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Journey to the East

It was hard for Elann to not want to change Noah. He was much like a wild animal, and while he was innocent in his mind, she was in a relationship with him. Somehow the coining of the room as being romantic, her inquiry into his thoughts, the nakedness of her form before him had still all but missed the mark. He expressed how his thoughts were on something else, a past memory. Despite her slight disappointment, it wasn't entirely sensed through the bond as she was mainly focused on cleaning herself from the moment he said "flying", though when he asked her why she asked, the feeling was a tiny bit more prevalent.

"Well...I had hoped, other than just asking me if you wanted me to take a bath with you, that you were trying to maybe be a little romantic..."

She had come to a point though where she just assumed that unless instigated by a will to please her for what she wanted or some random elements of attraction other than physical, that he would almost never seek to chase her in a romantic way. There were small times in the past he had done romantic things, but they were mostly when she pushed him to be more human. Despite all that, Elann still held out hope at times like these for his attentions to finally settle on her.

"If you were ever wondering how to do that, this would have been a good moment for it."

It was not said coldly and she did not have disdain for him; it was a lesson for him, though she wondered if he needed it. She assumed he had the creativity to be romantic, he just didn't have the inspiration to do so. While he may have felt romantic at points when her other qualities piqued his interest, she wanted him to be inspired with her physical qualities and in the realm of normal human behavior between a husband and wife. Settling back after replacing the ringed out rag, she finally relaxed and let her hair soak in the tub.

Journey to the East

Noah settled in the tub with her after stripping down and kindly placing his pants folded onto the stack of their things. She understood his attitude when it came to dirty clothes, but she often did laundry for them, or had done so since being married and while he was injured previously. It was one thing to have clothes be somewhat dirty via their own wear and tear, it was another because someone threw it on the ground. While the floor looked somewhat clean, who really knew in the dimmed light?

The settling into the water was nice. It was hot and took some swirling of her leg to get it even in temperature, but eventually was manageable. Once Noah had settled into the water with her, she didn't take but a moment to completely lean backwards and begin the soak of her hair. The light brown, now colored darker, almost looked pitch black as the wetness and dim light of the room prevailed. While it was black, Elann and her light, creamy, sunkissed skin seemed to stand out in a way he had never seen. The flickers of light on her eyes from the candles danced upon her in ways never before done. It was the first bath she had ever taken in the evening since meeting with him, and thus the first time he had ever seen her both wet and in the light of the candles. Such a small difference would seem inconsequential to most people, but to Noah, that difference could mean more.

As it was, Elann was focused first on getting clean, using the dry rags hung nearby to clean herself in the soapy water. While it felt good, she had yet to relax. Her eyes trailed to Noah, who just sat there in his soothed form and she brought a cleaned foot to drape over his crossed legs. It was a temporary move as her foot slipped away again, almost as if calling him to ask what he was doing. Elann normally wasn't one to touch others with her feet or enjoy her feet being touched. To her, they were unclean, but given the bath, it was a mute point.

"What are you thinking about?"

Elann went about gently soaking her face by placing water in her hands and rising them to her cheeks as she awaited his attention.

Journey to the East

Elann was clueless as to what her husband was asking his sister about as they left, but was patient. That sense of curiosity as the adventure of exploration continued inside of her was apparent in the bond. Her eyes seemed more intense and searching than his normally were, taking in every detail.

Giving him a nod, she smiled warmly in love as he kissed her temple and slowly she moved to the toilet door. Her hand pushed it open and she evaluated the room itself before re-closing the door.

From there, she moved to the bath and closed the doors behind her and began to take off the dress. The floor was cooled by the wetness of Aimee's previous bath, so Elann found the warmest spot to stand as her bare feet wandered. With her outer dress off and nicely folded, she unhooked her actual dress and let it hang loosely off her shoulders, however keeping it on for warmth until her husband arrived.

The tub to her was like the one in Syliras, so that wasn't foreign to her, nor were the spiced scents, to which she picked one out that was neutral to the both of them and poured it into the tub as well as soap so they would actually get clean. It didn't take Noah long to return and by the time the doors were heard, she had put back the soap and oils. She had yet to explore the basin, but as he entered and hung up the towels, she began to look about them more for this spout.

"Oh, it looks new and nice," she responded as her hands traced over the interior's smooth side.

Noah took off his shirt and kicked it to the side, which had received a smug look of minor annoyance from Elann, more to say that that was lazy.

"No, I like the light in here. It seems more romantic." A term he very rarely understood. She didn't bother explaining it to him and instead with her unhooked and now open backed dress, moved over off the warmth of where she had come to rest to pick up his shirt and fold it nicely. As she did, she watched him pour from the basin into the tub.

