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 Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:02 pm
There was a small rocky formation where she came every evening, it was a place where the sun hit the water just right and created a bright golden red reflection. This was her time for preyer, for theanks and for sacrifice. She had crafted a small boat like structure from leaves tightly woven together and within it was a bunch of herbs and flowers, this was her sacrifice, it was her offering her most potent and rare medicines, she gave them to the god of the sun in the evening when he was closest to the earth and could hear her preyers loudly.
This eve she lay as she watched the little bundle float towards the center of the lake in a serene manner, her eyes glistened with tears and her cheeks plastered closer to her face than usual, wet with the tears she had shed.
She was sad though her heart was gladdened and this made her cry as she solomnly watched her gift dip and fall accross the calm clear lake.
Maximus was walking along the edge of the lake, his mood also rather sollem. He came here, sometimes, to speak to the gods... and the spirits they had claimed. Tonight's conversation had left him with a heavy heart.
He stopped suddenly when a familar scent drifted to his nose. He smelled the herbs first, then the scent of the lioness. The Caesar paused, unsure whether or not he had the willpower to force a conversation with her. But still, if she had noticed him already, it'd be rude not to at least say hello. So slowly he stepped closer, his head held high so she'd see him better. Then he noticed she was praying, and he frowned, taking a small step back and sitting down... Listening. He didn't wish to interupt her.
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:50 pm
Her slender head lifted as she caught the scent of the king, looking his way she half forced a smile though it faded as quickly as it had some. He clearly wasn't in the mood for her smiles and quips this eve.She bowed her head low to him attempting to hide the tears which she attempted, most unsuccessfully to blink away. "I apologise my lord, you have caught me at a moment of weakness." She whispers her throat sounding almost rough compared to her usual dulcent chipper tones.
"Do you wish to rest here? I shant stay if you wish for the space." She whispers keeping her head bowed, she didn't want him to see her crying, it really wasn't proper for the medicine woman to shed tears before the ceasar, he would think her weak and she couldn't bare that.
Maximus blinked dumbly for a moment, his eyes widening a tad. He didn't have to see the tears... He could hear it in her voice, and he suddenly felt very disturbed and upset... "Nyao..." He frowned, standing slowly. He didn't know what was wrong with her, but he couldn't leave her like this.
"No, I do not wish you to leave." He stepped closer, leaning forward to peer at her curiously. But he didn't get too close, giving her space if she wanted it. "Are you crying? Oh dear Healer, do tell me what is wrong."
The pale lioness shifted uneasily, should she tell him her ills? Her worries? he didn't need it did he? he had his own fears and his were more important than hers. "I.." She trailed silent for a long while before she found what she needed to say.
"My mother always said you shouldn't cry, it dishonours those you have cared for, but she did not see a disaster like I have." She licked her lips and lifted her head looking up at the ceasar with watery pink eyes, "There was nothing I could do and my heart aches for every one of them, then I saw you looking so much better and I cry for joy, I cry for my sadness and I cry because I know my mother would have told me not to." She laughed once in a snorting, dissaproving sniffle and lowered her head. "I'm sorry, I should really keep these things to myself, it's nothing to concern yourself with my lord, just a foolish ramble."
He listened in silence, his eyes falling half lidded with sympathy. He didn't move closer until she had grown quiet again, but then he did, his paw reaching out to gently nudge her's. "Nyao... It is my job to bear the weight of my people... Just as it is your job to be strong for your patience." He smiled, a warm almost paternal smile. "But I am your Caesar before I am your patient. So do not assume that I am not strong enough to do the job the gods have blessed me with."
He pulled his paw back then, head held high as he gave her the same smile. "Speak your troubles. I will listen, if it will make your heart lighter."
As the ceasar put his paw on ehr shoulder she lifted her gaze once again, a simple touch and it mader her lips turn in a half smile, though when he pulled away she almost followed the paw looking for that physical contact that linked her to another lion. Another creature whom for the moment was just another citizen not one of her paitents, she barely stopped ehrself from sumbling in to his thick maned chest, she wanted someone to talk to, to speak her ills to feel close to, in times gone by it had been the other healers but now she didn't have anyone and she felt that lonely lump in her throat because of it.
"I used to have so many to speak to my lord, so many who would understand the simple day to day overseeings of a pride of both old and young, the acheings of arrthritis, the sniffles of the cub and now I have noone to speak to, I have noone to lean on when there is trouble. i have to rely on myself, rely on and hope that I get it right. I am confident, I must be but I long for that rememberd comfort, I long for a friend to lean on." She paused and cleared her throat, she was speaking her secrets to a lion she expected to respect her for her prowess of her worries and it felt a little wrong, though at the same time right, it was almost like he was there to help her through her worries though she never expected him to remember them, it was almost like having those friends again and it took all of her will power not to cuddle under his chin for that contact, for the simple feeling of someone who didn't need her, just for the touch of closeness.
