Darkness descended rapidly, a curtain of black pinned with a thousand stars, but it did not mask the light that came from the pale snow underfoot. Lilith ran a hand through her hair, growing ever-more restless as she padded through the white drifts in her leather boots. A hand reached out and rested upon her shoulder, causing her to spin around in alarm. A familiar face greeted her, and she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd held. "Roland, sir" she said quietly, vainly trying not to disturb the night's hush.
"Lilly," he smiled, and her stomach clenched at the use of her current identity.
She gestured vaguely to their surroundings, "What brings you, sir, out in such weather?" she asked, trying to maintain her masquerade.
"The most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes upon," he answered courteously, his hand moving from her shoulder down to grasp her hand.
"I see you have not yet met any others." she said, "This game grows tiresome," she said, feigning boredom. "Shall we indulge in a different one?" she asked, purposefully glancing downwards before meeting his eyes with a sultry grin.
"I do like the way you think, my dear," he responded gallantly, gesturing to the inn that rested in a bank of snow not far to their left. "I know of the keeper," he said to her confusion, if that were true it would not bode well for her.
"Nay," she answered, "We shall go to a place where no one will know us and we will act the King and Queen," she said, reaching up and running a finger beneath his chin.
"Is that not theft?" he asked. "Impersonating these untrue monarchs for the betterment of ourselves?"
"Of course it is, but danger is a game that flirts to enviously with passion,"
"I think not, nay," he said, "I think it not the best of things to do at such a time where war bears fruits in every inn and tavern,"
"You've no love of such games?" she asked, genuinly curious.
"I bear no love of war," he walked slowly, and she savoured the feel of the cold's tongue that licked her skin and raised goose-flesh on her arms. She had never met a man who did not bear a love of war, who did not hold love for the sweet release of running one's blade across another's throat and watching the life spill from him in mere moments. Lilith glanced over at this man, Roland, and wondered what games he did enjoy. He certainly enjoyed women, their skirts he found a hindrance it would seem.
"Come then," he told her, noticing how slow a pace they had adopted.
Lilith said nothing as she walked hastily at his side, her hands clenched around the fabric of her skirts as she attempted to avoid stepping on them. It took her a moment to realize where it was they were going. She decided to play his growing game.
"I- I don't know how to ride a horse, sir," she said quietly.
Roland gestured with a grin, "We are doing no riding, dearest Lilly." He took a hold of her arm and brought her forward as though urging a frightened colt. Lilith could feel the tremors in his arm, betraying his excitement. She said nothing but walked tentatively, as she feigned her fright. They entered the stables, and warmth blew across her face from the many breathing horses and their warm bodies crowding the stalls.
As they neared an empty stall she could feel Roland's demeanor change as swiftly as the wind. He pushed her into the stall, and closed the door while she stumbled and picked herself up off of the ground. "Wh-what are we doing in here?" she asked tremulantly. He did not respond as he turned around with a ghost of a charming smile with a more manic twist.
Her eyes widened in true surprise as she stepped back, one hand sliding behind her back; checking if her blade still rested in the waist of her skirts. Lilith watched as he approached her, before his hands grasped at her skirts and roughly pulled them downwards, piling them around her legs. Roland leaned in, nuzzling her neck as his hand delved between her legs. She threw her head back and gasped at his touch, trying to remind herself of what she'd been ordered - payed - to do. He licked her collarbone and moved his hand faster between her legs forcing her breath to come out in shallow gasps. It was all she could do to stay in character as she spread her legs a bit further before looking him in the eyes.
