Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jan 15, 2013 23:02:24 GMT -5
“Come on, nightingale! Do try to keep up.
“One day you will find me wearing pantalets instead of a dress, and I will then run faster than you,” Narbeleth called after Calon as she took off for the light waves, several steps behind him. The cool of the water did not surprise her, as she was quite used to it, but it was refreshing between her toes, along with the grittiness of the sand and the evening breeze. Oh, how sweet it was to be rid of shoes!
“How many times have you come out here, Bel?”
“You will need to stay in the waters the entire length of your visit to catch me, Cal, as I have been in the sea at the least once a day, and often more, since my stay in Belfalas has begun!” After her announcement of sorts, Beleth ducked back under the water and pushed off with her feet, coming up several yards further away. The water was still quite shallow. “I have become well practiced once again in swimming. And I think it has helped my shooting arm as well.”
The young maid flexed her arm in the air. “I cannot wait to show you what my practice has done to my aim. I should say, it does feel like childhood once more to be here in the country. I feel as if I have hardly done anything but swim, climb, and wander through forests. Brother did not realize what a nice holiday he was sending me on. Though I did miss you, hm...” The young woman ducked back beneath the waters and using the moonlight shining through as her guide, brought herself up this time just inches in front of Calon.
“How come it was that I missed you so much? For now that I think on it, we've hardly spent time together aside from our chicken chase and the ball... and just here and there among the days. I think perhaps I've thought of spending time with you... more than the actual time spent itself,” she mused, a half smile on her face.
“I suppose... I suppose that I should not waste so much time. But there was hardly anything I could do about being sent here... other than tell Fael that I would move out of Mother's home. Perhaps I could support myself on an income if I needed to do so, but I would be too frightened to live alone. He is not truly my keeper... But Mother does let him do as he wills...”
“Speaking of which, I believe I saw a wild one a few streets back—we should look into it in the daylight hours. It is far too dangerous in the night!”
“Far too dangerous!” Narbeleth agreed, wrinkling her brow at the thought of her huntsman taking on such a risk so soon after he had returned to her. A smirk returned to her face as she looked at the man in front of her, and she held in her mind a sudden urge to tackle him into the water. No, no... she could not do that. She would be no match against his strength and she knew she would end up the one underwater in an instant.
“Now, now. Do you think... if I began to swim off... that you would be able to catch me? I wonder if your time away from Belfalas has done well to diminish your stroke. You did, of course, spend all your time here as a youth, and I only had summer visits. But you have not been practicing enough to catch me. I'm sure of it.”
“A hen herder you are, but you certainly cannot catch me,” the dark haired woman challenged, suddenly turning lithely and diving ahead into the sea. She almost lost herself in laughter, but knew that it would require too much oxygen to do so, and as she made her first break for the surface, she dared not look behind!
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Calon
Man
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Posts: 145
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Post by Calon on Jan 16, 2013 15:18:07 GMT -5
“One day you will find me wearing pantalets instead of a dress, and I will then run faster than you.”
“Pantalets?” Calon nearly doubled over in laughter. “My, you are serious about beating me!” He supposed, fleetingly, it was rather unfair for him to be free of such impediment as extra fabric. Still, he was a man. A man through to his leather boots and hunting greens and affinity for a good stag to prepare. Since it was clear that he was never, ever going to even order something so feminine, let alone wear one to even the odds, the least he could do was let his nightingale try her luck in something more freeing.
“I have become well practiced once again in swimming. And I think it has helped my shooting arm as well.”
At this, the man crossed his arms and lifted his brow in interest. “Has it? Well, then, Bel, perhaps we should test that! If you are ready, maybe I will even take you on a hunt before we go back to the city!” Faeldor would never have to know. Aside, it would be completely safe! Calon had a faint inkling that if he brought Beleth with him, they would both be so bound to laughter and song that not a single deer would even come near.
It was the thought that counted, perhaps. Not the game at the end.
He listened as Narbeleth prattled on, ducking in and out of the water. A holiday? Well, as long as she thought it that way. Calon could not keep the impulsive frown from taking his eyes. Faeldor had overreacted and punished her. Punished her because of him, and he had not even done a thing to provoke it. The stable master just did not seem to like him.
His smile, though, outweighed his frown the moment she admitted that she missed him, and as she rose from the water again and continued her musings he felt more than a little proud.
“Missed me? Well, nightingale, I must say—the City is nowhere near as enticing without your energy.” He grinned. “I tried, you know, to spend more time with the men from the stables, but…” He trailed off. Calon had already made up his mind that this was the woman he was never going to let escape, she was absolutely beautiful. Still, for the time being he just shrugged and let out a mock sigh of distress. “They just do not understand my true calling like you do. And, compared to your light, they are rather dull!” The last part came dangerously close to sounding like some sort of frilly poet. But, the man mused, perhaps he could let it slide. Well, this time. Beleth had never once seemed to think him soft.
