Kieran was more than content to continue holding Teu, memorizing her scent, the feel of her hair and skin. Yet, she was first and foremost his healer. She had fought to get him to this point, and she was not going to lighten up merely because he was standing. With a light shake of his head, that smile still plastered on his face, Kieran obliged and sat next to her on the bed, accepting the order to eat. While he ate, she asked a question few ever get answers about.

People tend to act differently when they find out he is noble born. His gaze rested on the plate for a long moment before lifting to her face. ”I am Kieran Rothslin, third child of Lord Aerik and Lady Krizira. They hold some land south of Adeluna. From the time I could wield a hammer, I spent most of my free time helping our people build and do their chores.” Images of his family passed through his mind. Krizira’s kind smile, Aerik’s approving nod of the head. Zerrifa with her nose always in a book, and Elwin’s disapproving snort.

With a sigh, he returned his gaze back to the food. ”I left home. I tell myself there is more to do elsewhere, I can help many villages, and starting settlements. But really? It was to get away from Elwin.” He didn’t know why he was telling her at present. Surely it would have come up at some point. ”My twin can be a bit… aggressive. And possibly jealous of the people’s love toward me. Our spars were becoming more dangerous. I didn’t want to hurt my brother. Father and I both agreed this was the safest solution, helping our allies and maintaining distance.”

Safe was a relative term. Instead of Elwin causing the life threatening damage, it was strangers. Thieves and thugs on a dishonest path. ”What about the kids? I mean, what’s their story?” He realized he didn’t even know the girl’s name. As he listened to her answer, Kieran finished off the food.

Her eyes felt as if they were smiling as well with how happy she was at that moment. There was little she could do to hold back the sheer joy that continued to fill her up to the brim. It took much of her restraint to not pull on his arm to pull him closer to her. The loss of his heat against her made an empty feeling surround her. Teu merely made herself consciously aware that Kieran was sitting nearby in order to get her emotions under control. To feel a wholeness for the first time in ages made a difference for the woman. It was also embarrassing that she was behaving like a love struck teenager.

Lord Aerik and Lady Krizira. There was no stopping her surprised expression or the blank staring and random blinking as she tried to process the information he had just given. He was a noble. Teu had heard of his family as well as the land that they were rulers over. It was not a small size of land, and they were kind nobles. Finally, Teu nodded with a smile as no comment was made. When back in DaeLuin there were plenty that had comments to her lineage. She had been the small one of the family with little prestige to speak of compared to her father and step-mother. Even her cousins and siblings had more to fame then Teu ever could have. In the end, the healer had not minded being the quiet one of the family. She enjoyed supporting the Pack and their endeavors.

A gentle smile lit her lips as he spoke of helping the people. Even in the short time knowing Kieran it was not a surprise that he would use his capabilities to help another. It was sweet. “Elwin is your twin brother?” she asked. Now her expression turned to a frown in regards to an unknown person that would turn a rough hand towards Kieran. Already there was a sense of possessiveness as well as protectiveness. She would enjoy handling anyone attempting to hurt Kieran now that she was at his side. All that Teu could hope was that Kieran would see passed her dark half when the time would come. Kieran only had witnessed her healing and sweet nature. A moment a panic swept through her chest at the thought of him not handling the darkness that had sweltered in her heart. There had been a man before that had turned his gaze away for that very same thing. Hands gathered some of the blankets in a tight fisted ball to help relieve some of her anxiety. Time would tell. For the moment Teu would enjoy what was laid before her.

“And you got yourself stabbed instead…very safe,” she joked at him with a light touch on his knee. “I know it sounds wrong, but I am glad you were injured. I doubt any other way would our paths have crossed.” The healer laughed while shaking her head and closing her eyes. “That sounded terrible, and I retract that last statement. Not the meeting one another though.” She looked at him again with a light smile that could only express her feelings of adoration for him.

