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 Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:04 pm
“We’ll be waiting,” Leif smiled at Shae as relief filled his heart. Shae must not be too mad to make a comment like that. His attention then turned to Kaelin, whom he waved over once they were alone, then offered him some of his burnt repast before he continued to dry out his clothes. “Good, you’re awake,” he stated, his firm voice returning. It was just the men now, and he easily shifted back into the role of General. “We’ll need to start heading out soon, while the sunlight is on our side. Whatever quarrel you have with me needs to be set aside immediately. I won’t let any harm come to Shae, nor you, seeing as it would be too cruel to leave a poor starving boy in the thick of the woods by himself, even if that is what he would have me do.” In a sense, Leif felt that he was saving the boy from himself. “Are you feeling better now?” It would be best not to make any mention of spilled water or stolen kisses, and just get on with their day.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:12 pm
Shae glanced back at the pair one last moment before he departed, doing his best not to trail anything on the ground. The pair didn't seem like they would cut each other's throats or anything - Leif even seemed to feel slightly paternal over the boy, although they were but a few years differentiated. It was funny, really. But the boy... Kael... he seemed none too happy at being forced to be around the blond prince. Of course, Leif was naturally intimidating, but that didn't quite explain the other's behavior.
Shae sighed slightly, for now giving up trying to figure out the pair. The pressing matter now was finding some hidden place to change so he could get dry. And he found it, eventually. He quickly stripped off his boy's clothing before reaching for the blanket. He dried himself as best he could, paying special attention to his hair, before he slipped back into women's clothing. He then wrung out his wet clothing as best he could before folding them, along with the blanket, and returning to the camp, all clothing and blanket tucked neatly under one arm.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:21 pm
"......" was all the response that Leif received, a reaction that entailed neither agreeal nor direct opposition. However, Kaelin's expression would say otherwise. His golden eyes were narrowed slightly and he made no move to go any nearer the other. Slightly nervously, on hand reached up and pulled his ebony, tied-back locks over one shoulder and he began to tease out the tangles.
Finally, after several minutes of silence, he spoke. His voice was soft and slightly rhaspy from sleep coupled with general disuse. "I... don't think my grudge can be settled that quickly."
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:37 pm
Leif pulled his shirt up from the fire before it began to singe, then moved it in close to him. It was hardly well cleaned and still carried the scent of a man, and parts of it were still a bit wet. But it would have to do for now. As he studied it, he seemed as though he did not hear Kaelin’s complaint. That, however, was far from the case. He didn’t know exactly what his transgression was, but it was easy to guess. More than half of the rivers that he had come across in his lifetime ran red with blood.
“What would you do then?” He asked in all seriousness, his tone free from jest and condescension. “Kill me?” It was cold, but he had no goosebumps as he slid his garment back on, then began to tighten the lacing. “What will that accomplish? One more dead body. One more grave that could be avoided. I doubt you could do much in your condition anyway, other than die when you tried to make your strike.” As he spoke, he went about his business, packing and preparing his horse for the journey. It would be a waste of valuable time to drop everything to address Kaelin’s concerns. “Wouldn’t it be better to spend time with your enemy, if that’s what I am, learn my weaknesses so that you might exploit them to your advantage?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:54 pm
"What would you do then? Kill me? Wouldn't it be better to spend time with your enemy, learn my weaknesses so that you might exploit them to your advantage?"
Shae's hands clenched into fists, his shoulders rising in coupled indignation and anger. The clothes and blanket he had held so carefully so lay in a heep at his feet, having fallen with a "fmp!" as his hands came to rest on his hips. "Really! What are you two talking about?" he asked angrilly, green eyes glinting with (slightly) subdued fury. "I... don't want either of you killing each other, I hope that should be incredibly obvious. If not, then the pair of you deserve each other as... as... as a couple of selfish idiots!!" he said angrilly, arms now crossed protectively over his chest. Despite his angry front, Shae really was quite worried that some sort of fight might ensue and that one of them (quite obviously Kaelin, who was much smaller and weaker) might die.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:05 pm
Kaelin was about to reply angrilly when--
Why was he in a dress?!? More than Shae's angry speach, his garments caught Kaelin's attention dead on. Was... what... what the hell was going on? Golden eyes had widened considerably and he nearly staggered back at the combination of the other's anger, as well as his clothing.
"Wh... what the hell is going on?" he demanded, pointing shakilly at Shae's clothing.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:25 pm
“Nobody is killing anyone,” Leif said this without any doubt in his mind. Kaelin was little more than a spoiled brat who didn’t understand how the world worked, but he doubted that he was foolish enough to come after him. Just... complain non stop. Mostly, his comments about killing and exploitation had been to manipulate the boy into doing what he wanted without making much more of a fuss.