"Oh, that's how it works."

After finishing piling his shirt, she would raise her dress off her body. The candlelight would cause shimmers to course over her iridescent marking on her back as she turned to gently set her own folded clothes with his for later washing. She needed to bleach her clothes, but didn't have a place to do it. Perhaps Noah's family would let her?

Chilled, Elann moved back to him for warmth, making sure the water wasn't going to boil her alive, and then slowly stepped into the water to submerge herself.

Journey to the East

Ryon answered her and pointed out that they mostly did it as a family. She gave him a soft smile as she chewed her small remaining piece of fish left to her after her husband stole most of her food.

"I see. I'm sure that's a celebrated event then."

Elann wouldn't want to sully the hunting of their family by requesting to go. It was likely they worked as a unit and would not like to be hindered by her. Perhaps a professional hunter could take some time to show her some things. Already she moved with more silence than the first time she went hunting, and that was without lessons, merely reacting to the animals and things she had seen when she made noise. In time, she could very well become a good huntress.

Clearing off her plate, she managed to finish what little was on it by the time Aimee came about to collect them, only having a few fish bones left off to the side that had snuck through deboning them, and happily sat back. Noah seemed to finish his drink and pull from the table. Her eyes curiously followed him since he didn't state anything before getting up, and as he bent toward her, she lent him her ear.

His words were met with a nod, as she really really did. It wasn't only that she wanted a bath, but she wanted to know how this whole bath system thing worked. Plus, it would be nice to spend some time with him in a private intimate fashion.

"Thank you so much for the meal. Be sure to tell Isabella for us too," she said to Viktor. "I think we are going to head up for the evening. It was nice to meet you both, and I hope I get to meet Jocelyn tomorrow."

Calmly she would stand and move out from the chair and push it back in if Noah had not done so for her. Once they were excused, Elann would come to Noah's side.

"Can you go grab three of our clean towels in the trunk as well as whatever clothes you want to wear for yourself and my nightgown? I'll get ready. Where is the bath?"

Journey to the East

There was only a small bit of her fish left as Ryon and Aimee went for their entrees again. Each helping of fish on her plate seemed to dwindle as she had picked at it. It didn't surprise her to see the two reach for food as she expected everyone to. Viktor already had a mass on his plate and had essentially done what she had, which was grab what she wanted.

Viktor answered and showed how busy he was. Elann nodded with some humms to show she listened to him.

"I'm the same," she voiced. "I need to work or at least keep myself busy."

Isabella seemed to be finished with her meal and Elann watched as she set a hand on her head, curious if she was leaving. It was revealed to her that she had to be up early.

"I wish you could stay, but I understand. We'll see you after work."

Elann had finished her coffee in the middle of the meal and only had a small amount of wine left. Already she was getting full, but wanted to at least finish her plate. Noah was up to no good and yet she let him steal from her plate whatever he wanted as she directed her attention to everyone else left at the table besides him.

"I'm sure you're all great hunters. Do you all help the people of the city hunt at times outside of your jobs?"

Journey to the East

Viktor stated something strange to Elann, that 20 was young for her people. It was easy to see that 20 could have been a long life for a Kelvic; dependent on the type. Giving him a nod, she added a smile to it as well. In most of the women of Syliras' mind, twenty was a young age, but in her tribe, twenty was a year beyond what would be considered late youth. Nineteen was the oldest one would be betrothed to, let alone married, and it was her father's plan to marry her off at age 19. That did not work out.

In her eyes, she was fairly old, and likely had expressed as much to Noah at a time or to Aimee through her journals. Anything past twenty was supposed to be for raising children, and generally the women would stop being viable for childbirth around age 25 due to the lacking nutrition. In part, it was why Elann was as passionate as she was with Noah; she felt she was losing her chances to be a mother of her own child.

As the attention focused back upon them, Elann shook her head in answer.

"No, I don't oppose. I would love to go shopping with you. I can't wait to see more of the city."

While it was well known that Elann would have an issue with her new parents spending money on her, she also knew it was a matter of honor for them to treat them in this instance. She submitted. Flashing a kind smile to Viktor and Bella, she continued to eat slowly. It was entirely likely everyone would be on their seconds or thirds by the time she was finished with her plate.

"Your must work quite hard. I saw you when you arrived," she stated toward Viktor, recalling him sweating. "What do you do right now?"

