So lost in his thoughts was Vadimas that he didn't even realize that his mentor was present until she spoke.  And by then, it was too late to try and escape.  He let out an undignified yelp as the beating started, and he tried to shelter himself as best he could.  He should have known that Bryony would know what he was trying to do.  "Ow!  Stop hitting me and I'll -owdamnit- tell you!" he snapped, finally ducking away from the blows for a moment. 

With a quick shake of his head, Vadimas was vehement in his refusal to go back.  "No.  It's better this way.  I don't need to be any further attached to her than I already am," he said.  There was a rare hint of emotion in his voice, almost quiet despair.  He truly did not want to leave, but Vadimas had been running away from attachment for so long it was the only way that he knew how to react.  And it was in those words he recognized just what he felt for the young Crystaline and groaned to himself.  It was probably already too late. 

"I'm being an idiot, aren't I?" he asked, a sheepish grin on his face.  Bryony was one of the very few people he ever opened up to, and this was one of those rare times that he was asking for advice.  Without actually asking, of course.  There were some things he just would not do.

Bryony stared at him for a long moment after she had finished hitting him. "Oh the hell it would be. You still have much to learn about life." She had heard the emotion in his voice. "You've been so intent on running you have no idea how you feel." 

She  sighed a bit before rubbing his white hair. "A big idiot. You don't need to see her future because you are her future. I have faith in you that as long as you are with her that she will be happy. You two have been happy around each other for a while. You after all these years deserve this. I lost my chance don't just throw yours away."

Bryony smiled at him and shook her head. "Now she is still asleep so whatever you've done you can undo. I don't she'll forgive you easily if she finds whatever you left." She shooed him towards the Purple Court Manor. "Go and get happiness damn it."

It wasn't until Bryony said something about them being happy around each other that Vadimas realized the huge mistake he was making.  Or had almost made at any rate.  "I've gotten so used to running.  Even ran to an entirely new world after you left…  Don't ever do that again and leave me with all the Oracles again, I beg you!  I thought they were going to corner me sooner rather than later," he said with a theatrical shudder.  But it wasn't entirely feigned, Rosen males were rather rare.  Much to his dismay. 

A sly grin crossed his face after a moment.  "You know, if I do this, it's going to make quite a few females unhappy… I expect your help in dealing with that, oh First Oracle," he said with a raised eyebrow and smartass grin.  It was only fair after all, it was very rare that anyone would even dare think of crossing Bryony or going against her word.  If nothing else, it would protect Crystaline. 

He didn't need any more encouraging after that, and hurried back to the manor.  She was still sleeping when Vadimas re-entered the room, and he threw the letter into the fire.  There was no need for her to ever know of the words that had been contained on that paper.  There was a couch in against the wall, and it was there the Oracle laid down to sleep.  His words could wait for the morning.

Bryony gave her use to be apprentice a smile as she reached over and rubbed his hair. "I can do whatever I want because I am an adult. Besides I think that Crystaline can keep all the women away. She may be blind but the girl has power in her. She won't let them corner you if she has you anyways." Bry offered him a smile before turning away from him and tapping her glaive on her shoulder she gave him a smile.

"I'll take care of it. Yeah yeah. Go get your woman." She waved him off before disappearing.
—

Crystalline was in her slumber land. Her dreams weren't as dark as her sight was. There were colors and they reminded her of Vadimas. She woke up once she felt refreshed and stretched her arms as she yawned before pulling herself up. "Vadi?" She yawned more as she rubbed at her cloudy eyes.

"Vadi?" She said again as she felt for the edge of the bed and pulled herself over. "I think it's morning?" She reached over and felt the window. It burnt her hand from the sun but she shook her head. "It's morning." She got to her feet and felt around. "You won't be the early bird today." She was teasing him as she tried to find her favorite morning book.

It wasn't until he heard Crystaline carefully moving around the room did Vadimas finally stir himself.  He hadn't realized quite how tired he was until he saw the sunlight streaming into the room.  "Morning indeed.  And good morning, my dear.  I hope you slept well, Crystaline," he said, warmth in his voice.  As he regarded her for a few moments, he silently called himself fool for wanting to run away from her.  It would have only hurt both of them.  At least Bryony had found him before he had gotten too far, and Vadimas knew he would have to thank her again for it later. 

