Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-24123288-20150404232940/@comment-3293219-20150407121932

It was almost noon and the sun was at the highest point in the sky, the day was at its hottest and the forest's inhabitants were at their most alert. It was during this time, in a tranquil clearing, at the center of the forest, that a Nordic barbarian agreed to meet his contact.

The Nord appeared to be protected in fine fur armour, protected from the cold, by a large cloak, which fastened around his neck and draped over his shoulders. He was a giant of a man, eight to ten feet tall, built like a mountain and twice as hard for a mortal to move. His hands were large and strong, resulting in his grip being vice-like. His chest was a brick wall, solid, with a few scars littered across it, like the chipped surface of stone.

The Nord had a simple look, quite chiselled, due to his muscular build. A stubble beard and long brown, unwashed hair, that went down to his neck, his eyes were an icey blue colour and they were always very observant of their surroundings.

He slowly closed his eyes, knowing that his contact should be here, though there was still time... He just had to be patient, as much as it pained him to do so as the longer he stood here, the less time he would have...

The Nord stood, listening to the rushing water in the stream and the many calls of the wildlife. Even he, a hardened warrior, took time to appreciate it as he focussed on his breathing, wishing that he could stand still and listen to this, without feeling anxious or guilty about it.

As the Nord began to lose himself into the tranquillity of the clearing, he heard a snap and was immediately alerted, drawing his sword and spinning around, to see if he had been followed.

He watched as he saw nothing, just an endless row of trees and the slightest hint of a few animals hopping about on the horizon... He frowned, still finding himself unconvinced that he was alone and as always, the Warrior's suspicions were well justified.

There, from behind the tree, appeared the slender hand of his contact as she slowly appeared from behind the tree. She slowly leaned out, revealing only her left eye as she got a quick glance at him, checking to see if it definitely was but she already knew whether it was or not as she had been watching him for some time...

She proceeded to slowly walk around the tree, gently skimming her fingers along the bark as she approached the Nord, moving seductively towards him. The wind swept through, like her entourage, sweeping up the black feathers on her robes and making them flutter in the wind as well as the fringe of black her, that covered her forehead and eyes, revealing her heart melting, amber stare as a smile slowly crept across her lips.

The Barbarian stood, practically paralysed to the spot as she slowly wandered over to him and gently placed her hands on his pectoral muscles, slowly raising herself up on her tip toes. The Nord, being double her size, had to pull his own face down, so that their lips could meet and they kissed intimately on the spot.

His lover smiled as they gently pulled away, though, as always, she kept her composure and gave him little more than a light smirk as she proceeded to pace around him...

"I was beginning to think that you were growing complacent, given how your people bow to your every whim..." She began, leaving the Nord to stand at the center of the clearing, staring straight ahead as he resisted the urge to follow her, with his eyes.

"No..." He replied, rather coldly in fact, as if he had nothing but hatred for his fellow clan members.

"They offer distraction, not obedience..."

"Mmm..." His lover agreed, gently grazing her fingers over his back, somewhat glad that he could see the jewel incrusted bars of his gilded cage.

"They do seem to be rather on the... Desperate side, seeing how distracted you are most of the time."

The Nord just sighed, he knew that he wasn't doing good enough but that was because he didn't care, he would just get up in the night and leave that place to rot if he could but his Breton lover had other plans...

"Probably because I don't want to be there..." He uttered, clenching his fist in rage as he did so. He was tired of the meaningless lovers, the shallow victories, the loathsome traditions of his people...

"And you think that I want to dwell in a dank cave for the rest of my life? Waiting to become a twisted horrific, bird woman?" The Breton replied, indignantly, gently pacing around him and coming to a stop as soon as they were face to face.

"Were it as simple as leaving, I would have done it long ago..."

"But it isn't?" The Nord asked, doubtfully as he began to suspect that the Witch's ambition was masking her judgement. This caused her to lose her usual cocky look as she glanced away, slowly stepping back with a sigh.

"No... I'm afraid not..." She replied, sounding somewhat nervous about admitting it.

"What's stopping you?"

This only caused her to wince as she found herself put on the spot, there could be no lies between them or else it would fracture their relationship...

"It's... Sabine..." She admitted, in a calm but quite, slightly shaken voice.

"Does she know?"

"Not..." The Witch began, thinking on it for a moment before shaking her head.

"No, she doesn't and even if she did, that wouldn't affect anything... What does matter is that I believe that she has something... That could protect us, even if we are pursued."

The Nord shook his head and gently placed his large hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eye.

"I can protect us, Evelyn..." He assured her, in a stern, yet caring voice, almost paternal. His concern was quickly brushed off as the Witch stepped away and shook her head.

"Do you think that I doubt that? You think that I'm afraid of Sabine's covenant or a pack of barbarians?" She snapped, seeming almost insulted by the notion.

"What I have found is... A way to ensure that we'll always be together, something that will be beyond the control of Sabine or your clan." She explained, stepping back and letting her head fall forward, so that she was staring at the ground.

"A ritual?" The Barbarian asked, raising an eyebrow as he grew intrigued.

The Breton sighed, ready to shake her head before stopping herself and looking up to the Nord.

"I cannot say, it would be difficult for me to explain it in terms that a non-mage would understand and even then, you still wouldn't understand. All that I can ask, is that you trust me..."

The Nord, stared at her for a moment, knowing full well that he would gladly give his life for her, betrayal was something that he would just have to risk. Knowing this, he gave her a respectful nod, sighing heavily through his nose as he felt like he had been beaten...

"Very well..." He whispered, immediately jerking his head up as he heard his clan members call out his name. They must have followed his trail...

"Hmm... It appears that our trackers are of some use after all..." The Nord noted as Evelyn gently reached up and pulled his head down, to kiss his cheek.

"Just two more weeks... Meet me here, then and we can leave this nightmare behind us, forever..." She whispered, caressing his neck as she did so. She quickly looked over to her left and saw that the barbarians were drawing in on them, she quickly turned to the north and began to sprint into the forest, quickly vanishing into the foliage as the barrage of clueless warriors blundered onto the scene.

"Asgarne! We killed the boar, where were you?" One of them snapped at him, like a mulling child, who had lost out on 'play time.' Still, in spite of his hatred for the fool, Asgarne kept his composure.

"Clearly you didn't need me..." He uttered, slowly marching out of the clearing, longing to be back in his tent.

Anytime not spent with her was best spent alone...