Always mine (Tasa, Gregor)

[Lovely]

November 27, 2009
early morning
Devhano Palace
follows: The Offering and Missed



"I'm right here, love.. just gone to gather clean dressings.. you called?" Blots his forehead gently..

Gregor was still dazed, half lost to the worlds and lost further to the moons. Movement was slow to come back to him and his body felt strange and heavy. And certainly padded. His eyes were fogged and would only open so far, but he could see the bandages. His head wouldn't lift from the pillow, but turned slightly. "Hey.. yeah... did I get thrown by my horse? What happened?"

Her smile though soft and adoring showed the worry that pulled at her deeply. Her dark eyes washed over him and she leaned to kiss his pale lips softly. "Shh.. yes.. you did.. my brave warrior. You'd not let your injuries stop you from defending us.. you stuborn man." She whispered, her hand curled to hold his face gently.

He tried to smile and kiss back, but felt numb. Numb but not weak, yet unable to move much of anything further than a twitch. His eyes followed her. "I did? From wha-... defending? We were riding," he tried to remember. "There was a fight?"

"My sister found herself a suitor out in the night.. and there was a bit of a misunderstanding.. they thought we were attacking and we assumed he was an enemy.. blades crossed.." Her eyes misted over a little as she gazed down at his handsome face. "You pushed me aside.. I'm going to have to have a talk with you about that.. being all honorable and defending your lady."

"I did that?" He smiled a little, though it was awkward and twisted. "Of course.. I'll defend you to the day I die, Tasa. You and this court. So how many of them were there with this ... suitor... did we finish him off? Is her honor saved?"

"Her honor was not in danger.. well maybe but I have learned she was striking a deal with him in an attempt for peace and perhaps some happiness for herself. It took a good fight to learn all that but eventually.." She trailed off, her concern for him growing deeper.

"Your eyes hold fear still. What is it? The king? You said deals of peace.. has the king...?"

She shook her head, fighting but losing the battle and a single tear slid down her cheek. "No.. not the king.. Gregor.. " Her fingers brushed his cheek as her voice was lost for a moment.

"Your sister? We were too late, then?" He'd not seen her eyes so wet since knowing her save once before a particularly brutal battle. Was he being sent out again and she wouldn't tell him? He tried to raise his arm, fumbling and straining, feeling now the pain that surged through his form as if lightning flowed through him. He cried out, astonished by the sound of his own pain. What had happened to him? Gasping for words around the shock he shifted as he could. "Ta... Tasian.. ," his eyes held the questions he couldn't speak. Did she cry for him?

His voice broke the dam and she let a small sob part her lips as she leaned to rest her damp cheek against his, a soft flow of tears coming now. "Love.. don't leave me." She whispered. "Stay with me.. accept my eternal kiss.. but please don't leave me alone in this world without you.." She pleaded softly, her fingers grasping his tightly.

[Lovely]

Flashes of events came into his mind though few made sense. Someone fast as he and as strong... stronger.. was he pulled from his horse? It was no human soldier, it couldn't have been. Was it even a soldier or was it all a dream and he'd merely been felled by an unseen branch? He swallowed dryly, looking now for the numbness and craving it as his whole body surged with sharp ache. His back... was that why he could not move? He would not hear it... it could not happen. He was a soldier sworn to protect the highest court of Devhano. He would not be shamed into becoming an invalid. "I... will not leave you," he insisted, though he did not know how he could remain... not like this.

"Promise?" She sniffled, lifting her head a bit, her face wet with tears that flowed heavily, more than he'd ever seen. "Would you accept me? Would you let me.. make you mine forever?"

He longed to touch her cheek, reassure her, console her and kiss the salt of her tears away but the motion of his arm set the pain in motion once more. "What... what are you talking about? Tasa.. I won't leave you, ever. I'm just... I'll be good as new. A few days, catch my breath."

Her eyes closed, her face contorting as though she felt his pain and her head shook as though denying it all. Her hands let go of his and she opened her eyes to gaze at him. "Gregor..please.. I'll die.. if you go.."

