The Whispering Shadows of Valhalla

The Shadowed Embrace

Robertus has returned again to the gardens, the royal guards have left, and it is a quiet. The sun has started to sink. The sky of the garden is cloudy and a dark purple, as synthetic rain storm is being prepared. The clouds give the garden a gloomy feel as lightning starts to ripple in the synthetic clouds. He will have to hurry along he can't hang around and get soaked.

"Aaron, you can stay here with the others." Robertus says as he opens the door to the garden.

He lives the three imperal guards there as he walks off alone. The garden is eerily quiet, as the animals that live in the garden settle in for the storm. He is surprised that she would be out here once it starts to storm.

A crackle of lighting lights up the garden, he looks off towards the flower fields. Juniper is probably over there, when she is stressed she likes to go and care for the flower bed, dead heading and caring for the plants. She has always found peace in this, since they were children. It's how he met her. Down in the Mir Center garden caring for a wilting flower with her great uncle. Helping that plant to blossom helped their own love to do the same.

He moves through the plants carefully, searching the darkening garden for her. He moves slowly trying to be aware of any possible sound that would give away Juniper.

He stops; hearing rustling. He swings around and sees nothing. He feels someone jumping on to him tackling him to the ground he rolls around for a moment. He pins them to the ground, their skin is soft.

"I can't believe you would do that," the voice of Juniper cuts through the darkness.

Robertus lets go of her sitting on the soft ground cross legged. Lightning flashes letting him see Juniper for a quick moment, She is smiling at him, their eyes meet for a mere heartbeat, he sees with in them sadness and worry.

He can feel her lightly punch his arm, "So you are going to be going to the game soon? I thought you would already be gone."

"Come on, get in here," Robertus says pulling in Juniper into a hug, he holds her tightly, rocking her slightly. "I was going to, but I wanted to see you first. I will admit Aaron is waiting for me so that we can all go."

"How sweet," Juniper says with a sharpness to her sweet voice.

"Is it so bad that I wanted to say goodbye for the night?" Robertus whines playing into her sharpness.

Robertus feels Juniper rub her cheek against his as she moves to whisper in his ear, "That's a shame, I was hoping you would be game to celebrate Korë's promotion." He shudders softly at the warmth of her breath. He almost jumps when she playful bites on his earlobe.

"I.. I never said I didn't want to do that." Robertus stammers, he pushes Juniper down again, hovering over her. Lighting lights the garden again, Juniper is biting her soft rose pink lips. Her platinum hair glows in the flash of light.

Juniper raises her head kissing him, "Well then I better see you, or I guess me and Korë will have a nice night just the two of us."

Lights from the palace flash, "I think Aaron is telling me to go, you should too, it's going to start raining soon." Robertus gets off of her, standing up brushing off his robes.

"I think I am going to stay a while." Juniper sits up. "Just be safe."

Robertus sighs, "I am going to be with Aaron and the other Imperial Guards, someone would have to be a fool to try something. Plus I am in Parba, I don't think I have anything to worry about." He chuckles a bit to himself at the idea of someone trying to do something to him.

The lights flash in the palace again, Robertus grumbles, "Usually he is so patient."

Juniper giggles, "The rain is probably going to start soon."

Robertus reaches out into the darkness feeling around for Juniper, finding her he brings her in again. He holds her close to his chest and listens to her heartbeat, he kisses her forehead. "I will be back in a few hours."