Unexpected Conflict (Aymelek, Mika, Birgir, Eydis)
Dec 16, 2013 20:38:50 GMT -4
Post by Empress Aymelek on Dec 16, 2013 20:38:50 GMT -4
MIKA: They stayed with the Somerleds for nearly a week before continuing north. They passed a small skirmish on their way through Kvasir-held land, but rather than getting involved, Mika circled their group around it, giving it a wide berth. He didn't have enough men to get involved, and even if he did, his interference wouldn't be appreciated - by either side. Though the fact that there were such things going on in the area made him all the more eager to reach their hosts for the night. As they rode north the air turned more chill, even in the bright daylight hours. They crossed a river and skirted along a lake, then into the hills. "We will be stating with Birgir and his wife Eydis. Birgir taught me much of what I know." In the distance there was one hill apart from the others, and on top of it sat a large, long house. there were other homes at the bottom of the hill. Unlike the Kvasir stone castles, this massive house was made entirely of wood. "The Andvari are a bit different than the Kvasir. Though usually just as loud once they get going."
AYMELEK: The first indication that there was a skirmish was the way the guards and Mika reacted. Aymelek watched carefully. She observed how her husband made his decision, how the guards responded, only glancing over her shoulder as they made their circle around the problem. The chill in the air was exceptionally so for one of the desert, so Aymelek had on the red and white cloak her husband had made for her with the hood not yet pull up. Beneath she wore blue and black, her hands gloved. She could see her breath on the air. It fascinated her. She kept doing it repeatedly until Mika started speaking. She looked up at the long house on the hill. "How are they different? In attitude? Something I should know to do or say?" She was holding to the reins of her hose with gloved hands and looking eagerly to her husband for information as they neared the home of Birgir and Eydis.
MIKA: "In attitude," he said with a small nod. "They are more... I'm not sure how to describe it. They're different - their gods are different, their ways are different. Birgir's wife is more powerful than Tam's is, she has her own spheres of influence, beyond peacekeeping and keeping her husband and his men happy. They are... almost co-rulers. Almost." Eydis still bowed to her husband's will (at least publically) but Mika knew well that her will was, at times, strongly imposed and enforced. They were joined by other riders - Andvari men - on their way up the hill. Mika greeted some of them by name. When they reached the top of the hill he dismounted and helped Aymelek down so that they could walk into the long lodge together. Inside was lit with torches and several fires down the center of the room; at the other end a man got up and he seemed tall - even from where they stood he was tall - and a woman rose beside him. She was beautiful in a fierce, cold way. In every way she seemed Aymelek's opposite: golden hair, snowy skin, eyes sharp like ice and deep like water. Eydis followed her husband. Mika gently let go of Aymelek and stepped ahead of her, putting himself between his wife and Birgir but only because-- Birgir grabbed him into a bear hug. Even with the distance, Aymelek would probably hear Mika's back crack. Birgir was a bear of a man - taller than Mika, easily 6'6" and strong. His beard and his hair were dark blond with a red tint.
BIRGIR: "Still a runt," the big man rumbled, his accent heavy.
MIKA: Mika hit Birgir's shoulder. "Put me down, you're still unmannered." His voice came out tight and he took a deep breath of relief when the jarl finally put him down. He rolled his shoulders, then reached back for Aymelek. "Birgir, this is my wife, Empress Aymelek."
BIRGIR: Birgir immediately seemed somewhat more distant - not impolite, but guarded in a very familiar way. He nodded his head to her, but didn't bow as Tam Somerled had. "Empress, welcome to the true north."
EYDIS: Eydis rolled her eyes from behind her husband. Then she cleared her throat.
BIRGIR: "Oh uh. This is my wife, Eydis."
EYDIS: For a moment Eydis's sharp look softened and warmed. She did not curtsey, but she bowed her head to the young woman. "Empress, welcome to our home."
AYMELEK: She took in the information Mika gave her. It was necessary to learn her people so there was no thought of judgement of their ways, for it was just that, their ways. Holding to Mika's shoulders as he helped her down, she studied the home they were entering as they walked. She looked it up and down and upon entering she fixed her eyes forward in order to not miss a thing. The fires gave off warmth in waves and each one made the Empress give a delicate shudder as her body acclimated to the temperature change. There was a lot of that in the north, she was learning, temperature changes. Aymelek's large dark eyes watched with fascination once more when Birgir squeezed Mika so tight there was physical manifestations. If Birgir had not went distant, Aymelek would have turned and walked out for she wanted no part of such greetings. Though she smiled and inclined her head to Birgir. "Thank you, good sir Birgir, it is my good pleasure to be here." Aymelek did a half turn to Eydis as she was introduced by Birgir. "Eydis, thank you good lady, and a beautiful home it is." Her smile deepened struck by the statuesque fair complected lady of the house. She was beautiful in the way of the north. "I trust our visit finds you well." Aymelek's accent was undeniable though her use of the common tongue was fluent so she was generally clearly understood. She removed her gloves and held them in one hand, then without warning she sneezed. "Forgive.." Another sneeze then she held her hand at her nose, the gloves dangling. Once she was sure it was finished she lowered her hand and smiled once more.
