ROV (ADD AS I EDIT NEW VERSION)

Chapter 8

Seeing Tavol almost break apart before her made her heart ache as she felt his heart breaking, possibly seeing her death over and over in his head. Instead she placed her head on his back and held him close.

"Let's take it day by day then." It was more for the both of them to heal from whatever this feeling was.

He turned to her, smiling weakly. "I'd like that."


It took a half hour of his ears rounding and pointing to make sense of it. Touching the soft skin to feel that it was truly pointed, the tingling as his magic changed the shape of his ears felt like sparks on her fingertips but she liked it.
She looked to the door feeling as if she was ready to be outdoors, to see the people that once she thought were actors. She wanted to see everything, feel their powers and most of all apologize for how she acted when she first met those people- her own kind. "Can we go somewhere? Not around the market but maybe a garden if there is one."
He nodded. "To the garden we go." He raised himself from the bed keeping his hand outstretched for her.
Falencia took it gladly, realizing they were in front of each other and she could feel the warmth of his body radiating off of his chest onto her own, her face near inches from his. Before his lips could touch her forehead she placed a hand on his chest. "Wait." She said, "I need something better, another outfit perhaps that's a little more...appropriate." Not only was she trying to avoid his smoldering gaze but she didn't want to feel underdressed again..
His nod was polite, his hand dropped from her waist, Falencia hating the lack of heat as he walked over to the dresser and came back with two things neatly folded in his hands. "I do have this."
Shaking hands grasped at the leather boned corset before her and admired its black panels sewed together with gold thread, the rope a slight gold tint as she saw the loops in the back that held the corset tight together. "It's beautiful." She started to loosen the rope more and stepped within it pulling the corset up over her hips and tunic. "Can you help me?" She turned before she could see the other gift he had for her and he placed it down on the bed before he started to tighten the corset around her.
Once it was set his hands rested on her waist, lingered a little longer then it probably should have but he enjoyed the feel of her, the warmth he could feel even through the leather. "All set." He finally rasped between clenched teeth.

Turning, she was closer than she anticipated, his green eyes searched hers looking at her lips that made her lick them in anticipation. She raised her arms to touch his chest, to feel his warm skin through his tunic to separate them from a possible kiss. "What else was it that you had for me?" Her voice broke the tension. These feelings scared her. How could she feel so strongly for someone she had just met?
"It was all yours before and I knew you would want it back.." He gestured to her clothing, the corset that seemed to fit her all too well and the small pouch. She wondered why he had kept such things but she dared not ask the connection she was already starting to wonder about. "This is yours as well. You would put your dagger in this pouch."
Falencia awed at that beautiful sigil before her of birch trees painted on its front. She buckled it on to her hip and the other around her thigh as soon as she could loving the light feel of it all. "Thank you Tavol." Words couldn't describe how honored she felt. To have something of hers, of her past life, she hoped it would be enough to help her understand all that had happened. "I had a dagger in here before? Such a strange thing to have for a royal."
His smile startled her and he held out his hand for her to take it willingly. "You were definitely a different breed, I'll tell you that. Now let me show you the beauty of our garden, My lady. Though it doesn't come close to your own." The wink made her catch her giggle.
The sound made cheeks heat, out of habit her head bowed but she followed him realizing she would follow him anywhere.

She stopped at the top of the stairs staring in awe as her eyes scanned the garden below. Every light, every color on the flowers' intricate designs floored her and the sun that was shining down on a large pond in the center of it all with large rose bushes on either side. Somehow this garden was perfect, placement and the colors that just made the world seem calm, beautiful and happy. Colorful fish were jumping within the pond, feeling as if the fish seemed to love the beauty and heat from the sun's rays and maybe feeling that this place was where she needed to be after all.
"They're beautiful. This whole place is stunning."
"Just like you." Hand on the small of her back caused her breath to hitch and heart to quicken. Why couldn't she control herself around him?