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Journey to the East

Giving a little nod, Elann looked down at him and pulled her hair to one side, revealing the golden earing to her husband more prominently. Perhaps it was a trick she had learned to his mind, perhaps it was manipulation, but she knew his desire for shiny things, and there upon her bare neck was her golden mangalasutra and the shimmering golden feather. Her eyes were darkened by the dim light, but still seemed to have some form of radiance far more than other people's eyes would, and her voice was of a soothing nature.

"Alright, but please, let her know soon in whatever way you want. I don't like secrets. Maybe your sister will mention something, but I swear, I won't."

He played at the fabric of her dress, along her sides and back, seemingly exploring her body along with her dress. She naturally was attracted to him with his shirt off, and while she hadn't expressed as much verbally, she had written down some of what it did to her, and particularly now that he had his scars. Her culture was always in focus on the manliness of the men, and the scars and toil he had gone through and come out with seemed to make him more of a man in her eyes. It was to a benefit in her view.

Elann viewed as his hands came to her front in their exploration and she smirked at his titling her as small. She knew he didn't mean it in a negative light, but she had heard such titling as negative before in her life, and thus seemed to be hiding behind a wall in part.

"Small?" she whispered back in Fravata. "Do you like that I'm small?" If he answered, she would follow up by asking him why he liked her small. If he didn't seem to be showing any enjoyment in her thin form, she wouldn't bother to ask him, especially if he was merely making an observance, but if she felt he was genuinely enjoying her, she would ask.

Journey to the East

Busying with herself, Elann wasn't entirely focused on what Noah was doing, assuming he was doing the same thing he had been doing. It wasn't until he came over near her for a time did she notice him. A smile came upon her face and there was significant love in their bond at his closeness. She continued her plucking as he picked at her skirt, her eyes occasionally darting down to see what he was doing.

Eventually, her occupation in grooming herself would lead him away from her to sit on the bed where he stripped down out of his shirt. Her eyes continually darted to him to see what he was doing, and on his side she could see the telltale signs of his wounds, something his mother would most certainly not want to see, but it was likely unavoidable in their family for him to remain clothed at all times around them.

"Do you want me to tell your mother and father that we were attacked on the road? They are going to see your wounds eventually you know?"

Having put the items away in the chest, she now came over to him and set herself invasively upon his lap, straddling across both sides of him with her arms held about his neck. Her hands traced over the scars on his back as she looked to him curiously for his answer.

Journey to the East

It was hard to not be attracted to the charisma of Noah's brother. It was like the way she imagined Noah when he had stopped being like the animal and more like the human, however he was far from that still. It wasn't that she was attracted to Ryon, but rather the image of him, the idea that one day perhaps her husband would be more like him.

In their room with her heading to the window, she wriggled a finger through the curtain to view outside, and out there lay the other house, the moonlight, the men preparing their wagon to leave, and the dim light of the lantern that greeted them. Isabella spoke up, which caused Elann to abandon her viewing and turn to face her more.

"Okay," she said with a smile and part of her wanted to go help in the kitchen, to not let her mother-in-law lift a finger, but she knew they were having dinner for her and Noah.

Noah left her then to continue his investigation of the room as Elann closed the door more to latch it shut. She wanted the privacy. Not sure of the family dynamic and Noah's wishes for her to shut up about things she didn't know about, Elann kept to herself about him going over his brother's things.

Moving to he chest, she opened it to snag her brush and went to find the box containing her earrings. The box was in the bottom so she lowered to her knees and reached in. Once she found them, there was a moment of appreciating them and viewing them as she treasured them greatly; then came some short brushing to undo what the wind had done, and then they went to her ears. Elann thought about who she was having dinner with and elected to remain without makeup for the sake of scents and such things, but should the company have been different, she would have considered putting some on.

Shortly after, she looped her string from the personal care items and by looking into the mirror began to shape her eyebrows as she had done usually once a week. No hair grew upon her body elsewhere unlike some women who had to shave and pluck for longer periods of time. The turmeric baths when she was a pre-teen ensured that her body had no hair, which was why she was so smooth and soft to touch, and also why she was often cold. Looking more like herself like she would look most days in the city, rather than someone who just got off a wagon, Elann felt better and put everything away before standing to see what her husband was doing.