He tilted his attention towards Shae then, and smiled - always happy to see him in such attire, the princess who needed a prince. “Ah, radiant as always,” he commented, then looked back to Kaelin, tactfully ignoring his outburst. “Well then, it appears everyone is ready to go.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:32 pm
"W-well... if no one's going to die, then why talk in such a way?!" Shae demanded, arms still crossed over his chest. His cheeks were flushed quite heavily with anger - but also with embarrassment at his own, apparently unneeded, outburst. "I-I..." Shae heaved a big sigh, shoulders rising before they dropped back down. "I wish you wouldn't talk that way... I mean... even if you are an idiot, I-I don't want you to die....." Shae mumbled, shoulders rising again.
It was then that Kaelin's statement seemed to register. He glanced over to the boy and, after a moment of looking him over, he muttured, "I'm a princess. Don't be too shocked." Unfortunately for the ebony-haired teen, Shae was not at all in any mood to explain. He turned back to Leif then and nodded slowly, eyes not quite meeting the other's.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:40 pm
"I-is that... so...." Kaelin replied, golden eyes still wide in shock. This simply was too much. First he met his sworn enemy... and then the boy turned out to be a girl -- and not just any girl, a princess, not less. And... if she were a princess... and... traveling with Leiff... Well it simply could not be proper any other way -- they must be married, or at least about to be married....
Kaelin shivered slightly at that thought. While in his land, his parents had often tried to find a "nice wife" for him. Thankfully (for Kaelin), they had been none too successful. And if Shae was Leif's wife... then she, too, was his enemy.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:46 am
Leif seemed stunned for a moment, not that anyone was looking at him. He hadn’t expected Shae to come out and say it. In fact, he would have considered it good common sense if such a thing hadn’t been uttered at all. But it couldn’t exactly be taken back. Kaelin was shocked, but after a moment he would realize that, of course Shae was a princess. All the criteria was there, and even some extra. But standing around in a daze wasn’t going to make the situation any better.
Clearing his throat, Leif reached over to pat Kaelin on the back roughly. “It’s so, It’s so,” he intuned, almost like a wizened teacher speaking to a novice student, “So don’t stand gawking, it’s impolite.”
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:59 am
"R-right...." he murmured slowly. He seemed to have recovered at least slightly, as his features were no longer those of one dazes by sudden sunlight. In fact, Kaelin was quite used to princesses and other such royals, being one himself. It wasn't that that had surprised him -- no, it was because... why the hell had she been dressed as a guy?! Well... whatever reason, it had better be a good one....
He shot a glare at Leif as he tried to "console" Kaelin (or something to that effect). "I'm not gawking. I'm not even looking at hi--her anymore...." he muttured.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:06 pm
( http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t175/direadelle/1kleif.jpg Gaia is going very slow for me, I think its because its the last day of the Easter event. stressed Anyway, we'll be skipping right along now.) “Of course you weren’t.”
At last, they renewed their journey, traveling down a winding, overgrown road through the wild and Kaelin would discover what Shae already knew - Leif wasn’t exactly the best conversationalist when on the road, as he seemed to get into the rhythm of the ride, his senses keen and aware of everything around him. He particularly thought that this stretch was dangerous, and that only kept him quieter. At least Shae now had someone to talk with. It comforted him knowing that the Chver Princess would not be too bored.
The sea’s scent was beginning to fade now, and the sound of crashing waves was but a passing memory as evening set upon the land. But before them were lights in the dusk, the sound of working men and chattering women. They were finally at a village, which was a welcome sight for Leif at least.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:06 pm
Ea sighed slowly, shoulders heaving as he did so. The village seemed so... empty. Empty to him, at least. It wasn't that there was no one - or nothing - there. In fact, there were plenty of people, plenty of houses, plenty of everything. But he simply could not find the person he was looking for. A steady frown growing on the rehead's lips, he once more set down the road in search of his traveling companion.
He brushed bright red, long-ish (for a guy, anyway) hair from his emerald hues as he glanced up at yet another meaningless sign. A pub. It was loud inside... and he most deffinately wouldn't be in there, now, would he? Well... he might be... but Ea didn't want him to be because Ea didn't want to have to go inside the noisy pub. Men... always thought he was a girl and tried to hit on him... or something.
((mmmm... saying 'companion' because I'm not sure if you want whomever you chose to be traveling with Ea or not....))
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