“My children? Oh…the gods give me patience with them,” she laughed. Gathering her knees to her chest, she thought of the best way to explain. “It is sort of unconventional…our past that is. Alairia is my adopted daughter. One of my dear friends died along with the mother. I did not know Alairia’s mother, but she was a noblewoman of a powerful land. Our family decided to take her in. It was then that I specifically took her because Corvo and I had been close.” Her eyes softened as she looked off a little thinking of her old friend. It had been difficult for Teu to adjust to Corvo not being around with his jokes and sweet demeanor. “And then Dae. He is a child that I love dearly but his creation was a product….of an attack.” Teu did not wish to say the words since it still was a difficult thing to think about. “My late husband, Dasor, was also in a seat of power as I had been at the time, and helped me. We had not been together at that moment, but he helped me cope. We decided to have Dae and here he is.”

There was that expression that most people express, yet Kieran pressed forward. He would lay it all before her and more should she ask. Yet, she smiled and nodded, not even commenting on his heritage. How her demeanor towards him was yet to be seen, but he had high hopes. A nod was given in response to her question as he continued. Teu joked about his wound, which earned a chuckle from him. ”You’re fine, Teu. I understand completely.”

As she began to speak of the children, the noble committed their names to memory. Alairia was his little bedside assistant, the little blond headed girl. Kieran’s face fell to that of sympathy about the death of those which forced her to be orphaned. The desire to wrap his arms around her as she thought about the lost friends was strong, but he refrained for now. But it was worse to hear about Dae, and how his conception came to be. His hands balled into fists thinking about any who would defile such a beautiful woman, abusing her. If Kieran ever caught wind of any such attacks toward Teu… His blood boiled at the thought.

Dasor finally got a name, one that was also memorized as he had the distinct feeling that it would not be the last time he heard it. The mere fact that he was her husband, assisting her in coping mechanisms, helped calm Kieran some. ”They’re beautiful children. I think you’re doing a marvelous job at raising them single handedly.” Kieran reached out to grasp her hand, bringing it up to his lips all while staring into her eyes. ”Now, how about we start gathering those supplies and prepare a little trip to Waldon?” His lips brushed against her knuckles with every word.

Thankfully Kieran laughed at her ridiculous line of thought. Like a child she stuck her tongue out at him before laughing at herself. At least he seemed to understand what she was really trying to say. There was not a way to say how she felt any other way. After transferring to DaeLuin under the last of Lord Raktor’s power it had been a constant struggle to create a life for her and the children. Time had halted for them almost as they came to terms with their new home and existence. They had not been sent without assets, though. It had been enough to get a start on their new life. Never had Teu thought that after all the loss that she had to endure that there would be a new man in her life. These gods knew nothing of her existence, and yet she felt blessed.

Conversation about the children and who they were was always going to come up. From what the mother could tell, Kieran was a man that liked children. He already had won over Alairia. Teu knew that Dae would be a little more difficult since the child tended to trust no one. As the boy grew older it was easy to see the influence that Raktor’s darkness had had upon the boy while he grew within Teu. It made her worry for what the future would hold for him.

Kieran made no comments about Dae’s lineage, which she could have interpreted in a few ways. Her eyes caught sight of the man’s hands balling into fists. Inwardly that helped her relax as it appeared that he was not judging. Lightly she touched his right fist and smiled up at him to encourage him to relax. “It was a while ago, and I have healed since then. Besides, the man and his group got their comeuppance. They suffered greatly,” she said with a sly smile. It still gave her a sense of delight to remember the corpses that were left to lie about her mansion after a lovely hunt for them at her party. The citizens of her old world had been more than happy to help bring them to a painful justice. “Please, do not worry about it. I did get Dae out of it, and he is a lovely boy that I love dearly.”

What surprised her was the ability to say Dasor’s name without an all-consuming despair washing over her. It would hurt, most likely, for the rest of her life to think of the man that had been her husband. Though there had been many that had not gotten along…or had met their end by his hand. To Teu he had been a gentle soul that brought her such joy and love. He was gone. She knew that now. Now there was a man that sat mere inches away from her that made her feel loved despite the miniscule time together. The emotions she felt were real. “Thank you, Kieran. They are wonderful, and are a true blessing.”

