the doorway.

 

‘The Silver Snowflake’

 

Walking through that doorway changed her life forever. That tavern was where she met a certain ‘fenn.

 

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

Image found on Pinterest
Effect done with LunaPic

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

 

He was behind the bar, serving drinks to patrons seated at the bar and at tables throughout the tavern. As she entered, he gave a nod of his head and flashed a grin her way, before going back behind the bar.

 

She dipped her head to return the greeting, before making her way to where the fireplace was. Flames licked at the edges of the stone, but didn’t spread out from it. She settled down onto the couch in front of it, enjoying the warmth radiating from it.

 

“Not used to the cold?” The voice came from her left, slightly behind her.

 

It caused her to jolt, head snapping to look up and behind her. Standing behind the couch was the ‘fenn who’d been serving drinks.

 

“Didn’t mean to startle you!” He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

 

“Ah, it’s okay.” A sheepish smile tugged at her lips. “Not really, haven’t spent a lot of time in the tundra.”

 

“Well, welcome to it, I guess!” The grin remained, looking right at home on his face.

 

“Ahernan, I guess!” She couldn’t help her smile widening. His grin was contagious.

 

“I’m Arevthor.” He reached his hand out to her for her to shake.

 

“I’m Neia.” She lifted her hand, taking his hand to shake it.

 

»»————-　✼　————-««

 

The Tathvir Hall was attached to the Tavern and above the Clinic, as she came to find out. Arevthor led her there one day, through the Clinic and up the lift there.

 

“Sure this is okay?” She asked, glancing at Arevthor.

 

“Of course.” He pulled a key from his pocket, using it to unlock the door. Once it was unlocked, he let her in first.

 

She stepped in, soon finding herself in the main living room of the hall. A couch and a couple of seats, along with a rug laid out in front of a fireplace.

 

“Cozy.” She commented, attention falling on the fireplace.

 

“It is!” He nodded, his signature grin on his face. He made his way further into the room, and instead of sitting on the couch, he plopped himself down on the rug. He patted the spot across from him. “Come on!”

 

She followed suit, easing herself down in front of him.

 

“You’re welcome here anytime.” He said, pulling another key from his pocket to hold it out to her.

 

The action stunned her to silence, her mouth hanging open just a touch, and her eyes wide. It took a moment, but she reached out to take the key from him. Her features softened, a smile tugging at her lips. “Thank you.”

 

“Of course.” The smile was returned with one of his own.

 

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

Image found on Pinterest

Effect done on LunaPic

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

 

»»————-　✼　————-««

 

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

Image found on Pinterest

Effect done on LunaPic

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

 

“It’s not often I don’t find you in the city.”

 

The voice cut through the silence. He didn’t even have to look to know who it was. It was one he knew so well by now.

 

“Empty day in the tavern. Need to get away every so often, get some quiet time to think!”

 

“That is a good point. Quiet can be good sometimes.”

 

There was rustling of grass beside him. A glance to his right told him she’d sat not too far from him.

 

“It can.” He nodded his head, before turning his attention back to the horizon. The two of them sat there in a comfortable silence.

 

»»————-　✼　————-««

 

Often, the two sat in front of the fireplace in the Tathvir Hall. A calm and comforting atmosphere.

 

“I have something for you.” She spoke up, during one of these times, amidst a comfortable silence.

 

A curious glance was sent her way. “What’s that?”

 

“You’ll see!” A hand shot into her satchel, rummaging around before pulling out a package. It was almost a square shape, but not quite. She held it out to him.

 

With a quirked brow, he took it from her and began to open it. Within was a blanket. Little books, quills and instruments were stitched on it, with the background of it being a shade of light grey.

 

“I made it for you.” A shy smile came to her lips, her hand lifting to rub the back of her neck.

 

“You did?” He tore his gaze from the blanket, so he could look at her.

 

“Yeah.” A slight nod of her head.

 

“Thank you.” He murmured. Unlike his usual wide grin, a soft smile spread across his face. He unfolded the blanket to wrap it around his shoulders. Then he held open the right side of it, motioning her over.

 

“Are you-” Before she could finish, he cut her off.

 

“Yeah, yeah, get over here.” He chuckled.

 

“Okay, okay.” She scooted over, so she was sitting right next to him. The blanket dropped around her shoulders, a yawn escaping her. She settled down against him, head dropping against his shoulder. It wasn’t long before she dozed off.

 

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

Image found on Pinterest

Effect done on LunaPic

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

 

»»————-　✼　————-««

 

He was on his way down the road to Fenn when he saw something off. An armored man, walking down the road at a brisk pace. But it wasn’t the armor that caught his attention. It was who was over the individual’s shoulder.

 

Slung over the man’s shoulder, unconscious, was her. He’d recognize the pale blonde hair anywhere.

