I'l Fana Kelbé (The White Hart) - Reparations & Preparations [Closed}

[Katarya Frost]

After there meeting with Aurae, Kat bid 'good day' to Dáire, and took Artemis' hand. "Let's go to my room."

As they moved down the corridor, a voice called: "Hold a moment." Elára Vëa was stood in the hall, a book tucked under her arm. She regarded them with shrewd eyes.

Kat glanced at Artemis a moment, before nodding and approaching the Elven woman. "Yes, Quimellë."

Elára regarded them a moment, before turning to Artemis. "We have decided to make you a Lassë, which means you are welcome within these walls, as a friend to the Elves of I'l Fana Kelbé. I trust this pleases you?"

Kat's eyes widened and she glanced between the two. This was wonderful news, as far as she was concerned. Artemis wouldn't need an escort, and he could even legitimately help on contracts, or even take them himself. But she knew he had as much pride as she, but hoped he would say yes.

[Artemis Black]

Artemis managed to just barely keep himself composed when Katarya took his hand. He wanted to take her in his arms, press her into the wall, and smother her in kisses right there in the hallway. He imagined the stuffy elves would find that poor form, so instead he let her tug him along gently, smiling distractedly at her gorgeous hair.

He almost crashed into her when Katarya slowed and then approached the Lady in the hall. He realized they were being spoken too and stilled his expression before nodding his head towards the woman. ‘I’ve been recognized. I’m surprised they don’t offer something closer to the chosen mission. Though I guess that’s effectively what I performed without direct permission,’ he thought to himself all in a flash of a moment.

“I am grateful for the recognition Quimellë,” he said, only barely struggling with the word as he bowed to her. “I will not trouble you for the specifics of my position and instead impose on Almá Katarya for the lessons,” he added with the faintest smile he could manage.

[Katarya Frost]

Elára said nothing more, but nodded to him, gave Katarya a quick glance, her eyes surely saying "make sure you do", and then she swept off.

Katarya was smiling happily. "This is wonderful!" She didn't say more, but pulled on his hand and went to her room.

As soon as the door was closed, she was on him. Her mouth on his, only breaking the kiss to pull his shirt over his head. There was an urgency in it, passion and longing. It was most unlike her. She had pushed him against the wall of her room, and her kisses went from his mouth, to his neck, and travelled down his body. When she reached his sex, she ran her fingers down his thighs as she took him in her mouth.

Later, after heights had been reached, they lay in her bed, his head in her lap as she sat up slightly. She was running her hands through his hair and humming softly, something she never did. Her hair was free of its braid, and her demeanour was as relaxed as if she had hit the wine for the night. But she was perhaps drunk on her emotions.

"You're a Lassë, now. But personally, I name you Tinwë ... 'my star', she translated for him. "How does it feel, to have so many titles? She smiled.

[Artemis Black]

Artemis felt a giddy excitement as Katarya pulled him into her room. He’d finally get to just hold her and relax. Then she was kissing him, fiercely and with all her fire. Her hands were all over and he returned the same, caressing and squeezing, only stopping to help her with his clothes. ‘Not sure what’s gotten into her, but I desperately need to find the recipe,’ he thought as she pushed him against the wall and deftly removed his lower garments with a desperate tug.

He hummed in pleasure as her lips pressed into his neck and then down his chest. Her fingers encircled him and the hum turned into a deep groan. Then he felt her mouth, warm and wet and he couldn’t stop his hands from twining into her hair. It was an amazing feeling, made all the more by the desperate need in both of them. The want to take and give and take some more. He would remember this for a very long time, always hoping to touch at the passion of her gift.

When he lay in her lap breathing softly he felt a peace deep in his soul. This was right, it was what he deserved, to feel whole and complete. To feel loved, even if only for the moment. “You look beautiful with your hair down you know?” he said to her, faintly teasing as he stroked her leg. He gave her his best smile when she named him. “I can feel the weight upon my shoulders and your fingers around my heart my lovely ensorcelling witch,” he said, lifting up to kiss her softly.

He tilted his head in thought. “That’s at least four now I think. Tinwë, Lassë, Black of the Night, and Hand of the Dark. Though, I imagine the last is rescinded. I’m no longer welcomed as a member, simply an associate owed an ever dwindling count of favors,” he said before kissing her again. “Your so soft beneath all the ice and fury. I hope to never forget your gentleness,” he added before returning his head to her lap.

“I talked to Dáire the other night, when we were planning, before he went out and got himself all mussed up,” he moved his hand over his side, indicating the elf’s stitching. “I’m supposed to make sure to tell you that I wasn’t seeking the bard’s bed, just comfort in word and warmth. That I don’t have friends at the Goose. The place is nothing like here, it’s more a business than a family, and even then one built on favors and exchange not loyalty.” Artemis waved his hands around adding to his words as he spoke. He knew he was ruining the pleasant silence but couldn’t stop himself from trying to fix things.