"Would you like to read first, then breakfast?  There is another garden I think you might like after that," he said.  It was a garden designed for touch and scent, so it was perfect for Crystaline.  And it was there he would pour out his heart, even if he was nervous has hell about the whole idea.  Bryony had better have been right about this whole thing.

Holding onto the book tightly she thought about their options and laughed softly. "Actually I am hoping for a change. Since I am not too use to the area around me I was hoping we could do something rather different. How about eating and reading in the garden this morning? That sounds rather refreshing, that is if Mother would allow us to do so."

Her hair was braided up from when she slept most likely from when he had left. It probably had been done by Cathrine. The halfling found him and took his hand gently. She had noticed the rather odd warmth in his voice. It was different than most days as if he had woken up rather well but also she could tell he was tired. The thoughts confused her so she pushed it out of the way.

"I had some terrible dreams but they are probably different from what a seeing person would have." She gave him a frown but tried to push it into a smile. "Mostly from what my brothers did to me." The scars on her back began to itch as she spoke about it. "I can't see it but I can feel it and hear it. The ripping and tearing. The crying." She held onto his hand tighter as she thought about it.

Pushing the thoughts away she shook her head. "I just want to be in the garden no stories this morning. I suddenly don't have much of an appetite either." it happened every once in a while with the halfling as she relived what she lost. Mostly it was good for her to share with at least Vadimas what plagued her mind. It was true that she couldn't see but her other senses were so much sharper and that hurt the most.

"Please? I'll try to eat afterwards."

As she spoke of her nightmares, Vadimas stiffened for a moment.  He had known that Crystalline had been through a lot, and that it haunted her still.  But he hadn't know to the extent.  Placing his other hand over her own, he felt a desire to make her feel safe.  "Crystalline, I will never allow such a thing to happen to you again.  Never.  If… if you would have me, I will stay with you and by your side," he said, voice quiet but sincere.  The choice was hers to make, and Vadimas waited silently, waiting for an answer.  Hopefully Bryony had been right.

Crystaline felt the change in the area for a moment. Normally he was composed but she could fell it in the air. She felt his hand on hers and calmed down greatly. Normally she could feel and taste the atmosphere change but this time it felt so warm to her she thought she felt her body begin to sweat.

"All you ever had to do was ask Vadimas." She swore she felt a blush come across her pale flesh. It was weird when the man you cared about was normally against being so close but something appeared to change. Her hand went up his arm and she found herself close to him. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek before snuggling into him.

It felt like she should ask him what changed but why ask about something good? She closed her eyes and leaned back to give him a smile. "So… We have a damn long time if you want to stay with me… Where should we start?"

For the first time in longer than he cared to admit, Vadimas found himself content.  Taking her hands into one of his, and wrapping his other arm around her in a protective manner, he hugged her close.  He wanted for Crystaline to feel safe around him, and Vadimas knew she had been through a lot already.  "Well, I should tell you something first.  One of our secrets is that Oracles lose the ability to see the future of those close to us.  Though I fear perhaps it is already too late for that, my dear," he admitted with a chuckle.  But Crystaline deserved to know of what she was getting into. 

He sighed for just a moment, not quite knowing where to start.  "Perhaps it would be best to start from the beginning…  I've never actually courted anyone for their affection before.  Most of the time, I am the one being approached," he said, amusement in his voice.  Vadimas had of course told her of his trysts, nothing specific, but she did know.  And Crystaline would now know those days were over.

Crystalline took in his scent as she wrapped herself around him. It was interesting to be cared for in a manner she hadn't in a long time. He was a tad taller than she seemed to remember when she was this close though in her mind she had to remember he didn't tend to be this close to anyone. "No wonder oracles tend to be solitary." She smiled up at him. "I'm not scared of the future Vadi not if you are here."

Another chuckle left her lips as she pulled herself away from him. "I can try and teach you. For the first time I think I am the teacher and you the student." She reached up and found the tip of his nose and kissed it lightly. Crystalline knew that he often ran away after his trysts but that was fine to her. 

Taking his hand she took him out of the room. Putting her hand to the wall she felt along it and tried to find her way down to the gardens. "At least now the other oracles will be jealous of me." She tried to make him laugh. "Wish I could see their faces." She teased him lightly. "I'm sure Bryony will tell me how much of a pain I am the next time she is in the city." She chuckled lightly.

With his help they got down to the garden and were able to sit down on the bench. She felt the sun on her face and the desert heat on her skin. She stretched and reached past him to feel a flower. It was like silk against her skin. "What color is this one?"