Journey to the East

Elann could tell Ryon was joking and though she wanted to tell him why, she just nodded with a little chuckle. Elann was enjoying Ryon so far. It seemed two of Noah's siblings were much more charismatic than him thus far, though she still had to meet the other two. His elder sister Elann figured would be a lot like him.

A laugh came from Elann as he joked further about eating, though she was almost certain he was serious on his enjoyment of the fact she was here.

"Too bad we didn't linger in town a little bit- took in some sights."

A sly grin showed that while Elann was cute and innocent, she could play along to a point.

"Well, I'm looking forward to eating. We'll see you at the table."

Following along with Noah, she rested her hand on her side over his and used him for support up the stairs. While Elann had gotten used to the stairs at their previous home, these were slightly different and she wasn't a professional stair climber. As silly as that was, her face pointed to each step, making sure she didn't trip until she got the rhythm she needed and felt comfortable. He slid his hand into hers as they climbed and she clasped ahold, not letting go.

"Oh, lets go see it later," she mentioned toward his room and then followed until they entered into their current bedroom. Elann then let go of her husband and began to explore it a little bit. It was nice, certainly nice enough for her, and upon coming up to Isabella who was smoothing out the bedspreads, she lightly poked her in the ribs to get a playful reaction out of her as she innocently continued looking about the room and toward the window (if there was one).

Journey to the East

Elann's feet lightly graced over the stone; its feel reminding her of Syliras in a way, but the house reminded her of her dream. It wasn't the same, but somewhat similar construction, at least in her mind. The Benshiras eyes were alight as a muffled voice hollared back through the thick door-- this was it.

Steeling herself with a battery of strength and bravery, Elann could have been charging into battle on a steed with what she seemed to muster inside of herself. This was her new family, and none of them, even Noah would understand fully what that meant to her. As the door swung open, a man who had been briefly in her dreams stood before her. There was Ryon, who in her brief, not repeated and yet journaled dream, was the brother of Noah. In her dream he stood next to a windblown oak tree, and the image was ripe with symbolism, however Elann let the future play out as it was and didn't mention it except in her recent journaling.

In Elann's eyes he seemed to have features close to Noah, but much more manly, and until shaved, Noah had almost begun to look like Ryon, yet with curlier hair. Catching his eye, she gave him a small confident smile and headed in past him, doing as indicated and taking off her shoes.

It was then Isabella came in and the smile widened on Elann's face. With another brief look to Ryon as if to tell him she would greet him shortly, she hugged Isabella, though it was not a perfect hug. Elann was still fairly awkward when it came to hugs. She had come to realize it was just something she would have to get used to in life in the North. It felt good to be barefoot again. While Elann mostly wore shoes, it was only in coming to Syliras she had done so.

In the desert, Elann was either always barefoot, or would wear open sandals. Shoes didn't have purpose in her home and would only collect sand. To her, the cool floor was far too cold, but it still was enjoyable over wearing closed and confined shoes that kept her feet warm. Elann wanted to head over to the rug and the fire however- call it instinct.

"Thank you," she voiced in response with a little chuckle. Elann noticed her eyeing her hair and reached up to tug at it. By now all the scent had long since been blown from it, but already at her roots there were the faint hintings of a lighter brown coming forth.

"Nice to meet you." Elann uttered after he had greeted her in his strange fashion. At his mentioning of her being a celebrity, she grinned again at his welcome. "What has she been saying about me?" Elann toyed toward him with an glance to Isabella as Elann moved back to her husband's side. Already the cold was seeping into her bones and she wanted his warmth, if not the warmth of the rug and fire as well.

Journey to the East

Elann was doubtful she would be left alone that night. It was likely they would all remain up talking late into the night. She too was prepared for a long night and a large feast. While Elann rarely ever ate, it didn't mean she couldn't at certain times pack more in. Noah had seen her eat more upon pressuring her and it was when she was already full from the previous days. In anticipation for arriving, she had not eaten at all but for a few raisins to help her appetite along. She planned to eat like a Zeltivan that night, though doubted she would last very long keeping up with the others.