“I want to be where you are. I know you need to do your own things, make your own path, but I can’t keep myself away. You’ve truly captured me Miss Frost, taken me heart and hand, with all the troubles and joys that entails,” he said, looking her in the eye and squeezing her fingers in his. “Plus, I couldn’t abandon my star pupil. She’s an excellent thief,” he said giving Katarya his boyish grin to try and move past the moment. He was awful at these sorts of things.

[Katarya Frost]

Kat smiled, as she ran her fingers through his hair. "My mother had the most beautiful hair. I used to be jealous, because her's was golden blonde, and I thought that that was better. Everyone said she called her 'daffodil', she was quite lovely. I started to braid my hair when I was very young, when all the other girls were trying to be noticed by the boys, I found the more severe I looked, the less attention I got, which is what I wanted ... or at least I thought I did." She wondered what it would have been like if she had not been born with magic. She'd probably have been married now, with a babe or two ... it sounded dull.

"Maybe you could make your mark here. I'm not sure how much of a mark either of us could make, with us being Human, but ... they are more accepting than they appear. I thought as a magic user, I would have no place here, but I am happy. And now you are a Lassë, you can come and go as you please." She liked the sound of that. She didn't think she could permanently share her quarters ... not yet, anyway.

When he brought up Raen, she let out a small sigh. "If you tell anyone I admit to fault, I shall turn you into a cabbage ... but I should have known better with Raen. Stirring up trouble is like sport to him, but he's also a great believer in the 'power of love', and actually wants us to succeed. I believe he is actually quite lonely, and were it not for my position, he would have loved to have shared his bed with you." She thought on that for a moment. "If you ever feel you need such comfort, I won't be bitter about it ... unless you seek if from that seamstress," she said. There was no real venom in her voice, but she said the word as if it tasted badly. "I think we two are forever destined to dislike each other."

She wiggled a bit so she could grab the ever present wine on her bedside table and, cups be damned, took a drink from the bottle before handing it to him. "The young Peredhel ... she is a strange creature; an emotional one. Your ward will probably test you more than even I!" She gave a small laugh. "Let's hope she doesn't fall for you; I dislike competition. How goes it with her? Is she doing well? I think of how she had to watch her father grow old and die like that. Poor thing."

[Artemis Black]

Artemis listened to Kat, gently moving his head to make her fingers travel further in his hair. “I think I could make a habit of visiting. Maybe pick up some work with Dáire, learn some elvish curses and perhaps make the home a place you’ll want to visit in time,” he mused with his eyes closed, pressing just slightly into her fingers. “You hold Ksenia to a far stricter set of standards than others. She’s no interest in me, I assure you. She has the korcai, large assets and doting personality included,” he added before groaning softly at a particularly pleasant caress.

“I doubt I’ll unknowingly seek Raen’s bed in the future either, though he does have access to some terribly delicious drink,” Artemis mused and pulled Katarya’s hand to his lips for a gentle kiss before returning her fingers to his scalp. “As for Mila, I should be the one worried. That woman is a predator through and through. The scent of womanflesh is what drives her. That, and a disposition to stab and steal,” he said, giving Kat’s thighs a squeeze and miming the actions.

“I can’t speak to how she’s handling her father, it’s not really my place to pry, but she has thrown herself into her lessons. I imagine she’ll surpass me long before I’ve left my prime,” he said shrugging into her lap. “You should perhaps see if there’s any immortality stuff in that book of yours. You promised to teach me too,” he said waggling a finger at her.

“Speaking of, I have something to ask you,” he said as he suddenly got up onto all fours and spun around to kiss her deeply. He made the kiss linger for several long moments before letting her free. Then he brought his fingers up, to work at her clothing, letting his teeth graze her neck softly between whispers. “You haven’t told me everything that feels nice yet my Witch. I have to know these things if I’m going to serve beneath, or behind, or atop you,” he growled enticingly as he managed to get his fingers onto her pale skin.

[Katarya Frost]

Kat let out a long laugh, and reached down to cup Artemis' face in her hands. "Dearest Tinwë! You will know when I am enjoying myself from how I react. I am not going to give you a guidebook; you'll have to figure it out by yourself." She bent her head to kiss him, her hands beginning to explore him. "Let's practice."

***

Katarya was sat at the desk in her room, reading over the latest contract that had come into the Kelbé. She was frowning because it involved theft, and she felt that, just for the time being, she had had her fill of heists!

Her reading was interrupted by Nyx at her window, cawing at her.