“Move out of your mother’s home? Och,” Calon snorted. “You belong there if you want to. Maybe he should—” He cut himself off and for a moment his face faltered in his disgust and bled to a bit of sadness and sympathy. He was about to suggest the man move out himself, though thought better. The man, he suppsed, was trying to. But now the woman that would have drawn him out was ill. That was nothing Calon would take lightly. “Maybe he should learn to trust you!” He decided to say instead, but his tone had changed; it was not so gruff and stubborn.
“Do you think... if I began to swim off... that you would be able to catch me?”
Calon raised a single eyebrow. “Catch you? I am the finest hen herder in Gondor! I think I stand a fair shot!” He winked. Still, Beleth seemed to wish to challenge him anyway.
“A hen herder you are, but you certainly cannot catch me.”
She dove into the water and began to swim a bit before Calon’s mind had even caught up with the challenge. He let out an exuberant laugh and turned, diving after her. No, he had not practiced in swimming much at all recently, he supposed. But he had kept up work with his arms in the stables easily enough.
Still, as Beleth moved he immediately realized that his nightingale was most certainly a faster swimmer. While perhaps his manly pride should have been wounded, he actually found it amazing. The salt water was splashing all around them, and he did pursue her with laughter and excitement.
Yes. This was the one.
“Perhaps we are unevenly matched,” Calon called as he tried to strike forward once more. “You did not tell me you were a vassal of Ulmo!” He dove under the water again, though, to try and catch her nonetheless.
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jan 16, 2013 21:34:25 GMT -5
Has it? Well, then, Bel, perhaps we should test that! If you are ready, maybe I will even take you on a hunt before we go back to the city!”
“That is a splendid idea! I am certain you have hunted all the wild game within a days ride of Minas Tirith, so we must do our hunting trip here,” she stated bluntly. Certainly, what a challenge! She would show Calon how her aim had improved, and perhaps she would even take down a beast. She would not know much of what to do with it after bringing it down, but he would be sure to teach her. She knew she could hunt. Remlas had seen to the improvement of her shooting... likely to Calon's dismay, but she had at least gained a friend and a good arm from the deal. She almost flushed at the remembrance of the disagreement that Remlas and Calon seemed to have with each other. How absurd!
“Move out of your mother's home? Och, you belong there if you want to. Maybe he should-- Maybe he should learn to trust you!”
Narbeleth frowned for a short moment, thinking on Faeldor's distrust of both herself and Calon. “That is true. Though I am afraid he still sees me as a little girl. I was only eleven when Father died and Faeldor took over the care of our household... Despite my silliness I have always been responsible and honest with him, and especially since that day. But now I am eighteen and he does not see it yet. Nineteen in fact. My birthday is next week,” the woman smiled, despite the frustration with her brother. At the moment, it almost seemed inconsequential, for what she had been banished from was Calon, and now he was right here with her. There was nothing to tell them what they might and might not do, and when they may and may not see each other for at least this week, as well as the journey home. Beleth had a mind to be more firm with her brother upon her return to the city. Perhaps Miriel needed his guidance, but this sister could come up with her own conclusions.
She had always enjoyed an autumn birthday. The days were not so unbearably hot, and the nights were cool enough to wear a shawl and use a cozy wool blanket. In Minas Tirith, in the mountains, the seasonal change was much more observable, though here in Belfalas the temperature was more mild. Still, the sea was warm enough from the months of hot summer days to allow for swimming, and though it was certain to be cool when they came from the water, they would not freeze. She smiled again, stating her challenge.
“Perhaps we are unevenly matched. You did not tell me you were a vassal of Ulmo!”
Narbeleth gained a stitch in her side when he heard the man laughing behind. She was not one to give up easily, but she laughed as she went, which considerably slowed her pace.
“You are of a family of smithies! I thought that you should sink as an anvil!” Narbeleth called back, turning to glance behind herself. Another mistake! He was gaining on her! She shot ahead again though, swimming with all her will and forgetting to breath as she went, for laughter. Soon she was growing exhausted. Certainly she would have swam better had she not been pursued by someone who made her laugh so!
The young woman found her strokes growing sloppy as she giggled her way through the gentle roll of waves. She was perhaps not swimming out to sea, but more along the coast line so she was certain her feet would still meet bottom should she make the attempt to stop. But she could not! Oh she could not give in so easily! He would certainly catch her, but she could not give up until she was completely out of breath and drowning! If she could only control her breathing! But the man's last statement was making her to laugh so, and she was almost giddy with the fact that he had made his way all the way to Belfalas... to see his family? To holiday? Or to meet with and fetch her? She had become almost certain that it was the latter of the options that had driven him so quickly here, despite his love of the sea.