"Oh, he works so late..." she said in almost a sad way as it was strange for a man to work into the evening unless he was in the occupation to do so. Perhaps he had taken the day off? She wondered.

Aimee came then and Elann viewed the papers, wanting to know the immigrant information for herself, so as they rode to the house, she familiarized herself with them in short before looking back out to the city passing them by. Her eyes wandered to the boardwalk and the people walking there. Here and there along the shoreline were various groups of friends on the beach doing who knew what among themselves around large fires. The fires there were larger than she had ever seen and looked highly dangerous to her given that they towered even higher than the people in some cases. She wondered after what it was, if it was some ritual to the gods, some people hanging out, or just wanting to combat the cold of night with a massive flame.

As they tore away and turned into the city, she wondered just how far they would head, but as Aimee told them to stop, she had her answer. The large home they were heading to seemed to be awake as a light on the outside was lit for them. Elann busied herself, attempting to somewhat help with the trunks, but the labors inserted themselves to take the load from her and left her being idle once more. With nothing to do and Aimee heading towards the door, she would follow with Noah, keeping an eye behind to their things as the men followed them in tow.

Anticipation and nervousness filled her bond, not because she was afraid, but because she was shy and not entirely sure how to act around the family of Noah. Were they harsh like him? Were they kind like his mother? Soon she would know. If nothing else, she knew they would care for her simply because Noah did.

Journey to the East

Elann had come to assume the worst of her husband in the instance of caring for others. Only ever did he seem to repeatedly show his disdain for the caring of others misfortunes. There was not one instance in her mind of a time he took the care for others as his own. She had seen his will to deliver money to the doctor on the trip, however she believed it was out of pride for himself and a will to see the debt repaid by his hand rather than out of care or love. She had come to terms with it, letting him continue in his way without trying to change or sculpt him as he willed, however in their paths he diverged from her in that way.

Holding deeply in the cares of others, Elann could hardly think of herself, though she knew every time she pulled the lever and free flowing water came, she would be thankful for it. She had the perspective of a live without it and it would never shrink into obscurity in her heart.

Her husband properly distracted her, calling her attention into the distant green flame of spring. Her eyes trailed that way as she took it in. It seemed familiar to her, having seen the beacon in Syliras before, and it seemed that all such beacons shared a similar basic structure, but it seemed to also sit more prominently where it was in Zeltiva. Elann nodded to him, showing she saw it before her eyes turned skyward and then down toward the wagons.

People they knew, people she had invested in would now either move on to other locations or be absorbed into the city, but she would remember them. Hoping that one day she may run into them, she would keep an eye out for their existence in the much larger city as the days passed on. She was comforted from the loss of her new friends and the distant compassions to those who were misfortunate by her husband's touch. Part of her wished they were alone in that moment, but the street was live with people and they had to keep an eye to their belongings.

There was no doubt thieves were about, but the guards still held a present and watchful eye over the wagons, bolstered by the bandit attack that had cursed them on the trip. They held no mercy for those who would cause more harm to the people under their care, and Elann felt safe even in their presence, but still occasionally would look about them to make sure.

Noah's voice came and drove out her thoughts from her and caused her to smile in response. A nod was given as she knew he knew it was, but answered him anyways. He had not seen it on her dress as such, and it was reserved mainly to wear for his family as a first appearance. It was elegant and form fitting, seemingly improving her beauty in ways fit for the people of Zeltiva as was described to her along the way.

It was meant to bring honor to not only herself, but to Noah as well, to show his father he had chosen a beautiful bride, even if such things mattered to him or not. He had never asked her to interpret her Shiber diaries and thus he didn't know her lineage, her right as an heiress to her father's tribe, yet the clean beauty of the dress and overlaid cloth certainly made her seem like the "princess" she was. Only Aimee had bothered to find out what was in her journals on the trip and Noah in small part to hear her most recent journal entries, but there would be a great many more to come soon, that was certain.

