Illumin0sity

Journey to the East

Aimee showed a kind smile to Elann after she remarked on the bed being comfortable. “That’s all we could hope for,” she said in reply, polite and in passing. She moved over to the hearth, flipping the bacon over with a fork. Ryon turned to face Elann and the kitchen, leaning against the countertop, folding his arms and crossing his legs at the ankles. Things were near complete, all that needed to be done were the eggs and last of the bacon, so he was relaxing. The young wolf met Elann’s gaze and heard her words as she asked about Noah’s whereabouts.

Ryon nodded behind Elann out into the archway but was ultimately nodding through the main hall and into the entrance hall, regarding the front door of the house. “He’s on the porch with Jocelyn,” he told her. “Both of them slept through the breakfast that momma cooked but woke up a little while before you.”

His eyes focused on Elann once again. “He didn’t wake up early in Syliras?” he questioned. “You said you were surprised.”

“That’s funny,” Aimee added from the hearth. “He would wake up before most of us, even after he’d spend most the night outside. He must’ve gotten lazy when he moved away.”

Ryon pushed off from the counter and moved towards the window facing the front of the house. He moved aside the curtain with the back of his hand and peered through the pane, noting the exterior of the house. “They’re in the yard now,” he commented.

“I’m not surprised,” Aimee said, “Jocelyn and him were really close before he left. You’d think he was her baby and not momma’s.” A small laugh came from her as she remembered the past, though it subsided and she retook her calm, focusing on the smells of the bacon.

Journey to the East

“The concept’s the same,” he told her in relation to surviving in the desert as opposed to the forests between Syliras and Zeltiva. “I miss it sometimes, to be honest.” It had been a long while since Viktor graced the wilds with his prolonged presence. Though Elann knew little about the domain Noah once held over the Bronze Woods, she’d feel perhaps dwarfed by what Viktor once held in his grasp only a decade ago.

He nodded at Elann’s acceptance of where they’d be going later that day, it all sounded fine. He found her grin bizarre though, and how she nonchalantly put out that she didn’t eat at the only other restaurant she had been in. He left it alone, partly stopped in conversation as the pause between them turned into Elann giving her announcement of leave. Again, he nodded and reached over for his book on the end table, crossing one leg over the other’s knee and reclining in the seat. He opened the book as Elann went off into the kitchen.

As she passed through the archway Elann was greeted with the full aroma of what was cooking. The steak had been pulled out of the pan, sat aside to rest and wait for the remaining of the bacon to be cooked through. Already there was a fair pile on the counter beside the pieces of steak. A cluster of eggs sat in a bowl ready to be cracked open and scrambled up as well. A fresh loaf of bread sat on a rack, on a plate was a few left over slices from last night’s bread. Taking up the last bit on the counter was a large bowl of that morning’s porridge, rewarmed and flavored for this second breakfast’s consumption.

Aimee and Ryon both looked up from what they were doing at the counters in order to see Elann walk in. Ryon greeted her with a small smile, acknowledging her presence, and Aimee waved.

“Good morning, Elann,” Aimee chimed. “How are you feeling? Alright, I hope, given being able to finally sleep on a bed after the trip.”

Journey to the East

Viktor watched as Elann sat down at the edge of the loveseat. The seating area around the fireplace was small, only housing two armchairs and a loveseat, but it was where their family once gathered on a nightly basis in order to live out their lives with one another. Where Elann sat was often where Viktor lay in order to read to her husband when Noah was a child, there he would often lie on his father’s chest, snuggled up, listening to the tales of his namesake, of heroes and villains, lords and ladies of a time long past and out of this world.

Upon his provoking, Elann spilled how she felt their trip went, touching on the small beginnings that brought a small smile out of Viktor made in humor. He nodded at the mention of Isabella, maintaining attention as his daughter was mentioned and how she would help out the hunters in finding meat for the caravan. The mention of beautiful countryside nearly made his eyes glaze over in thought, the same face Elann often saw Noah subtly make, how his eyes were on her but looking through her as his head reeled with imagery and details came, and how his lips slightly parted yet puckered at the same time. Another nod came from the dire man as Elann compared the green of the meadows and forests to Yahal’s realm. Viktor didn’t know much about Elann’s god, only that it was worshipped by many of the immigrated Benshira there, now her included.

“I used to live out there,” he told her, “between Syliras and Zeltiva, before I bonded and settled down in Zeltiva with Bella.”