Oh no, he was gaining. If only he did not shovel so much manure in the stables, he would not be so strong! If only he did not run so often to catch the city's loose chickens. Perhaps she should tell him so! But she could barely release the words, so much was her focus and energy driven to out-swim him. If only she were not wearing this dress! Though it was just a light undergarment, it was slowing her down, considerably with the drag of the fabric tangling in her legs. Oh, but any second now he would catch her! She must not let him do it easily!
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Calon
Man
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Posts: 145
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Post by Calon on Jan 16, 2013 21:59:12 GMT -5
“Sink—sink like an anvil?” Calon called back in response, near choking on the salt water that threatened to flood down his lungs as he began to nearly howl with laughter. “Perhaps my father and brother are smithies,” he conceded, but adorned once more a wild grin and glittering eyes. “But, nightingale! You know that I am not!”
He dove forward again, splashing loudly and coming closer to Beleth. She fled readily, though he noted her laughter had stilled her ability to escape so freely. She was slowing, and the man saw his chance. If he kept her laughing, perhaps he could lay a hand on her.
“I have a nobler profession!” He continued, wild strokes still drawing him nearer. “I am the Steward’s best Hen Herder! We, dear Bel, do not sink!” He was gaining. She was near gasping for breath, though still in desperate attempt to escape him. He ducked below the waves, trying to gain some speed as he went after his nightingale and tried to catch her as she requested. Still, even though she was spluttering and laughing, she was quite lithe and agile in the water, and he was sufficiently being avoided anyway.
Perhaps a different tactic. He grinned boyishly and stilled his advances for a moment and floated, kicking his legs and moving his arms to keep his body still. “Oh, but I suppose it does run in my blood—my father wanted me to be a smithy…oh! I am sinking, Bel! Sinking like an…anvil!” He feigned falling under the water by weight and hoped he had caught her enough off guard to near cripple her with laughter.
He came up, not too far from where she was. “But I am also a hunter!” He announced jovially, lunging forward and letting a hand grip for a moment her chemise before the little fish managed to squirm away. “And, Bel, I always catch my prize!” He laughed some more. “It is no use running, ocean daughter! I will get you eventually!” He twisted and reached for her again, this time brushing against the skin of her hand.
Gracious, she was speedy. Perhaps, Calon mused with great amusement, she would be the quarry that got away.
Well, at least for now.
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jan 16, 2013 22:24:06 GMT -5
“But, nightingale! You know that I am not!”
Narbeleth giggled. “No, you have chosen to chase...” she took a few more strokes. “Chickens for a living!..... but chickens do not swim! In fact, they barely even fly. I should think... that I could keep a lead on you. Since you are not practiced.... in water chases!”
“Oh, but I suppose it does run in my blood—my father wanted me to be a smithy…oh! I am sinking, Bel! Sinking like an…anvil!”
Narbeleth paused for a moment at the commotion and turned to look as she saw Calon bob himself beneath the water. His pitifully waving hands, which were obviously not drowning, caused her to burst into a near fit. “I am sorry, Cal, but I cannot risk saving you, and sinking down with the ship. Birds do not belong at the bottom of the sea!” She quickly made more strokes, trying to further the distance between herself and the man, and he was shortly after her again. “I shall send my uncle with a rowboat and rope to fetch you!” The woman broke down in laughter, writhing in the water to catch her breath.
“But I am also a hunter! And, Bel, I always catch my prize! It is no use running, ocean daughter! I will get you eventually!”
“No use running, indeed! But I am swimming!” Narbeleth shrieked, in a final attempt to burst forward. He was upon her! Oh, he had grasped the cloth of her dress and she felt him brush her hand. She could no longer out-swim him. The woman ducked beneath the surface of the water and attempted to dive down, down, and under the man and change directions, but she found herself fumbling over the wet length of cloth and coming back to the surface not much further from where she had started.
“Flee, fish, flee! The great huntsman is upon us!” she shrieked again, gurgling, laughing, and hardly moving. “I do not wish to sacrifice myself, but as it is, he will catch no other quarry. If I must be lost... I will... I will...” Narbeleth was waterlogged and in her laughter was choking on a considerable amount of water. She giggled and coughed, trying to expel it. And suddenly, she turned. “I will finish the shark before he finishes me!” she shouted, and dove as well as she might through the water, grasping Calon by the shoulders and pushing him beneath the waves. She popped back up from the water, laughing uncontrollably, holding her stomach and her head as she treaded in place.
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Calon
Man
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Posts: 145
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Post by Calon on Jan 16, 2013 23:25:04 GMT -5
“Fine, then…it will do no use swimming!” Calon laughed in reply. He was about to lurch for her again. This time, surely, he would have her. Oh! But the prey turned on the hunter. She came to him and pushed him beneath the water by his shoulders, and a trail of bubbles from his laughter rose to the surface behind him. But he knew better than to thrash himself free.
