Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"You said you felt something for me, more than anyone before. And I feel the same. But you pushed me away thinking I would want you to myself and be jealous. I don't understand why you think that."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Because other men have before. They only see money and a woman that they might be able to take advantage of." Rissa said in a brutally honest way. "And I don't want to have a kept man. I want someone that will be my equal."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I do not care for your money. It is yours. I don't need it anyway. And we do not have to belong to each other if we don't want to. We can find other lovers, even share them. But... I like being with you. It would be... nice, to know that if things were going wrong or we had a bad day, we could retreat to the other for comfort. Not just sex."

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa was quiet for a long moment after Qira confessed that. She wasn't drunk enough yet to tell him that she desperately wanted that in her life. She had been so long on her own that it just seemed normal and had become part of her personality.

"Pour me another drink and we'll talk." She said in a soft tone.

 

[KieranSoares]

Seeing he'd struck something, Qira relented. "One more," he murmured, refilling her glass. After hesitating a moment, he filled his own as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa took the drink and downed it, watching him as he nursed his own glass. "I've...never...had a relationship with one person. Sleeping with others, sure. Depending on someone for comfort, no."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I did once... And I have missed that kind of relationship ever since, not just the person I was with. And toward the end of our time on your estate... our conversations began to make me feel some of that comfort I missed."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Things will always be different between here and there. You need to understand that." Rissa said. "I am different here and there."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I have seen that. But the way I feel is the same. We have jobs here, responsibilities that Scotland depends on us for. We must put the throne first. But when things are calm... I would like to spend time with you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You might have to remind me from time to time, panther." Rissa said, her eyes starting to go bleary and heavy. "I'm the kind of person that needs a reminder."

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira nodded, rising to step around the little table. He scooped her up from her chair and began making his way up out of the cellars and toward her chambers. He got her settled into bed, leaving a glass of water on the bedside table.

 

[heartofcourage]

When he pulled away from her, Rissa grabbed the front of Qira's shirt and pulled him down beside her. The room was starting to spin, her eyes closing as she snuggled up against his warm side.

"Stay here tonight." She said softly. "You need it as much as I do."

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira crawled into bed beside her, not needing much encouragement, and he easily resumed a position that had become their norm at her estate- her head against his shoulder as he settled on his back, an arm wrapped beneath her. "You are going to be miserable in the morning," he murmured.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perhaps. And I won't let it show." Rissa commented as he got her into a more comfortable position on the bed. "This castle only has room for one grumpy woman."

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira turned to press a kiss to her forehead. "Sleep. I have a hangover cure you can try when you wake."

 

[heartofcourage]

"That sounds like the worst sexual experience of all time." Rissa joked, wrapping an arm around Qira as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

 

[KieranSoares]

He chuckled softly but said no more, content to fall asleep beside her.

Come morning, she woke alone, but Qira had not simply left her. On her bedside table was still the glass of water, and a tray with breakfast and a mug with a sweet and earthy-smelling mixture, all still warm from the kitchen.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa felt terrible when she woke, but she couldn't help but smile when she saw the tray at her bedside table. She could afford to take her time that morning as the queen would probably be indisposed that day.

Kate was in a haze of pain killing herbs that morning, seated in front of the fire as Kell went off to do some business. When she saw Qira, she gave him a wry smile.

"How long did you beat yourself up last night?" Kate asked him in slightly slurred Erygonian.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not long enough, in my opinion. But I was not given a choice." He came to sit across from her, looking her over for a moment. "You seem much calmer."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Kell gave me the good stuff this morning. I don’t feel a thing.” Kate said with a smile towards Qira.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Good. But it won't be long before you are bored," Qira commented. "Has Kell said anything about meeting with me today?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've been bored all morning, but I'm too hazy to care." Kate confessed as Qira asked about Kell. "He didn't say a thing. He's not going to say a thing. The punishment that you envision is all in your own mind, Qira."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're fools, all of you," Qira murmured. "Failed guardians should not remain at their posts. At best, they should be replaced until they are retrained and come back better. At worst, and in many kingdoms, they are executed." His expression was grave, showing how seriously he took his work.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Well, I’m the queen and I say no.” Kate said simply, looking at the panther as he spoke about the seriousness of his situation. “So there. Don’t argue.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira sighed, shaking his head. "You're worse than Rissa. All of you seem to think that because Kell likes me, my failure can be ignored."