Catching his breath wasn't easy. He'd felt the peculiar rasp already, his voice thin and light... and such pain... He couldn't take in any more air and what he did felt like it wasn't enough. Swallowing against it and trying not to pant like an overheated dog, he lay still a moment, his eyes watching her as intently as the fog would allow. The sharp glow of her beautiful eyes was only blurred and damp shadows. He would not stay if looking in her eyes left him only shadows. "S... something ... just something for the pain," he admitted softly, trying to keep his eyes open against the surge.

She threw a wrapping at him in frustration, her sound of pain and anger echoing through the room. "Gregor.. listen to me.. please, there is not much time.. " She was on the verge of losing what little grip she had on rational behavior.. he was everything to her and without him, there was nothing worth figthing for anymore. She was close to simply taking him, forcing the change over him.. he would not hear her.. and she could not let him go.

"Tas...Tasa, please," he whispered. He felt like he should sleep and let the pain wash away through his dreams. She was throwing things at him... all he wanted was a little sleep and the pain to stop. "What's g... going on? Just...," he paused. ...until the day I die... he heard in his ears, somehow hearing her voice on a distant wind, calling after him, seeking him, wanting him by her side... so distant it seemed. "Tasian," his voice had nearly left him.... was this what it was to find death? His eyes were held as sharply in focus as he could force them, begging her closer. "Don't... let me... leave."

[Lovely]

Her head snapped back towards him at his words.. she would not let him go! She lunged, landing on top of him with precision and force, knowing it would cause him pain but that pain would keep him with her longer. Her eyes were ablaze as she hovered over him. "I love you." She whispered, moving so fast it was almost unseen, her mouth found his pumping vein in his neck, tearing it open to let his crimson flow warmly into her mouth. She was not gentle or merciful knowing he was so close to slipping away, a moments hesitation could be the difference between him going or staying with her. She drank deeply and harshly and finally she slashed open her own throat and lifted his head to press his mouth to the flow there that would heal, restore, and renew him.

The scream of agony was lost in a moment as she bounded over him, rending open his flesh. He was unable to struggle though every instinct as a warrior was with him to try. That strength flowed from him to her and shortly back again to him with her own, a different, more cunning and darker strength he'd never before tasted. He could not swallow nor move, but merely let the fluid course out and in, his eyes closing gently with tears at first damp then fully flowing then the lightest of pink before red and slowed as the effect took hold. He swallowed now, gurgling though no cough came, no air flowed, but he swallowed, aware, awake, and the pain slowly easing away. Another moment and the taste became craving, want, lust, love, his want for her, his want for life. His arm rose full of strength it had lacked moments before, pulling her to his mouth, eager to stay.

She knew it would take a few minutes to completely heal the damage that had brought him to the edge and for that reason let him take much more of her than was required. Letting him take her added strength to help regain his. Her mouth was painted with him as his was with her, when he pulled her to his kiss. The intensity that she felt was returned, her love still pouring from her, now through her mouth which was claimed and clung to his.

His eyes opened slowly and his other hand rose to his neck where she'd torn him open. Holding the smear of crimson where he could see it, he focused, confused, rubbing his thumb through the smudge on his fingertips. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Her eyes shuttered and opened, looking just a touch tired, but her smile was adoring. "Not at all.. maybe you can later.." Her thumb brushed over his lip where she'd missed cleaning up the paint, clearing it away now. "How do you feel?"

"Pain's gone," he smirked a little, trying to catch her thumb, but missing. "What did you do? I can move. Feel strange still. Weak, but not really, strong, but... different."

Tasa smiled, leaned down to kiss him and letting herself rest against him now. "I gave you my kiss.. shared the gift I was born with.. I made you mine Gregor.. for always."

"I was already... wasn't I?" The confusion would take time to filter away. He rubbed his fingers more and finally settled his hand to her shoulder, curling her closer. He was awake and aware... of scents he'd not noticed before and tints and hues to the light that seemed brighter and sharper, even in the corners of the ward as he looked around a little. He turned back and kissed her temple. "Yours always," he whispered. "Told you I wasn't leaving. I wouldn't dare. By the way, what are you doing out there? There's room for two in this bed."