The huntsman wrapped his arms about Beleth’s legs and lifted, tossing the lady up a few inches and back down into the water. It was not enough to take her too unawares, but it was certainly enough to free his shoulders. He burst up, gasping and laughing all in the same breath, and then caught her about her waist. “I, Calon, son of Istor, am no longer,” he laughed and readjusted his hold upon the lady as she did try and continue to squirm. “No longer,” he repeated, “A humble Hen Herder! No, I am also a Nightingale Napper! All those like you should beware!” He faltered a moment though, and tilted his head.
“Though, really, Bel, it is just you that need worry. There are no others like you.”
It was a bit of a heavy thing for Calon to say, he was too prideful in his manliness to be much of a poet. He was not, however, ashamed of the truth. He grinned boyishly then and began to make a motion to swim to shore, dragging his Beleth along with him. “You are quite the prize though. All other hunters shall be jealous!” He could hardly bring himself to pull her along, though. She was still laughing, as was he, and the lady was thrashing a bit in playful protest. He was about to lose his grip, or drown from his own lack of breath.
“And so, my dearest Bel! Bel my prize!” Calon grinned. “How do you feel about challenging me now?”
He continued to pull her to shore, hauling her along in slow strokes. Indeed, they were both too lost in laughter to be fully anything quickly. “I promise, though—I will not ask you to do much in payment. Just what a nightingale does best. Sing, and be merry. There now, not so bad a deal, is it?” He tossed her a playful smile over his shoulder.
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jan 17, 2013 1:03:15 GMT -5
“I, Calon, son of Istor, am no longer... No longer...A humble Hen Herder! No, I am also a Nightingale Napper! All those like you should beware! Though, really, Bel, it is just you that need worry. There are no others like you.”
“Nightingale napper,” Beleth gasped. “Not... the feared... napper... of nightingales. What if... what if...” she struggled and flapped her hands in the water, attempting to flee. “What if I should turn into a jay bird. I could be quite annoying if I wished. Would you still chase me?” Narbeleth asked. “Jay birds call, and nag, and peck,” she reached up and as Calon attempted to swim her to shore, she mussed his hair, and pulled on his ear, and tickled his throat with her fingertips, giggling all the while.
No others like me, hm? Narbeleth wondered to herself, but commented naught, aside from a faint gleam in her eye.
“You are quite the prize though. All other hunters shall be jealous! And so, my dearest Bel! Bel my prize! How do you feel about challenging me now?”
“I feel... that upon my next course of challenging you, I should make sure... that I am wearing not a dress, but pantalets. I was simply not a fair race. Simply imagine a deer running gracefully through the forest, with the huntsman in pursuit, and suddenly the deer has it's back legs... hogtied... would the huntsman consider it a fair match?” the young woman questioned. “And I might add that eating one of your mother's delicious meals right before our expedition did not assist.”
“Though... I do suppose... if I had to choose a huntsman for to take me. It would only need be the greatest huntsman in all of Belfalas. In all of Gondor! I would fall to none other! I will be happy for the others to be jealous. They simply could not have caught me, ha,” Narbeleth struggled lightly, though she had by this point, mostly given herself up. Though... perhaps she could regain her strength...
“Now that you have caught me, what will be done with me?” Narbeleth relented her struggle for a moment and spoke in an almost fearful sounding voice. Well, it would have been fearful, had she been able to resist punctuating the question with laughter. Perhaps... perhaps if she feigned defeat he would loosen his grip and she would be free to slide away. She loosed her body and let herself go limp, kicking her feet lightly behind her to feel the water rippling between her toes. “I am simply too waterlogged to be of any use,” she sighed. “You shall have to tow me about,” she murmured pathetically. “And how then, will you be able to hunt? To ride? To bask in the glory at the end of a successful chicken chase?”
“I promise, though—I will not ask you to do much in payment. Just what a nightingale does best. Sing, and be merry. There now, not so bad a deal, is it?”
“Sing a song. This I can do. And you expect to me to merrily sing, after such a bitter defeat!?” Narbeleth sighed, and grinned, beginning on an amusing tune,
A life on the ocean wave, A home on the rolling deep, Where the scattered waters rave, And the winds their revels keep! Like an eagle caged, I pine On this dull, unchanging shore: Oh! give me the flashing brine, The spray and the tempest's roar!
Once more on the deck I stand Of my own swift-gliding craft: Set sail! farewell to the land! The gale follows fair abaft. We shoot through the sparkling foam Like an ocean-bird set free; -- Like the ocean-bird, our home We'll find far out on the sea.