"Thank you. I worked hard on it. I'm glad I got it done before today. Do you think we will see your mother and father? Will they be in?"

Journey to the East

Noah pulled her to his lap, embracing her lovingly around the waist and little flutterings of love and all good things filled their bond as she was comforted all the more by his warmth, his actions, and his words.

Aimee may have seemed the more hardy of the two, but it didn't mean Elann thought that way. Her husband had been through a great ordeal, and he was lucky to be alive in a few instances. It was no small feat that he was there as her "sitting stool" and current "belt" wrapped about her body. As a result, she lovingly rubbed his arms on their front until his arm hair bothered her soft skin.

She shushed his whining with gentle cooings and guided him to not feel impatient.

"We will soon enough. For now, just enjoy being here with me."

Elann looked down the street toward the fountain. She wanted to go look at it, but in the growing darkness, it was not able to be as appreciated as it should have been. Still, just the thought of water so freely flowing that one could have a decoration just spitting it forth made her feel bad.

"...These people are so fortunate..." she whispered as she looked to it. Water was the giver of life in the desert and was treasured above all the silver and gold. In her eyes it was literally a fountain spewing molten gold into its basin.

Journey to the East

It was a quiet last few days on the journey, though as Elann began to feel significantly better after the first day of pain, she still felt bad for her husband. It was by her desire to comfort him in any way possible that she made sure their bed was as comfortable as could be, that he always had water, and that she made sure to give him emotions that only brought comfort and love to him.

While she could have had her eyes set on him in constant worry, she knew he wouldn't like that, and so instead, she kept her eyes out the back, observing her new home in its entirety. They went about entering the passageway and she didn't stop examining the new terrain. Elann had never been in or on a mountain before. She had only ever seen them in the distance.

Majestic as they were to behold, the soil had to be felt, every rock for a while had to be picked up by her, and the walls of stone had to have her hands run across them as they went. She still would stay close to her husband whenever he was awake, but when he wasn't, she was exploring curiously.

They eventually made it through the passageway and not a word had yet been spoken to her husband, only purely waiting for him to emerge from his grumpy state. They met the road once more on flat terrain, but before it did, descending, Elann caught her first sight of the city. Literally hanging out of the wagon, Elann did not tear her eyes from it until they passed down into the forest that surrounded the city.

There she expressed her excitement quietly to Aimee, though she still was too busy taking in the new scents and sights of even the woods around Zeltiva. Looking behind, she could see the watchtowers high up above still waving their impressive flags, the flags of her new home. It was then she began to feel the happiness in her own husband come through once more and she brushed his cheek lovingly before looking about themselves.

It was drawing into evening when they began to pull into the city, and she was thankful she saw it in the light beforehand or else she would have been sorrily disappointed. Elann didn't feel the oppressive stress of the Syliras city she had experienced when arriving there, nor the smell.

There was a strong scent of the sea and fresh wind from the ocean with a hint of pine and diciduous trees from the forest around them. It was needless to say, she liked the city already.

As they pulled up to a stop, fear came over Elann as she wasn't just sure what to do. Thankfully Aimee took charge and Elann, wearing her short white dress moved off to the side, giving a nod to her sister.

Looking to Noah for confirmation, she beamed him a grin.

"I like it..." she said whimsically. "More than I've ever liked a place...and I haven't even seen anything of it!"

She remained standing in front of her husband as he sat on the chest. She too was looking about constantly, but a hand gently coursed through Noah's hair to have that constant connection to him; also to reduce her fear and nervousness.

Journey to the East

When Noah sat up, it caught her attention, but only so much so as to look over at him and then back down to the wood grain before her. Feeling the pain more significantly now than previously, she shifted so her body would shake less, rather than rely on him to soften the wiggling.

She could feel the pain in her from him and could sense the growing tension. If she felt willing, she would get up and mother him, but knowing his attitude according to his sister, she would just rather lay there than bother.

Elann figured that the best thing for both of them would be for her to go to sleep and so she would remain that way, attempting to pass into the realm of dreams until they stopped. Given the way they were going, they would continue like this until Zeltiva, Elann getting better much quicker than him.