There was a small moment of reminiscence as he recalled his vague youth. His eyes locked again upon Elann on the loveseat, his ears tuning into the kitchen for other clattering and noises, but none came. Instead he focused on Elann with his two senses, attempting to gauge a feel for the Benshiran woman across from him. He leaned back in the chair, resting his hands in his lap.

“I’m glad you’ve arrived safely then. I hope you find Zeltiva to your liking,” he said, trailing off as his attention seemed to shift. Though it was faint enough for him to hear, laughter was coming from outside on the porch, funneling through the door into the main hall from the entrance hall. In her bond, Elann could feel the outburst of joy come from now, spiking as the eagle reveled in whatever he was doing outside in the front.

“Bella should be back before lunch,” Viktor went on. “We’ll be going out for the two of you then, stopping at a few stores before we go to the Maiden’s for lunch.” He paused, looking Elann over. “Maiden is a small inn near the city center, it’s one of our family’s favorite places to go, I hope that’s alright with you. If not, we can always go somewhere else.”

Journey to the East

Viktor showed Elann a small smile as he nodded slightly in agreement with her words. “Yeah,” he said, “a bath is much needed when you’re out for that long.” As he spoke his Zeltivan accent became further apparent to Elann’s ears. There was a distinct difference between Common spoken in Syliras and Common spoken in Zeltiva, there was flare in the way they spoke in Zeltiva, mostly because the Svefra had such an impact on the long term development of the city over the years.

“How was your trip, speaking of,” he asked, shifting to set both feet down on the floor. He brought the book up and folded over the corner, setting it off to the side onto the end table’s surface.

Viktor was attempting to grow accustom to Elann’s presence in his home. All though she may not have known it, her arrival disrupted a balance in the home and her smells and presence were interrupting a familiarity Viktor had come to like in his shelter. He knew it wasn’t her fault, hence his pensive nature so far, it was simply something to get used to though. Isabella had done a lot to make Elann’s transition into Zeltiva, their home, and their family seamless so that nothing seemed to bubble on the surface of still water, of which included familiarizing Viktor with Noah’s partner.

Journey to the East

Perhaps for the first time Elann could sense Noah's silent reply through the bond, a small glimmer of reflected feelings she shared. When the bond quieted Noah would fill it unintentionally with small jovial piquings, telling that wherever he was, he was enjoying himself. If Elann would use the powers granted to their bond, sharing his sight for a moment, she would see he was outside on the porch of the house, sitting beside a woman.

Viktor was watching the steps as Elann descended them, his stark and cold gaze falling on the blue Benshira as she settled at the bottom of the stairs. He took her in, his ear wiggling slightly as he forced the human appendage to adjust to what his true form was used to. He didn’t expect her to walk right up to him, seeing as he didn’t do much in reply to her wave made in greeting. He wasn’t unfriendly though, but it was perhaps apparent where Noah got the disposition of distance from, along with the air of unapproachability that Elann may have recalled upon seeing him for the first time.

The large man set his book down into his lap, one leg crossed over the knee of the other as Elann greeted him vocally. “Good morning,” he greeted in Fratava. There was a slight cheer in his voice though his face was fairly passive, leading one to believe it was the emotion in the language rather than the speaker. His gaze was intent in its looking, peering at her with open eyes as he took in her features in the new day’s light.

“I slept well,” he answered, “thank you.” There was another go-over with his eyes before they settled on her bright ones, momentarily distracted by one of the curls in her hair. He shifted his own strands, tucking one of the long tresses behind his ear, revealing it to show where Noah may have gotten his larger ears from.

“How’d you sleep?” he questioned in returned, though there was more on his tongue that he wanted to let off. His eyes flicked to the loveseat in the little seating area, partly inviting her to sit if she wanted to but not mentioning it. There was a clatter of dishes in the kitchen, the sound of Aimee’s fussing voice coming quietly. If Elann was paying attention she would've seen Viktor’s ear react to the noise, as if attempting to turn towards it.

Journey to the East

Noah’s curiosity was slowly satiated as he understood what they were doing in that position. It was odd sharing control with her, not because he didn’t want to but because he hadn’t before. Possibly unknown to Elann, Noah had a knack for being a submissive partner. It was only in her case recently that he seemed to show some sense of domineering when lying with another person. He was a selfless lover for the most part, seeking to have whomever he lay with satisfied before himself, which explained him being able to withstand the flows of passion with Elann for so long at times, even here when he maintained through the slow starting of their second bout. He needed but a little time to rear up again.