 

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

Image found on Pinterest

Effect done on LunaPic

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

 

He snapped into action, pacing after them as fast as he was able. Unfortunately, he lost them when the man tossed her into a boat and rowed away. But he wouldn’t give up. He didn’t give up. With a boat of his own, he set off after them, with only one thought on his mind.

 

»»————-　✼　————-««

 

When she awoke, the armored man was there, but her mind was foggy, and her hands were tied behind her back. Searing pain engulfed her face, centered from her nose. It was broken, there was no way it wasn’t with the way he slammed her face down into that chest plate. Blood was smeared across her cheek and chin.

 

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

Image found on Pinterest

Effect done on LunaPic

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

 

The man before her soon revealed his name to be Thrandil. Honestly, she’d rather he kill her if that was what he was going to do. And that appeared to be his plan, when he wrapped his hand around her throat. But he didn’t squeeze, his hand drifting up to her jaw. Her head was turned this way and that.

 

“You are quite beautiful.” He commented, looking over her features. “A perfect ‘thill.”

 

“I’ve ‘fenn blood too. My grandmother was a mali’fenn.” A quick lie on the spot, in hopes of repulsing him. Much to her dismay, it had the opposite effect.

 

“Exotic.” was all he said to it as he turned her head, so her left cheek was exposed to him.

 

Her plan backfired. Any hope of getting away from this man left her.

 

He brushed her hair behind her left ear, letting a finger trace it, before giving a slight pinch. His next words to her were whispered. “Consider yourself lucky. I am a mali’ of passion. Your beauty has saved you, thill.”

 

With that, he released her entirely. He moved to the side, pushing at the top of her back to move her forwards. Because of this, she was hunched somewhat where she sat.

 

The sound of something being unsheathed reached her ears. Despite his ‘resurrance’ of her being ‘saved’, her blood ran cold. But the blade sliced through the ropes around her wrists, her arms free and hanging limp at her sides, tingling all over.

 

He picked up his pack and his helm, which he pulled back onto his head. The dagger was left in the dirt near her, and his parting words were something to haunt her for years.

 

“You’ll be seeing me again soon.”

 

He was gone after that, and she was left there, to dread any day she might run into him again.

 

»»————-　✼　————-««

 

It took what felt like forever to find her, but he finally did. She was slumped against a tree trunk, her pale face already bruising from the abuse it suffered.

 

“Neia!” He called out, jogging over to her. Once there, he knelt partially down beside her.

 

“...Arev?” Her eyes slowly opened to peek up at him. Relief spread across her features when she saw it was, infact, Arevthor. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she latched onto him, the tears flowing into the fabric of his sleeve.

 

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

Image found on Pinterest

Effect done on LunaPic

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

 

“It’s okay, I’m here.” He murmured to her, wrapping an arm around her, so he could scoop her up to carry her back home.

 

»»————-　✼　————-««

 

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

Image found on Pinterest

Effect done on LunaPic

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

 

“I passed the trials for Csarathaire.” She said, looking rather proud of herself. A sword was now sheathed at her hip.

 

“Ah, that’s great!” There was that grin again. The contagious one.

 

“Thanks!” A small grin of her own snuck onto her features. “I’m excited. I worked so hard.”

 

“I bet you are, and I know you did.”

 

He saw it coming, so he could have dodged out of the way, but he didn't. He was caught in her arms, pulled into a hug, and his arms wound around her to return it.

 

»»————-　✼　————-««

 

Time went by since she last saw him. On his way out of the city to take care of something was last she saw him.

 

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

Image found on Pinterest

Effect done on LunaPic

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

 

Time went by. Many things happened in his absence. But it didn’t stop her from waiting and hoping that he would return one day.

 

»»————-　✼　————-««

 

Seeing him again was by chance, in Aegrothond, some odd years later. She’d been going down the path around the back of the tavern when she saw him. Her eyes widened, her stride slowing to a pause. It was almost as if she’d seen a ghost.

 

He stopped when he went to walk by, only then noticing her. “Neia?”

 

“Arev…” It was all that came out, her breathing somewhat shaky. “I thought… I thought you were… Were dead.”

 

“Can’t kill me.” He cracked a grin, that same grin she’d known for so long. He opened his arms to her, and before he knew it, she’d dove into them. Her arms wound around him, clutching onto him for dear life. He held onto her the same, holding her to him.

 

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

Image found on Pinterest

Effect done on LunaPic

────── ⋅❅⋅ ──────

 

“Hey, I won’t die on you, not ever. Okay?” He muttered to her.

 

“You better not.” Her voice cracked here and there, her hold not lessening at all.

 

A smile came to the ‘aheral’s face, an almost fond look upon it. She stepped forward to make her way into the tavern. One thing she knew was that no matter how far or how long, the two of them would always meet again, no matter what.

 

Spoiler

(( Thank you for all the wonderful RP so far with Neia and Arevthor! @Trekwars Here's to more to come!

@ABruhMomentwas the kidnapper, smh.