The heat from his lips made her blush slightly as his words brushed over her knuckles. Through her girlish reaction she was able to note him mentioning the trip to Waldon. It was then her healer side kicked in. Teu shifted to her knees upon the bed to sit higher then him. “If you think you will be allowed to go on this trip without being fully ready, you are sadly mistaken Noble Kieran.” Teu gave him a playful smile before getting off the bed entirely. “You eat that food there in full and put on that black shirt before I will consider you for this excursion.” Her hand gently cupped his cheek and placed a kiss on his forehead. “When you are finished, come out to the shop front. I have to get changed anyway.”

Teu allowed herself one more touch of his skin before leaving the quarters. With a duty set before her, it was necessary to get the proper supplies prepared. In the back closet of her home she pulled out her gear. Her practiced hands placed her leather armor onto her body in place of the healing white outfit. After the black leather armor was properly in place, she tucked her Sais in their sheathes on her back and falchion at her waist. Teu was a healer, but had learned the hard way that it was important to not be naïve in the world of evils. She walked back to the front of the home, hands busy with tying her hair in a ponytail on the back of her head. “Syn! Are the supplies ready to go and my horse?” Teu used her hip to open up the door to the shop.

The sphinx padded up to her friend with a tilted head in examination of Teu’s new attire for the day. “Yes, the supplies have been packed. I gave Jon’s soldiers most of what was needed as they left. Essentials are in the saddlebags. Try not to create too much of a ruckus.” The sphinx laughed as Teu merely shrugged in response. “I will watch the children and the shop. They do well in sales. We will turn quite a profit today.” Alairia and Dae stood by the counters working on their separate tasks, knowing full well that they were not to come along. Teu walked up behind each of them to place a kiss upon their heads. “Be good and I will be back soon.”

Kieran honestly did not know if he would ever get over her blushing at the smallest of actions. The strawberry stain on her cheeks was quite attractive. As he finished speaking into her knuckles, Kieran planted a kiss there, all while keeping his flirtatious gaze. ”Wouldn't dream of it.” She gave him a list of orders, his eyes following her as she got off the bed. How easy would it be to catch her, tuck her against him as he guided her to the bed, laying above her? For a moment, the noble allowed the scene to play out in his mind as he smirked knowingly at the healer. ”Yes ma’am. You are the doc.”

Teu left, and Kieran hurriedly finished the last few bites. When that was gone, the shirt was pulled on. It was almost a perfect fit. Before leaving the room, Kieran quickly made the bed. While it was not perfect, it was the best he could do without agitating his stitches. No doubt she would be upset, and deny him even attempting on going. They were getting along so well, meshing easily, as two pieces of a puzzle fitting perfectly together. Satisfied that the room was properly tended to, dishes were gathered just before he left the room. Kieran found where the kitchen, and set the plate and cup down on the counter.

He made his way to the shop, where he paused with genuine surprise. There was Alairia and Dae, working diligently on their tasks. However, there was also something he could only assume was a sphinx chatting with Teu. Before leaving with the woman, Kieran gently tugged Alairia’s hair. ”Thank you, Alairia. You are the best nurse I ever had.”

---

She sat behind him upon the horse. In all honesty, he felt a tad underdressed compared to her. Teu was armored, and armed with several weapons. It reminded him how unprepared he was this time around, and how he was easily overpowered by those men. ”You know, Teu, I usually travel with caravans and groups from town to town. Guess I grew complacent.” Kieran spotted the ashen remains of his previous campsite. ”We’ll camp here for the night.”

He helped her dismount, but could not bring himself to move his hands off her hips. Kieran was standing merely inches from her once more, staring into those beautiful green eyes. ”Do you know how incredibly alluring you are in that armor?”