Kat inclined her head. "He's here? Good." She stood up and looked at herself in the mirror, checking herself (she would never have thought she would have done so for any man), then took a seat again, pouring two cups of wine and waiting for Artemis to knock.

[Artemis Black]

Katarya had said she would return from her duties as a healer on the third day, and so Artemis stood before the door of the White Hart in his regular fisherman’s garb. He was getting used to the clothing, and it kept him warm when the cool wind cut through the damp nights.

With a breath to steel himself he pushed into the White Hart, displaying a confidence he was beginning to become more familiar with. He still wasn’t a favorite visitor, and his face and rounded ears drew no shortage of minor ire. Despite this, he no longer was concerned someone would stab him simply for appearing.

He still offered a short bow, much less flashy than he had given previous, and made his way over towards the stairs. “I might need to request some particular drinks later, can I do so with you or do I need to speak to the higher ups?” he asked with another small bow to one of the wait staff as she passed him.

His question answered he drifted silently up the stairs and knocked at Katarya’s door. There was a moment of silence then, “Enter Tinwë.” He grinned and pushed open the door slowly. He quickly shut it behind himself after giving Katarya a conspiratorial finger of silence to his lips. Once the door was closed he practically tackled her in a hug, nuzzling into her neck to steal her warm softness.

[Katarya Frost]

Kat let out a long laugh as Artemis tackled her, she kissed him soundly, then took him by the shoulders and smiled. "What it is to be loved by you! It's like a tonic that tastes so sweet you can't help but finish the whole bottle and continue to want more.".

She took his hand and guided him to a chair. "I have something for you."

Moving to her desk, she opened the draw and took something out. She held it out for Artemis.

It was a ring, made of silver with a small sapphire glinting in the light through her window. The silver had been worked so that it was etched with intricate patterns. "When we stole from Lady Dirge, I took one of her hair pins out. It had this sapphire on it. Over the last few days I have set about enchanting it. Nothing big, just in case you need it; you put your and on it and say 'láta', all it will do is conjure my image in your mind - just so you know that I will always be there. It will be a link, between us." She placed the ring in his hand. "I used the silver from the contract to make it, and well worth it, I think. To the Elves, a sapphire represents the height of celestial hope and faith, and was believed to bring protection, good fortune and spiritual insight. It was worn by princes of their kind, a symbol of power and strength, but also of kindness and wise judgement."

She watched him for his reaction. "I hope you like it." She added. She had never given a gift like this before, and hoped it would be well revieved.

[Artemis Black]

Artemis felt wonderful as she kissed him. The cool warmth spread from his lips into his chest and he wanted to keep kissing her forever. He held back though, knowing she’d likely wanted to do something other than lay in bed the entire evening listening to songs and looking at the stars. When she sat him down and said she had something for him he froze up. This was how terribly important things happened. The kinds of things he didn’t want to deal with today.

He watched her move to her desk and willed his cloak of cool confidence onto his shoulders. It settled, for the most part, with only the gentle twitching of his fingers betraying his nervousness. Then she handed him a ring, delicate and gleaming. He listened to her as he stared intently at the piece. It was clearly expensive, and gave off a gentle false hum of enchantment. The feeling of strangeness from latent magics.

She explained its purpose and he nodded slightly as he continued to inspect it. “It’s beautiful, I’m not sure I deserve it. I’m not used to getting gifts. First the coin pouch from Kessy, and now this. I feel as though I’m being lavished with favors,” he said with a grin as he turned the delicate silver over in his deft fingers. As the stone caught the light he noticed a small marking nestled in the setting beneath the deep blue sapphire. He moved the stone around, trying to see through it until he recognized the mark as an engraving. He squinted at its minute swirling script. “What does it say, beneath the stone?” he asked her tilting it to catch the light for her.

He tried to put the ring on his various fingers as she explained to him. It seemed to be just shy of several until it finally nestled onto his extended ring finger on his left hand. He preened, looking at his outstretched finger with its glittering adornment. Then he realized where the ring had settled and his eyes widened. A blush rose in his cheeks and he coughed once. “You didn’t- Didn’t get a specific sizing right?” he asked in a breathless whisper. “Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around too,” he added more to himself as he stared at the shining sapphire.

Now somewhat lost in thought, he said the word she’d told him, firming it in his mind, “láta.” There was a dizzying flash of her, like catching a glimpse through a closing door. Then there was the smell of her hair after the bath, the feel of her warm skin in the morning, the sound and damp heat of her breath on his neck. Artemis blinked rapidly, unsure if he was prepared for the sensations to continue. “Uh, I think you may have undersold this,” he said as he rubbed the back of his now very reddened cheeks.