The land is no longer in view, The clouds have begun to frown; But with a stout vessel and crew, We'll say, Let the storm come down! And the song of our hearts shall be, While the winds and the waters rave, A home on the rolling sea! A life on the ocean wave!
By the end of her song, Narbeleth found that the man had dragged her nearly to shore, and she had not loosed from her captor as she had planned, but stayed with him. He was warm against the cool water, and it comforted her as her body cooled from the exercise. Narbeleth had encircled Calon's neck with one arm as she let herself to be pulled along, paddling lightly with the other and kicking her legs to stay afloat.
“If a merry song is all you demand, shall I be released now, then? Or perhaps you wish for more.” By this point, the man and woman could easily touch the sandy bottom, and Narbelth's toes dropped to the ground. She stopped moving and stood. “I have many more songs,” she stated happily. “You have only heard a dozen or two... but I could sing that many in one day, and double that in another.”
“And if you kept me for a third day, I might triple that number, and quadruple on the fourth day... and do not even wonder for the fifth day, for there are more, as I have been singing for my entire life. One learns a few ditties in that time,” Beleth smiled, and shivered slightly as her shoulders dripped in the cool evening air. “You may have to chase me a few times though, between songs, for I have always been told I am teeming with energy, and I don't think that I could simply sing and not run."
Narbeleth's arms had joined around Calon's neck, where they remained, tightly, and embraced him. “And do not think that you should always catch me. For there may be times that I will catch you, instead.” She looked up to the man to study his reaction in the moonlight. "Even as I wear a dress... of sorts," she grinned.
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Poetry: "A Life On the Ocean" by Epes Sargent
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Calon
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Post by Calon on Jan 17, 2013 10:27:20 GMT -5
Calon was proud as he successfully wrangled Beleth into a bit of better grasp. Even as they moved along toward the shore, she began to sing. And, Calon was sure, it was the most wonderful thing he had ever heard her sing yet. The very tune felt of freedom. He looked toward her, for a moment softening the twinkle in his merry eyes to spy her in the moonlight.
He did not gaze upon her long after that, though, and continued tugging her along behind him. As her song ended, he grinned. “That, nightingale, is the best one so far,” he observed pleasantly. Though, he certainly had found himself humming some of her other songs as of late about his home. Even his grandparents had noticed.
“If a merry song is all you demand, shall I be released now, then? Or perhaps you wish for more.”
Calon smiled and almost turned to answer her, but Beleth prattled on. She explained that she knew many more songs, and could, by the sound of it, sing very well until the end of the age. This was, surprisingly, quite fun to listen to—Calon was certain that she had the finest voice in all of Arda, and he had every intention of listening to her make song until the very end of his days. Even if Beleth did not know it yet.
They were in the shallower part of the sea now, and Calon’s feet were planted well upon the sandy bottom. He turned to her, eyes sparkling. He recalled those weeks before when he had been this close to her right before her house. There had been something he had desired to do, though Faeldor had readily interrupted them and ushered Beleth inside. Perhaps, he mused pleasantly, it had been for the better. Because why should that have been the perfect place or time?
This was far better.
“Maybe I should let you go, so that I can have you catch me," Calon mused aloud, a bit of laughter in his words. "Though before that, I think I shall enjoy my prize a bit longer. Perhaps I do wish for another payment,” Calon began airily. He smiled boyishly, eyes dancing, and arm now gripping her a bit closer. “But right now, I think we shall save your music.”
With one hand he tilted Beleth’s chin, and then without even a hint of hesitation he pressed his lips to hers. Her lips tasted salty from the sea water, but he could not have been more pleased. Even before he had pulled back, Calon smiled.
Once away, he looked down at her with a tilt of his head and mock consideration. “Oh yes. I believe that payment is much better,” he declared with a nod. And Faeldor was nowhere near to ruin the moment.
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jan 17, 2013 12:49:42 GMT -5
“Maybe I should let you go, so that I can have you catch me. Though before that, I think I shall enjoy my prize a bit longer. Perhaps I do wish for another payment, But right now, I think we shall save your music.”
Narbeleth gasped lightly as she felt Calon's warm breath upon her. She smiled to him, though, and as he gifted her her very first kiss, she leaned against him. She felt neither a flush nor embarrassment come over her as she stood with him, for it seemed perfectly natural. A light feeling took her chest, and she felt herself become emotional over the quick change in mood. But for a man so strong and quick, his lips were so tender. What was her heart to do?
“Oh yes. I believe that payment is much better.”
The young woman simply smiled in response, looking bright-eyed back to Calon. He would not notice a tear of joy upon her face in this lighting, and with her hair already dripping so. In answer, she had naught but a song, not dropping her gaze upon him through the entirety of it. Her eyes were twinkling upward as if they had in reality been filled with the light of stars, and her tune was joyful.