Teu was starting to understand the different gazes that Kieran was giving her. And even though she understood them, it did not mean she could control her reactions any better. There was an extremely attractive man that sat upon her bed without a shirt upon his torso. Breath caught in her chest as the heat in her belly rose with just his flirtatious gaze. She knew there needed to be a distance between them if Teu was to maintain a cool head. Her lower lip was going to bleed if she bit it any more than she already had been. His voice was sultry as she heard him respond while she left the room. ‘Cool head…cool head. You just met the man,’ she reminded herself inwardly.

While waiting in the shop for Kieran to join her, she watched her children proudly. They made no fuss about going with even though it was obvious that they wished dearly to join. Teu let her hand linger upon Dae’s head longer as she reassured him silently. He was going faster than those of normal lineage. Alairia seemed to be as well. Soon there would be no holding them back from such excursions since they would be strong enough to hold their own. For the moment, Teu wanted to keep them in their childhoods as long as she possibly could. They had seen enough death already.

Dae glanced up from his project of bagging up some of the newer herbs and managed a smile for his mother. He desperately wanted to join but did not want to cause her more heartache. Instead he would do as instructed and run the store with Syn. Teu turned to Syn and finished giving rather specific instructions on the pricing of a few specific items. Kieran entered the room and before the pair left he spoke to Alairia. The mother smiled warmly as the little blonde girl grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Be safe please.”


On the road, she held on to Kieran’s waist as she rode behind him. Teu allowed herself occasionally to rest her cheek against his back to feel his warmth and hear the beat of his heart. It was a comforting sound to indicate his health was strong. As night began to darken the sky it was good call to make camp for the night. She peaked out from behind Kieran to see the burned remains of the wagons and unfortunately so people. Her brows furrowed at the needless deaths.

Sliding off of the horse’s back with the help of her new companion, she felt as his hands remain around her hips even as she stood on the ground. Breath quickened slightly as the distance between them was recognized. Even though her hear rate had increased there was no movement to pull away from his grasp. “I didn’t know that. Thank you for letting me know.” Teu did something completely out of character for her: she closed the gap and pressed up against him. Her gaze was just as intense as his. “The shirt fits you well,” she commented. Her hands pressed against his chest. Moments passed, and with a sudden laugh she turned away to pull some rations out for them to eat.

How desperately she wanted to give in to her inner urges with Kieran, but if she did then they could possibly be taken by surprise from bandits that had attacked him before. Teu pulled at the belt around her waist that held her sheathed sword. “Take this,” she said while handing it over. The sais on her back would be sufficient enough for her to fight. Once that was taken, the healer kneeled on the ground to place her hand upon the earth. Shadows weaved out of her fingers in all directions to rest in the earth in a way of a protective trap. “We will have warning if anything comes close to us tonight.” She stood up and walked over to Kieran. “How far is the village from here?” Her conversation needed to be kept generic if she were to keep herself from giving in to deeper desires.

As the smoldering gaze met her own intensity, tensions obviously rising, she pressed forward. It was decided at that moment that he would let her make the first move this time around. Was she bold enough? ”Almost perfectly, thank you.” Each moment stretched between them, feeling like an eternity in baited breath. She broke it with a laugh as she turned away. Disappointment washed through him as reason tried to point out the lack of logic in submitting to inner urges. There was a camp to set up, a fire to start, food to consume, and surprise attacks to be weary of. Getting caught with his pants down, literally, was not a good idea in any sense.

Teu handed him her falchion, which Kieran was hesitant for a moment before accepting. He unsheathed it, feeling it experimentally in his hand before swiping the air in a safe direction. The swoosh of the slice was satisfying. ”This is a serviceable weapon. Thank you. I shall return it.” With the weapon safely sheathed once more, the noble watched Teu call on some magic, shadows stretching from her fingers. It was curious, and somewhat foreign to him. ”From morning to just before dusk on foot.”

Sorting through the provisions, he pulled out two apples. ”Eat this,” the first apple was pressed in her hand. ”Be a dear and hold this for me. I’ll light us a fire.” The second apple was placed in her other hand with a sly smile. Within a few minutes, he had the wood gathered, neatly stacked, and lit by the tinderbox that was in his pocket. Many had chosen this spot due to the logs and small boulders in a circular fashion around a lined fire pit. A group of people had taken the liberty of creating a permanent campsite, possibly for a caravan that was parked here for a short while. Stalking up to Teu, he took his apple while stealing a kiss at the same time.

