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[h1][color=bc8dbf]Lord Cuwarr Naxremis[/color][/h1]

Husband of [color=f7941d]Kalani[/color] ([@karamonnom]), his auburn rose, and future husband of Amalia Solair ([@Belle])

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Cuwarr finds solace in Kalani's decision to stay.  He finds himself falling for her as his eyes glazed all over her as she binds and cleanses his wounds.  The warlord accepted the aching of his core as he presses her against the wall before slamming his lips down on hers in an expression of gratitude, and perhaps, attraction.  Cuwarr finds the strength to get back on his feet in search of a new bride, giving Kalani the power to lead him around the Choosing Hall and to choose a bride for him in Cuwarr's stead.
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No words passed between them further as Kalani took it upon herself to clean and bind the nasty wound trailing down Cuwarr's neck.  The incision left a visible scar, one that Cuwarr would never fail to see whenever he looks at himself in the mirror-- a permanent mark from a gemminite he once trusted.  While he felt jumpy, almost too defensively, whenever Kalani's fingers brushed against the soft incline of his neck and the sliced skin, Cuwarr had to remind himself that Kalani stayed, and that was more than enough to trust her to bind his wounds without twitching at every wince of pain that coursed through him whenever the medicine burned the slash.  She could have escaped, took up his offer and bolted out of Shadow Worth, but instead, the gemminite sullied her hands with his blood, patched him up, and looked at him as neither a drakken nor a master.  Her eyes just saw him as a husband.  And that was what mattered.  He watched her with his azure eyes, never averting his gaze as she washed off the blood from his hands.  She took her time in wiping the cloth against his neck to remove the stains, going as far as to also dash the cloth against his armor.  At this action, Cuwarr shed off his breastplate to the floor, exposing the crimson stains scattered around his torso.

Cuwarr gently took her hand with the washcloth, pressing her palm against his chest as their hands swept slowly to clean the mess.  Could she feel the beating of his heart?  Perhaps, perhaps not.  But, Cuwarr never felt something like this since time immemorial.  He kept dragging their hands across the valley of his chest to the ridges of his stomach, relishing the feel of her smooth skin against his.  His spine tingled, shooting pleasurable sensations down to every one of his nerves with every pass of her hand.  This feeling wasn't love, but it was far deeper than just an otter with a rock; she mattered to him on a higher level, and it was terrifying how quickly she had become important to the warlord.  And, while it was unwise for others to pick up on that, there was no harm in expressing what his core ached to say in the confines and secrecy of their room.

So, the warlord spun her around, pushing her backwards until her back pressed against the wall of the bathroom.  His hands left hers as it traveled upwards until he cupped both of her cheeks in his palms.  Cuwarr's eyes fluttered for a brief moment before he slanted his face over hers.  He glanced down at her, cerulean gazing against hazel.  A million thoughts raced through his head, but the one thing that remained proved to be simple:  kiss her.  And, so, he did.  Cuwarr pressed his lips against hers, angling his head just enough to shift the pressure when he deemed necessary.  The desirous way he bit and tugged at her bottom lip spoke volumes of how much happy he was that she stayed.  The connection lasted only for a few moments before the warlord parted from her, his mouth panting for air as he realized that his breathing stopped the moment his lips met hers.  His eyes met hers again as a weak smile formed on his lips.

"I must say that I am overjoyed that you chose to stay, Kalani."  Cuwarr whispered, his forehead on hers.  "And, that, was my first kiss.  The gems always treasured these kinds of firsts; they say you should only do it with someone who matters.  But, at this moment, I do not regret sharing it with you."  The warlord rose to his full height before he bent down to pick up his armor, swinging it over his head shoulders as he wore the plate again.  Cuwarr grinned as he exited the bathroom to cover his eyes with the usual cloth.  He picked up his recurve and the quiver, hesitating for a moment before deciding that he should probably let go of it already.  The warlord couldn't really step outside to look for a new bride with his paranoia at an all-time high.  He began to look at every gem in a hostile light-- well, except for Kalani who he looked upon favorably.  But, he knew his body tightened in a flee or fight manner when he would see a new gemminite.

Which, really, was the reason why he needed Kalani to accompany him.  She would be his reminder that not all gems were dangerous, and that, Sorici was just a rare case.  "Kalani,"  Cuwarr turned to his wife, beckoning for her to hold his hand.  "Let us a find a sister bride for you.  But, please, lead the way.  I... am still not comfortable around your sisters.  I trust your judgement, my dear."  The warlord instructed, letting Kalani lead the way to the new wife she would choose for him.  At this moment, no one knew him better than Kalani, and strangely, that thought made Cuwarr smile.

She was really different, and to imagine an outcome without Kalani in it was nigh on impossible to do.  Though the lotus withered in the dark, the rose continued to bloom-- it stared the shadows right in the eye, but it continued to fight on, thorns and all.  The color auburn symbolized security and protection; thus, Cuwarr knew that he never made a mistake in naming Kalani as his auburn rose.  She made him feel safe, made him see strength where there was none.