“THE twilight hours, like birds, flew by As lightly and as free, Ten thousand stars were in the sky, Ten thousand on the sea; For every wave, with dimpled face, That leaped upon the air, Had caught a star in its embrace, And held it trembling there.”
As she finished, the young woman embraced the man fully, pressing her damp cheek against his shoulder, and wrapping her arms about his waist beneath the water. She smiled, and continued her tune as a hum for a few moments before speaking. She could not remember a time in her life that she had been more content.
“Perhaps... we will play chase again tomorrow. We cannot lack a chase, for I need to keep you in shape. The chickens of the city should be going wild by now, with you gone this many days already, and you will have your work cut out when we return. But... I would rather not be let go tonight, if you understand.”
Narbeleth looked up again as she continued, eyes still a glimmer, “ You might keep your prize for a time. You won it fairly, after all. And you might have your preferred payment again. I certainly wouldn't mind,” she allowed, her hand sliding up once more up along Calon's neck, and into his tussle of dripping hair.
She mused, for a moment, on her brother, Faeldor, attempting to ascertain in her mind what her he had against this man. What was there not to enjoy? What was there to fear? Nothing, she concluded, letting herself to trace Calon's face. And she need not fear a thing. There was nobody here to take Calon from her, to send her into her home, or to lecture her. Certainly her Aunt and Uncle would not miss her, as they were quite carefree with all of their charges in the safety of Belfalas. And aside, they knew Calon's family. The house of Istor lacked no respect.
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Calon
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Post by Calon on Jan 17, 2013 13:06:22 GMT -5
Calon was more the proud and excited that Beleth had clearly enjoyed his kiss. Perhaps at one point he would have thought it not so manly and tough to let a woman have a hold upon you, but there in the seas of Belfalas, he knew he had been wrong.
It was, perhaps, more manly to be able to take a woman’s breath away—to make her beam like a ray of light. And aside, he still hunted and was sound in strength. No harm done.
The huntsman studied her face once again. No. Absolutely no harm done. And then! Beleth began to sing to him once again. He wondered at it a moment. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps she would know a song to sing to him every single day, maybe more than one, for the rest of her life and never repeat one.
“Is that how I should get my nightingale to sing?” He asked brightly, taking finger and lightly tapping her nose. “Because I daresay, that was quite the tune that I seemed to have earned.” He grinned.
Beleth mentioned that perhaps they could play chase again the next day. Calon smirked, about to say something in reply that such a thing would certainly be the case, that they should try all types of places for this game to make it fresh, new and lively. To change the playing field. But never would he want to change the players. Still, Beleth said something that made him almost giddy, a feeling he never thought he would experience. “I would rather not be let go tonight, if you understand.”
“Well, Bel,” he hummed lightly. “I think perhaps I know precisely what you mean.” My, he was dangerously close to feeling a bit too far from his masculinity. Calon quickly righted it with a wild grin. “Though, I don’t think either of us have to worry. I am not about to let my hard work go to waste! It has taken me quite a while to catch you right.”
He tilted his head back in laughter. Yes, it certainly had taken him a time. He had been chasing her, he decided, since that very first trip to the market when he had found her nameless and full of joy. Well, that had certainly lasted many weeks, then. He deserved another reward!
Calon once more pressed his lips to hers, smiling even as he did so. What of it, Faeldor? The man thought absently. Oh, if the stable master could see them now!
This time around, he was much slower in releasing her, and for a moment lingered near her to feel her breath upon his face. His smile widened. “I am quite pleased,” he finally declared jovially. “It is quite better the second time!”
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jan 17, 2013 15:42:09 GMT -5
“Is that how I should get my nightingale to sing? Because I daresay, that was quite the tune that I seemed to have earned.”
“You have earned any tune that you desire, my huntsman, for so delighting your prey,” the woman laughed as he tapped her upon the nose. “You need only ask, and your nightingale will always sing for you. In fact, most times you likely will not have to ask.” She hummed a moment though did not begin singing again yet.
“Well, Bel, think perhaps I know precisely what you mean. Though, I don’t think either of us have to worry. I am not about to let my hard work go to waste! It has taken me quite a while to catch you right.”
Did he truly understand? He seemed to be honest with her. The way his arms continued to hold her close, it seemed that he was truthful. Narbeleth adored the man. She had never imagined that she would end up with a man like him, or perhaps even be interested in one at all... but now that she had, there was nothing to stop her from letting herself fall into the thought more and more. How she had missed him! She squeezed him tightly.