Journey to the East

Fortunately, Elann didn't talk much to Victor, only telling him the short version of the tale; it was dinner after all. She found it interesting that he was silent as well. Gentleness and silence were not things she though about when she pictured him.

"Yes, quite a lot," she answered to him with a gentle smile as she took a small bite of fish.

He then inquired of her about Yahal, and while it wasn't logical to assume that she be marked by the god just for being a prophetess, he actually was right on the mark.

"Hm," she answered with a nod of her head and swallowing her food. "I am twice marked, just like my husband."

She pulled her hair to the side delicately and turned in her chair slightly to show him the back of her dress. Through the veiled fabric, there was a otherworldly material that there was no doubt his wolf eyes could penetrate to see. It was mostly hidden from him, but the top of her wings could be seen.

As she turned to show him, Ryon asked how old she was.

"Twenty"

Journey to the East

Elann shook her head.

"Not until much later. Months had passed. I only happened to run into him because I kept going to the docks. I think his message was late and he was not sure if I ever arrived. It was chance we even met that day."

She shrugged at the thought of it as she stuck her first piece of food in her mouth, a tiny bite. With Viktor's question, there was a slight pause in her chewing and at his recoiling she chuckled with a smile.

"No, no, it's okay. In my father's tents, I was privileged to learn the Penita Scrolls at a young age. As a result, I started a relationship with Yahal, my god, at a very young age. I believe he gave me the gift of a sight beyond sight..." she said somewhat cautiously, not sure how it would be received, but nevertheless continued, "...and I was groomed to be a prophetess for my people. A couple years ago, I received a vision and against my father, the chief's wishes, I went to our temple to the temple to deliver it. That message rooted out and exposed a great evil in our most holy areas and thus, they wanted me dead. My father sent me here for safety in secret. I've never left the tents of my father except to come and go to the temple. This is all very large to me."

Giving him a nod and taking another small bite of her fish, she hummed happily at its taste. To her, fish was like a delicacy, and thus, she felt like she was getting a royal welcome, and was why she had more fish on her plate than anything else.

Journey to the East

After Noah rolled off of her, she lay there a moment, mainly just watching her husband in love. There was a small sense of desire in her for him as well as some passion, but they shortly faded at she herself rose to check her hair and dress for any messes that may have occurred in the last few minutes.

Fortunately they were able to leave before any suspicions were drawn about them lingering in their room. It had only been a few minutes since she had woke him and they were already heading downstairs. At the table, she sat next to Noah and slipped her hand invasively into his while they waited for their meal.

Upon everyone sitting except for Viktor and Isabella, Elann gave Aimee and Ryon a smile as they waited. Viktor, instead of sitting down seemed to come down out of nowhere (to Elann's attention) and showed some affection to Noah. It warmed her own heart to feel him feel the way he did toward his father and it reminded her of how she felt toward her own mother.

Not sure how things worked in the house, Elann sat patiently and let Noah hand her food once he was done with it. She didn't really notice the fact that food was given to Viktor first, only that he took it first. Elann would take some wine with her meal as well as the coffee, which was mostly drank by her before they even started to eat.

Elann knew this was not the large feast that was to come, and so did not desire to eat a great amount. Instead she would take a smaller portion of each thing so as to try it all, but no large gobbled amount would be in her vicinity.

Viktor spoke up, revealing some knowledge of her, and coupled with the longing thoughts of her mother, now the thoughts of Eyktol rummaged through her mind. Only Noah would feel the longing feeling within her at the mention of it.

"I was sent to Syliras by my father to stay with a family friend. After three months in the hull of a ship, we arrived and my father's friend was nowhere to be seen. I had some money and provisions, but checked into the welcome center there and they directed me to the Inn. Noah was in the lobby when I arrived and the landlady there asked him to help with my bags. I guess that's where it all started. He seemed nice. We decided to go do some things around town and became friends."

Elann tried a bit of the fish, and gave a smile toward Isabella, telling her it was good. Not much of the stew was taken by her however, but what she did have was more potatoes and broth than meat.

Journey to the East

At first Elann seemed to try her bonds and fail, his hands being too strong, then she tried to resist his question playfully, which also failed, and finally she submitted.

"Different in the image I had of him in my head. The way you described him, he was very big and strong...which he is, but I just pictured larger and scarier. He seemed...nice."

Elann didn't want to comment too much further on her thoughts of his father. The opinions of her often made Noah angry and so she didn't want to do that again.

"Now get up and get ready..." she bossed, not commanded of him. "...or I'll bite you."

It was a weak threat, and a playful one, but she would bite him should she get the chance. A soft gentle bite, but a bite nonetheless.