After taking a seat on one of the logs, Kieran looked thoughtfully at Teu. ”So, what exactly is the extent of your abilities. That thing with the shadows, what does it do exactly?” While his family knew of the family resistance, none of his siblings have ever attempted magic. At least, not to Kieran’s knowledge. With the way her frost was reacting to her emotions, there was something deeper than just what he felt upon his skin. It was as if a part of him had reached out to touch her magic. ”Hey Teu? How does one learn if they have magical abilities, such as your own?”

Control was being tested on both sides. Teu knew that she had to be the one to pull away if they were to remain in their right minds. Both had a deep seated desire brewing within for the other. There was no denying it, and there was no need to deny the want and that growing need. Unfortunately, their current surroundings and circumstances were not the proper time nor place. She would allow herself one day to delve deep into his blue eyes. Even as she pulled away though, her fingers grazed his chest to linger of his arm before moving completely away from him. It wasn’t much, but that touch of his muscles would allow her to get through the next several minutes at the very least.

The falchion was accepted though not instantly. She smiled up at him when he finally took it, and move away to get things ready for the camp as he became acquainted with the blade. The weapon was not anything special. It would be enough to on the enemies necessary. She smiled over her shoulder as she watched him brandish it. The magic that she put out would do well for them even if it was a rather simple spell that was put in place. “That isn’t too far for us upon horseback. I am glad it’s not too far. We can help get the village in order and then get back to the shop.” Teu wasn’t sure if he would return with her or be in need to go back to his home to update his Lord of the progress. She was careful to keep any look of doubt hidden with her back to him.

Upon finishing the spell work she turned to be handed an apple. Teu hand a second apple placed in her other hand, and she definitely noticed the sly smile upon Kieran’s face. She shook her head at him with one lifted brow. “You are trouble,” she commented as he went about preparing the rest of their camp for the night. A laugh followed the statement. From what she saw there was quite a bit of experience in his setting up camp. Kieran knew exactly what needed to be done. When he finished there was still a sly look upon the man’s face as he made his way over to her to retrieve the apple. Teu narrowed her eyes at him, not trusting what he was about to do. He took his apple back but did not miss the opportunity to steal a quick kiss. “Oh, you!” she mock slapped at him.

Still laughing, she moved over to a nearby log to sit and eat her apple for the evening meal. It was simple and satisfying. “My abilities? Well…they are sort of mixed. Most of them are of the healing capacity. The rest I have for offensive use.” Green eyes followed the treks that had been sent out into the shadows. “I have a natural affinity for the elements of ice and shadow. Any other spells I have acquired through study.” Teu held out her hand and formed an ice rose in her hand to display a simple token of her capabilities. “I was born with the ability of ice, but shadow came to me after serving my Lord Raktor.”

She finished the apple and walked over to give the remaining core to their horse that was grazing nearby. “Umm…my abilities? I would say mostly through study. My heritage gives each of us a specific affinity of an element. I didn’t know this before-hand since I was raised by scholars in a library. My father didn’t know I existed until later in life.” Teu pet the horse’s neck lovingly for a few moments before joining Kieran on his log where he sat. “When my powers began to manifest, the scholars helped me study to become a master of the frost instead of be afraid of it.” She leaned to the side to rest her head upon his shoulder while staring into the fire. “It was the darkness that frightened me. I had never had the abilities before. But once I was chosen by the Lord Raktor, God of Darkness, it began to manifest. From there, I had to learn once more how to harness a new power.” She glanced up while still resting her cheek upon his shoulder. “The spell I cast was to create a protective perimeter. No one will be able to sneak up on us, as well as the spell will defend us.” Teu smiled brightly up at Kieran hoping that she answer his questions. “Do you not have the ability of magic?”