The young woman nodded in agreement. “Quite awhile, but you have done it, I believe, in the right way. Had you picked a different time, we would have both been... too busy, to enjoy it so.” It was the truth! Had the man caught her up in a way in Minas Tirith, certainly their joy would have been forestalled, as the city streets were not the easiest place to find an alone time, and their houses both housed too many ears. No chase of sorts could have occurred, for someone was certain to stop them. She smiled to herself thinking, that perhaps the most empty space they could find in the city would have been yet again atop the beacon tower. And that came with the risk of being caught!
“I am quite pleased. It is quite better the second time!”
Narbeleth grinned and did not delay to press her lips against Calon's cheek. There was nothing to keep her from doing so. The cool waves and air only encouraged her more, for she found a warmth and shelter in Calon's grip.
“Curiousity has always been part of my nature, I almost think that the third would be better than the first two, and the idea of simple experimentation would leave me to believe that each consecutive would be more exciting” Narbeleth grinned. “We might find out that it simply an an improvement of exponential nature with each...” and as she spoke, she drew the man's face down to her and gifted him another kiss, lingering, as her arms twined back 'round his neck and the gentle waves splashed against them. She giggled slightly against his lips, but could not bring herself to release him.
Ah, but what fun he was, her Calon. She saw that she could make him very happy, and she had a mind to do so. How, she was not completely certain. Perhaps, well... perhaps the whole time away from Minas Tirith, and the grief she had felt as she attempted to write the man and her family bright and cheerful letters about her stay... well, it had all been worthwhile. For had she not come here. Had Faeldor gone easy on her situation and let her stay in Minas Tirith, he would have certainly restricted her time with Calon. Such a lovely evening could have never occurred.
“Faeldor would not approve,” Narbeleth giggled suddenly, announcing what the both of them were thinking. “And do you know what I think of that, Cal, dearest?” she kissed the man again upon his cheek, and dug her toes into the sand to reach his brow.
“I think, I wish that we could simply stay here, and keep company. We will return to the city and he will try to keep me from you...” she sighed, burrowing her forehead against the man's shoulder again, though despite the disappointment at that thought, she could not keep from smiling lightly. She was still entirely pleased with the present moment. “And I will simply tell him that he may not stop me from seeing you... until he locks me up in my room for eternity,” Narbeleth mused for a moment, trying to force a better thought, but she could not come up with a way to keep this pleasant hold on the man and still return to Minas Tirith. Faeldor would not keep her away from this joy.
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Calon
Man
Stablehand
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 145
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Post by Calon on Jan 17, 2013 20:03:35 GMT -5
Beleth took his lips one more time, and Calon could not help but smile. Yes, he found himself musing. Yes, the third time was even greater. When his nightingale had finally moved away though, the man forced a frown—which was rather difficult since all he really wanted to do was beam in cheer. “Well, nightingale,” he began. “I am afraid you are right. That one was even nicer. I suppose we have ourselves a dilemma.” He paused. “Perhaps we should do a study, in the name of academics of course, to see if this is exponential or not.” He finally could no longer hold the pensive pout to his face, though, and laughed. “I think it is a study, though, that shall take all our lives!”
Calon’s mood soured a little at the thought of Faeldor and his inevitable wrath over he and Beleth’s interactions, and it curdled more so when Beleth agreed that he would be displeased. Still, for a moment his heart lightened as she took to kissing him once more.
“I think, I wish that we could simply stay here, and keep company. We will return to the city and he will try to keep me from you...”
Calon tilted his head in thought, watching Beleth’s dancing eyes in the moonlight, and feeling quite comfortable with her there against him. No, he decided. Faeldor was not going to ruin this for him.
So, there was only one thing left to do.
“Well before we go, we will wed. He could not deny me my wife,” he declared simply. Perhaps a normal courtship would never have happened this way; he imagined that most were flowery, frilly and not as much fun. Nor, he decided, could they be as perfect.
“We can tell them when we get back,” he continued. “While this place is farther away from your brother, I moved to the White City to escape this place, and I very much intend to have you with me there.”
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jan 17, 2013 21:35:18 GMT -5
"A challenge, it sounds," Narbeleth mused. "And if it should take us our whole lives to find the answer, then so be it. True scientists would never leave such a theory untested." Narbeleth felt light, and almost breathless at simply the idea. Calon's lips were so wonderful and desirable to her... she studied him for a moment as she decided if they should perform some more tests, when Calon came out with his marvellous plan.
"Well before we go, we will wed. He will not deny me my wife."
"That...." Narbeleth answered slowly, "...is the perfect idea. Nothing could keep us apart in that case. And Faeldor could not do this again." She waved her arm at the ocean as if motioning to Belfalas. He had imprisoned her here.... a beautiful and wild prison it was, but she had been forced here nonetheless. Away from all the people she wished to be with. Especially her Calon. She had grown in attatchment to him in a way she simply could not express. She recalled back on the journey here... how ill she had felt. "We can tell them when we get back. While this place is farther away from your brother, I moved to the White City to escape this place, and I very much intend to have you there with me."