They stayed in the station Elann instructed him into for a time before he turned it onto her, showing her a few new ways to love, ways he had learned from past experiences but wanted to share with her in this new meaning. Eventually they were done again, Elann’s attentive and detailed massage lulling him away to half-sleep until she was done. The rest of the night he slept in full, Elann disappearing back downstairs to bathe after Jocelyn was hid away in her room as well. Come morning, all of the Amuels were up before dawn broke, of those included Noah, who Elann would not find in the bedroom with her. The birds acted as their alarms, the bell towers clanging acting as a second rousing if none were up by then.

The light scents of breakfast could be smelled throughout the house, weighted with the heavy aromas of cooking bacon and steak. Elann could feel the house quietly buzzing, though the Amuels had been awake for hours already, some longer than others, Noah the shortest of all. Should Elann come downstairs, she’d find Viktor sitting in the main hall by the fire in an armchair with a book in his hand. In the bright light of the morning light shading in from the east she could plainly see him and his shirtless frame, a pair of tattered pants covering his lower body. His upper body was coated in a bush of hair in the center of his torso, his arms shaded with dark brown strands as well.

In the kitchen would be Aimee and Ryon, cooking up what was the second and larger breakfast of that morning. Bacon and steak were frying atop the kitchen’s hearth’s grate and eggs were set aside to be fried after the meat was done. A round loaf of bread stood on a cooling rack. The dining table was empty of people though, only done up in preparation for the breakfast that was to be had.

Journey to the East

Noah’s humming and nudging elicited a response from Elann. It was small, but her body shifted and her voice came sultrily. He hummed again in affirmation, simply saying he did want something but not expressing exactly what he wanted. It was fine that she just lied there, he was still recovering himself, pressed rather lowly onto her with his head nestled in the crook of her neck, his lips occasionally puckering to kiss at her skin or nip at her ear.

Her voice came, her throat echoing against him as he was so close. Her request was questionable, making him perk his brow though she couldn’t see. A little hum of perplexity came from him before he submitted. “Okay…” he said, trailing, before he rolled off of her towards the edge of the bed as she requested. Noah pushed aside the blanket a little more and sat up, his feet touching the cooling wooden floor. She sat up beside him and his eyes were upon her, question still etched across his facial features as she rose to stand, her hands relieving an unseen ache from her hips.

Her smile was met with two risen brows. Noah wasn’t entirely sure what she was doing until her hands came to his shoulders, seeking to steady herself as she sat upon him. If this was what she wanted to do in the tub she would’ve found herself at a loss, Noah probably indirectly rejecting her for favor of relaxing and cleansing himself. To him, that’s was what a bath was about and she sought to soil that with her visions and thoughts.

Elann conformed her body to his hot one, the residual heat in his being having begun to die down until it was sparked again by her actions. Still, he was curious and that much was plainly seen as he was taking in this different experience with her.

Journey to the East

Their bond was engulfed for the first time in a long while with their mutual passion and broiling love. Elann had drawn him into her with her anticipation. It was a slow thing at first as both of them became acclimated to feelings and sensations they hadn’t felt in a while with one another. He let her guide him and he was attentive to her silent direction. He didn’t let his mind slip away from the moment, aiming to please her as if apologetic for any harm he may have caused in the past. As soon as their actions began to evoke vocal reactions he had covered her mouth first, whispering for her to remain quiet throughout. With three wolves just outside of the stone walls and the thick door, he was unsure just how attentive they were to the going-ons in the house, in that room. While he knew his family would care little about him lying with his bondmate and wife, he wanted to retain any privacy they may have had in the heated moment.

The hot thing continued with dancing shadows in orange candlelight, fires flickering in reflection to what Noah felt inside himself both emotionally and physically. There was a great deal of control in him throughout their engagement, something that was egged on and maintained by Elann’s thorough enjoyment of him and him of her. It went on until it was done, the succinct expression of their finishing followed by the slow decline that left him near breathless and her apparently lifeless beneath him.

