one last trip
"Ayr. Truly?"
Leyn didn't look up from his flame incant as he nodded. "The last time we were there you were eleven years old."
"Twelve."
"Twelve, then." The wet branches and leaves in front of the mage slowly smoked to fiery life and he looked up, smirking at her sour look.
"If I remember correctly, that trip began rather horribly."
"But it turned out all right in the end, didn't it? And wouldn't it be nice to see the place one last time, just the two of us? Before the baby arrives and we barely have a moment to ourselves?"
Eanah knew he didn't mean to, but sometimes Leyn phrased things in the most awful ways imaginable. She took in a slow, deep breath as she continued looking at him, her hand finding the subtle curve of her stomach as it did so often these days. It sounded all right, she supposed. Truthfully, all she wanted to do was cuddle up with Leyn somewhere solitary and beautiful. She supposed Ayr might fit that description as well as anywhere else.
"And what will we do on Ayr? Just the two of us."
Leyn held out a hand, taking hers and easing her down to sit next to him. "Hunt." He paused for a long while as she settled herself near the fire. "Stare at each other. Make love." He said the last with such an air of comedic lasciviousness that it immediately prompted a burst of laughter from Eanah. She clapped a hand over her mouth to contain it, elbowing him with her free arm. He ignored her, wrapping his own arms around her and squeezing her into submission. "It's hardly worth such a fuss when it's true." There was plenty of laughter in his voice, but it was the sincerity that made her turn and kiss him soundly.
"I suppose."
"I also heard a rumor of strange artifacts hidden in the mountains there. What better first gift for our son than some magical stone or another?"
She chuckled. "You think it will be a boy?"
"Thren told me you do."
"Hm. Yes. I do. A handsome mage like his father." Eanah leaned back, closing her lids and enjoying the blazing warmth soaking into her skin. She was nearly dozing when she remembered she had a gift for Leyn.
"Oh!" She felt his breathy chuckle against her hair as she sat up. "Stay there." He did as he was told, remaining seated as she rummaged through her packs and retrieved a long, slender box. She sat on her legs and skirts facing him, and placed the box at her knees. "For you."
"What is it?"
She huffed a laugh. "Open it and see."
Leyn sat up with a shrug, hesitating before carefully lifting the box's lid and reaching inside. The dagger's filigreed blade sparkled in the firelight as he raised it completely into view, turning it over and examining it reverently.
"I know we have our magic, but sometimes magic fades. Sometimes we cannot protect ourselves fast enough, and I want you to have another alternative for when our enemies get too close." She searched his face, and seeing a measure of apprehension there she added, "I purchased one for myself as well. And I never mean for us to use them, I just want..."
"You want us to be safe. Yes. I understand."