Narbeleth hummed happily, placing her hand upon Calon's chest. "Calon, son of Istor, tell me now as plainly as the stars above us that you love me as I love you, and we will go to Dol Amroth tomorrow and be wed."
"Sleep here with me by the shore, and we will leave early with the dawn... I am so pleased that I will not bear you to be apart from me this night...we will not be missed until we return, and what a marvelous surprise we will have for our families. Then we might hunt and explore and venture in the wilds as we will with no hindrance." Narbeleth planned, with a content smile upon her face, the joy in her words was apparent and she spoke fluidly, as if it had been the plan all along. Why, before Calon had come this afternoon, she hardly would even admit to courting him. They had never been as such officially. But what did official word mean anyhow, when one's heart was so full and content?
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Calon
Man
Stablehand
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 145
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Post by Calon on Jan 17, 2013 22:14:40 GMT -5
At first, Calon wondered if he had overstepped his bounds and offended Beleth with his rashness. But then something happened that perhaps Calon had not expected, but had certainly enjoyed hearing. “That...is the perfect idea. Nothing could keep us apart in that case. And Faeldor could not do this again." The smile that came to young Calon’s lips was brighter than anything else in the night sky.
“No, he could very well not,” Calon agreed. “You would be mine—not his.” He could hardly contain his elation that the woman had agreed. Theirs, he was sure, was the fastest courtship in the history of Arda, for it had gone from friends to betrothed with nothing in between.
Then, Beleth asked him to declare his love for her. She assured him that if he did, they would have the shortest betrothal in all of Arda too. Now that, Calon simpered pleasantly, was the way to have it be. “Well, Narbeleth, daughter of Faelon, Nightingale of Minas Tirith and envy of many, I would not be happy with another for my wife! You, Bel, are the feather to my hen, the arrow to my bow, the straw to my stable! You, nightingale, are the love of my life.”
He moved his hands from around her waist, opting instead to grip her arms and grin.
“There is no tower we shall not climb, there is no quarry we will not catch, and there is no one who will ever convince me that you are not the perfect woman to keep up with me and my House.” He laughed. “So let’s away to Dol Amroth in the morning—we should not wait!”
The thought, in fact, of sleeping there on the beach with this lady completely thrilled him. Remlas would have to find himself another—Beleth was his, and come the morning, nobody would be able to speak otherwise.
He let his hand fall and grasp hers, turning and beginning to wade to the sandy beach, water dripping in rivers from his body and hair. “Once we have finished, Bel, I should stop in and buy you a ring from one of the jewelers. Otherwise, someone else might try and take you!” He winked to her, though not a thing he had spoken had been false.
“And to think, Faeldor sent you here so you and I could not see each other,” he mused lightly. The man was certainly feeling loquacious now that his spirits were so high. “And now! Now we shall see each other every day!”
He turned to her suddenly, once more drawing her close and wrapping his arms about her. “We will have adventures, Beleth! I will find us a home on the fourth tier. I do not mind if you should have a fancy dress or any ceremony for our union. After all,” he grinned, “Formal weddings are such frilly affairs!”
And then, once more the stable hand took her lips with his.
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jan 17, 2013 23:44:08 GMT -5
"If we waited, I am certain that we should miss an adventure," Beleth agreed happily. "I see no reason to keep from partaking in a joyful union with you, my Calon. Our time together will be all the better if I am yours, and you are mine, for no one can rightly contest our intentions or desires."
The couple moved from the water into the clear, evening air. The moon shone brightly on the sand as it stuck to Beleth's toes and ankles. The woman took a deep breath of air, and then sighed and shivered together, for the night was cool. Her chemise stuck to her skin as she dripped a trail of water from the cloth and her long hair upon the sand.
Calon had taken her in a kiss one more, and Narbeleth pulled away, a gleam in her eye. I shall wear just this, and you that," she afreed. We need not change for our marriage vows... though perhaps..." She looked down the beach. A long way away, it seemed, was a pile of shoes and Calon's shirt, as well as Narbeleth's dress. "Perhaps we should dress more fully tomorrow, so as not to seem crazed. Now, I do not mind if you know that I am crazed and despise heavy clothing, but I would hate if the marriage would be deemed unacceptable because of it."
Narbeleth kicked her feet in the sand. "But right now it does not matter. You are warm and handsome as is," the woman stated emphatically, drawing near the man once more. "I hope I am not to giddy to rest tonight.... come, let us fetch our bedding, she motioned down the shore to their discarded clothing, "and find a cove in which to sleep. Then I shall sing to you once more, my weary traveler and sooth his muscles, while we watch the waves catch the stars, and plan our many adventures."
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