He grew a little awkward when she almost followed his paw. It was just a slight reaction, but he'd noticed it... He was good at reading people. He had to be, to do his job right. He cleared his throat a little and shifted a bit closer. If it would help, a little contact would be alright... Right? So he reached out his paw again and let it rest on hers, his large paw almost dwarfing hers.
Again, he was silent, letting her speak. He nodded occasionally, still with that warm sympathetic smile. "Not everyone can be strong all the time, Nyao... And I'm always here, if you need someone to talk to... I am no healer, so I doubt I could give much advice about your patience, but do not be afraid to talk to me."
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 2:07 pm
She looked down at his large paw, hers vanished beneath his and she smiled, it felt nice to have someone she could rely on,s he could lean on and though she knew she could never ask himt he fifty uses for a specific plant she could at least air her worries to him. "Thank you." She whispers, lifting her nose slightly, she almost started to groom him, he was there before her a friend and for a moment she completely forgot he was ceasar, she was back in her old den surrounded by the other healers talking shop and righting the worlds wrongs one herb at a time, she even stuck her tongus out a little bit before she stopped herself.
She felt a touch embarresed, she was splurging all of her deepest most intimate feelings to the lord of the rhealm and very nearly started to groom him. "I uhm.."she looked at his paw and smiled wistfully."I'm glad you are here."
He tensed and blinked at her for a moment when she almosted licked him, his fur bristling. His lips pursed tightly, unsure how he should react... And he was even more confused by the fact that... He wouldn't have minded it! Well, once he set aside his honor and traditions... There was part of him that would have been happy to let Nyao fuss over him.
He cleared his throat a little, his paw shifting a bit on her's, though he didn't remove it. "...You're welcome, Nyao... Now... do cheer up... Everything will be alright, you'll see."
Nyao took a deep calming breath pulling in the scent of the water and his scent, that musk that all males posessed. She looked up quietly at him admiring him not only for his strength but for his common sence, for his care despite being the lord.
"Will you come and sit with me and watch apollo leave us for the day?." She whispers her voice still a little husky though that was simply from tears shed. "I like to watch him leave and ask him to search for those lost while he is away." She purs nudging herself a little closer to him making sure her paw was still nestled under his, she didn't want to walk away, she needed him beside her at least for this moment, for this one moment he wasn't her king, he was her friend and she needed him to be that if only for the breifest of times.
He thought about that for a moment, then nodded slightly. Where would be the harm in that? It was not indecent to just sit and talk, so long as it wasn't in his private dens or somewhere similar. So he smiled a little wider, patting her paw gently before pushing himself up to stand. Then he stepped closer to the shore, finding a comfortable spot to lay down. He stretched his paws a little, claws raking against stone and grass until he was in a satisfactory position.
Then he glanced over to her, smiling and gesturing for her to lay beside him.
She smiled softly watching him move and get comfortable before she joined him stretching her body bout beside him close enough so she could lean on him but not too close thats he was perminantly pressed againt him. She looked up at the ceasar and sighed softly. I don't think I could have survived this without you, you are a great lion ceasar." She whispers resting ehr shoulder against his as she turned her gaze to the water watching the sun set seemingly in to it's depths, turning the water from a glassy brilliant blue to the bloody reds and golds of the perfect sunset.
"take care while you are gone and find us in the morn." She coos beneath her breath her gaze fixed steadfastle upon the beautiful golden orb which symbolised her god.
He stiffened a little when she leaned on him, having not expected her to take it that far. He paused a moment to look around them and behind them, making sure no one was looking. No one seemed to be around though, so he let out a soft sigh and forced himself to relax. This was alright... They weren't doing anything bad...
By the time the sun had disapeared, he was at ease. He did like watching the sun set... Apollo always knew how to make an entrance. Once twilight had settled on them, he glanced over at the lioness, making sure she was still alright.
The day had worn hard on her and spilling her thoughts and feelings to the big lion had taken it's toll as the sun had settled and the stars blinked in to life she had started to doze her eyes growing heavy and her body relaxed, so that by the time Maximus looked at her she was dozing lightly upon his shoulder her breathing slow and relaxed.
Perhaps in the morning she would realise what she had done but for the moment she was oblivious nestled with her friend beneath the twinkling stars.
He gulped hard, frowning slightly when he noticed she was asleep. This... wasn't good. What if someone walked up onto them again? He sighed softly, forcing himself to be quiet.
She obviously needed the sleep. The healer had probably been pushing herself to her limits lately, making sure the pride was alright... It'd be selfish of him to deny her what she had worked hard to give him just days before. So... he laid still, and let himself serve as a pillow. Finally he rested his chin onto his front paws, breathing out a soft snort. He'd sleep very little that night.
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