Noah took a breath but remained where he was. At some point he had cast the blankets off of them, wanting to see her fully without obstruction. There was something about her bare body that spoke of trueness to him, how it was unhidden by the lies of clothing and allowed them to be together, skin to skin. He leaned down and placed a soft kisses on her collarbone, seeking to breathe life back into her as his breath furled hotly from him onto her skin. A playful nip of a bite was done onto where the bone poked against her skin. His hand sought for her, entangling their fingers in a palm-touching grasp.

He hummed sweetly, nudging her chin with his head for her to essentially awaken. Regardless of if she did or not, he went for her ear, nipping at the lobe before whispering her name sing-song-like.

Journey to the East

Noah’s advances were accepted, giving him access to her and her of him. Her eyes closed following his words and movements, leading him into the bond to find the love he expressed to her was being expressed in return. The words she spoke to him since they married and lay together for the first time continue to be recounted in his mind. The connection between them made when bonded was nourished heavily by the act of lovemaking, and so he truly believed there was no better way to be one with his bondmate in all ways than to make love with her.

He lowered himself onto her as her eyes closed and peppered her cheeks and jawline with little kisses that trailed down to her neck. With a nudging of her head she summoned him to kiss her in full, of which he obliged to, feeling her hands explore his body in enticing ways that brought on the reaction she sought for. He disregarded that it was his brother’s bed as well, though it wouldn’t have occurred to him morally anyway unless brought up. His brother was gone on a trip that would last months, therefore in Noah’s mind the bed had been repossessed by him and Elann.

Meeting her lips led to an increase in his yearning for her, and so his hand roved, seeking to banish the minor annoyance of clothing she was wearing in that moment. The loop was undone and unraveled, slung to the side before his fingers and palm invaded the once tightly held opening to feel and smooth upon the skin of her abdomen and torso. He recalled the heated moments resembling this one to further fuel his want for her, urging him to open up the robe to reveal her to him.

The gravity of the situation whelmed him and he pulled back, sitting up on his knees in order to fully help her out of the robe she was in. It wasn’t an urgent action but he did indeed want it entirely gone and when it was off he threw it off the bed, resuming the kissing he had paused. As she touched him she could feel how he was essentially scorching as his passion and deep borderline lust for her grew at a steady pace. He wasn’t aggressive in his actions though, each one still treating her gently, they were impactful though and held meaning behind them, and inside his heart thudded like a drum. The same purring sensation she witnessed once before came upon him then riddled with more bass-like reverberations she could plainly feel coming from his core.

Journey to the East

Noah, before setting his eyes caringly on her, didn’t miss her bodily reactions. It was beginning to be cemented in him that his touches often drove Elann to do many things he usually didn’t expect. He called the first time he kissed her truly, how, if she weren’t standing, she would’ve practically melted under the touch of his lips. Needless to say now, he did enjoy her reactions to him and how she instilled a sense of power in him, almost like a puppeteer to their charges, though she was far from a puppet in his eyes.

She affirmed to him that his thoughts on the plans were indeed romantic. He smiled slightly, involuntarily, having gotten the assumption right instead of wrong. There was a shifting change in Noah, a change brought on by the promise of going to Zeltiva and spurred on by their arrival. The change of scenery was refreshing, the drabness of Syliras no longer hanging over him and the constant reminders of grey walls and a love lost in his former bondmate no longer nudging at his mind. The words he had said to her in the past, when he did confess his love to her, were all promises that had yet to be fulfilled. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t devote himself to her in the way he wished, not then, but now in the coming time as they started this chapter in life together in Zeltiva.

Noah’s hand rose from her next over to the back of her ear, the place where her Cheva mark resided and a place where she once said she enjoyed him to touch. He graced over it with the backs of his fingers gently, stopping to rub over her cheek with his thumb. He withdrew his hand from her, placing it on the bed on her other side then slowly pulling himself over her, using his legs to part hers and make room for himself between them. Hovering over her, he leaned down and placed a kiss upon her lips, a simple and fleeting peck.

“I love you,” he whispered over her in Fratava.

Inside his heart, his love and desire mingled with one another. It was still a slow flame, though not as dull as she may have once felt in their past. His words uttered in Fratava were said with intent, communicating what he held in feelings for her in that moment. Common, to him, was a very dull and nasally language. In Fratava he felt he could better express the emotions he felt so softly as Fratava called upon the deepness of his voice mixed with smooth words laced with sensuality. Where before she had seen him use the language just to translate phrases, here she was hearing it used with its real and very provocative intentions, and that alone could bolster the language when it was spoken with its intent and not just in translation.