A chuckle escaped the noble at her words. ”Ironically, that's what Mother's friends always said about me. Though, I don't think they were joking about trying to get her to betroth me to their daughters. Mother wouldn't have it.” Primarily because she knew her son too well. Kieran wouldn't have it. Why tie himself down with fake pleasantries when there was enough work with their people to keep himself busy? When he stole the kiss, the playful slap unleashed a rich, full laugh. Munching on the apple, he listened to her explain about her natural affinities, and how she got them. The rose was gorgeous, shimmering as a diamond in the flickering fire.

The name was unfamiliar, and he frowned slightly, trying to remember the studies of most royal and other noble families. Teu went on to talk about her studies and scholars helping her adjust to the frost. As her head came to rest on his shoulder, his arm went around to hold her close, sharing the warm against the chilling air. When the shadows came, they were frightening. ”Wait, Lord Raktor is the God of Darkness? I think you might be confused. Lord Xunatar is the God of Darkness and Chaos.” But that bright smile was infectious, and Kieran smiled down at her as he reached out to hold her hand. Her question, however, caused the smile to fade as he turned his gaze to the fire, the frown returning to his brow.

”I don't know. We never tried. Nothing stood out against the normality to suggest it, either.” For a long while, he sat in silence, staring into the fire. Unless they were wrong? Men have consistently pointed out his strength, and he had chalked it up to youth. Yet, males his age struggled to keep up. Even now, with Teu sitting next to him, her cheek in his shoulder, there was an odd stirring underlying everything. As a great snake shifting in his dark cavern. Kieran could only imagine his mother standing over him, with her favorite saying nagging at him, even in jest to get a smile. ”Don't be such a broody dragon,” he whispered. Did his mother know something and didn't share it? ”Every time we linger, even as innocently as this, something reacts. Like it's in waiting. It's not an emotion, but it doesn't feel physical either. Whatever it is…” He paused. Did it feel warm? Cold? It was not something he could not truly pin down.

She had not thought about the possibility for Kieran being married off for the advantage of connections. The thought made her nervous even though she knew that she had no right to object to it. They had only just met and there was a land of nobility to think of. Hearing that her mother wouldn’t have the concept of marrying him off come to light, but she was still nervous. Teu hid it the best that she could by keeping a smile on her lips. It was his full laugh that helped relax her nerves. He was full of life and a sense of humor that matched her own. She shook her head while rolling her eyes in response.

The rose was rolled over between her fingers several times before tossing it into the fire. A hiss spread out as steam rose in the air. Her words continued to flow forth without a thought of the timeline or where she had originally grown up. Revaliir had been a transfer that few knew about the refugees that had come to survive. As her head rest upon his shoulder, she could feel his arm pull her closer. Teu could not help herself but snuggle her face into him and then hug him from the side. Looking up at Kieran she could see the genuine confusion. “Oh…” It took her a moment to decide what and how to explain her past. “It may be hard to understand, but I am not from Revaliir.” She tucked in closer to him as if hoping that the conversation would not make him question who she was. “I am from a world called DaeLuin. Our land was falling into the Void; our World Tree died. As our world was being devoured by the darkness, my god that had Chosen me used some of the last of his power to move myself and the children to Revaliir. Many were not as fortunate as we were. My family…they were taken by the Void.” Darkness was not something she feared any longer since her patron had been so kind. “I am grateful for his generosity in the last of his moments.”

Teu pushed aside the sadness of her losses and smiled up at Kieran as she did not want to think of it any longer. When his smile faded and gaze appeared to turn blank while staring into the fire, Teu went quiet to not interrupt him. Lightly she placed her hand upon his leg in an effort to show him support. Her brows furrowed together as she heard him whisper. “Broody dragon?” she repeated softly. He spoke as if there was something else within him. Teu felt that way with her diowolf blood even though she had come to terms with her wolf. “Kieran…it is a personal thing to ask, but what is your lineage?” Teu pulled back slightly to look at him fully, not wanting either of them to avoid the question. He did not know her’s either, but she did not want to hold anything back from the man she was falling for deeper and deeper with.