EYDIS: Eydis nodded. "As well as can be with winter coming." She looked at Mika and lightly stroked his cheek. She looked side-long at Aymelek, taking stock of the exquisite desert flower. That foreign beauty would cause a rukus tonight, she knew that already. Everyone would want to look at her, and she was sure plenty of men might want to touch. Though she also knew well Mika would protect her, and that Birgir would bring order if necessary. "No need to forgiveness. I am certain the climate here is far from what you are accustomed to. Birgir, make sure the men get settled. I will show Mika and Aymelek to their quaters so they can rest before supper." They didn't have much time, but if they wanted to freshen up, she wanted to make sure that they had the chance. She gestured for Mika to follow and offered Aymelek her arm.
MIKA: Mika just shrugged at Birgir and followed after his wife and Eydis. They went through a door at the back of the long, open area and through a quiet hallway.
EYDIS: "Your room is here," she said as she pushed a wooden door open. It was intricately carved with intertwined images and designs. Inside the room was a large bed, covered with furs. Underneath the furs were down blankets and pillows. A fire was alread burning in the room's hearth. "I hope you find it comfortable."
AYMELEK: Aymelek smiled when Eydis offered her arm and slid her smaller one comfortably in place. "It is beautiful here to me, even with winter, so different and interesting." She even looked up not wanting to miss anything. In between she tried to journal of their travels between host homes while the memory was still fresh for reference later. Aymelek's fingers brushed the carvings in the door, wondering of their meaning, but she was attentive to Eydis. "Oh the fires are so beautiful...." Aymelek's voice was soft as if speaking to herself, but she met Eydis' eyes again. "It is perfect and will be most comfortable. You are too kind." She inclined her head regally again. Once Eydis left, she removed her cloak, lay it and the gloves over the bed then drifted straight for the heat, letting its waves radiate over her form. She held her hands out to warm them as she looked over her shoulder at Mika. "He is a large man. Like the sand monsters told of in stories, only ...chillier." She wanted to ask Mika if his back was giving him pain but she feared it might be construed as rude.
MIKA: Mika shrugged off his own cloak and hung it on a peg by the door. He hadn't worn gloves, but he was accustomed to the chill... or perhaps just stubborn. He rolled his shoulders, then bent over to stretch his back some more. Birgir was as strong as he remembered. He stood up again, slowly, and moved over to the fire with Aymelek. "He is very large, he's been large as long as I can remember. I met him when I was younger." As if he were an old man now. "We were both captives of the Nicor for a while. He and Eydis have been together a long time. I remember when he met her." He huffed a laugh and leaned on the mantle above the fireplace. "She wouldn't have him at first."
AYMELEK: Aymelek swept her eyes back to the fire, the thick dark lashes hiding them while Mika stood near and talked. Aymelek glanced to him. The rest was interesting enough topics, but what caught her attention was the word captive. "Forgive, did you say, you and he were...captive? Why were you captive?" Aymelek's mouth actually went dry. She'd heard stories, overheard tales told around a large hearth in the palace late at night when her father entertained visitors. She knew there were horrid things that happened to those taken captive, but it had so many meanings and connotations. She turned to face Mika when he leaned on the mantle so casually after telling her that then moving on to the romance of their host couple. She waited quietly, her deep mahogany eyes showing no signs of wavering, the star like gold that encircled her pupils brighter than ever. This was what his mother eluded to, this was part of Mika's suffering past.
MIKA: Mika shrugged. "Because I was alone when a Nicor band came across me, easy enough target." He remembered it very well, and how frightened he'd been.. and how stubborn. He huffed a laugh at the memory and rested his forehead against his arm. "I was with them for... oh, four years, I think. Something like that." The seasons had blended together. He rubbed the back of his neck, then pushed away from the fireplace. He knew he should change - he'd been in these clothes all day. "Dinner will be at a long table, but we'll be sitting by Birgir and Eydis. The people will stare at you - they've probably never seen anyone quite like you before. Please don't think them rude... just curious. But not apt to ask questions. Not until they've had enough to drink, anyway. Then the questions will probably be rude." He gave her a dry smile, then hunched forward to peel off his layered tunics. He wouldn't need to wear so many now that they were indoors, thankfully. Mika seemed to have no qualms with the idea of getting changed in front of Aymelek. That, or perhaps he just wasn't thinking about the fact that she'd not exactly seen him undressed.
AYMELEK: Aymelek was mystified. She and Mika had fallen into a rhythm of comfort, an easy friendship of sorts, so when he brushed off the topic of captivity she could not fathom why. Was it discomfort? The horror of it had long since faded for him perhaps and now it was just part of his past? When he gave her instructions for the night, she stood still with her hands together, holding her fingers. "I will not think them rude, though quite like me? As in coloring or my..." whatever she was going to say was left unstated, for she realized Mika was undressing. She automatically averted her eyes and moved toward another part of the room the length of the black skirt dragging along the floor. She then stood some distance away with her back to him, lowering her head as if studying the floor. "What sort of questions? Must I answer them?" Then she went silent a few moments before her voice came in a somber, serious tone. "Mika, what did they do to you?"
MIKA: "I only mean they've never seen someone from so far south before, most likely. Or an empress, for that matter." Mika shrugged. His skin was pale, but a few scars were visible even in the firelight. He found a fresh tunic to put on - it was a deep green shade with white embroidery around the cuffs and hem. "No, you don't need to answer them. I'm sure Eydis will step in if they get out of hand, or Birgir or I will, for certain." Mika wouldn't accept any open disrespect to his wife. He looked over at her when her tone changed and the subject drifted back to his captivity. He sighed. "What do you want to hear, Aymelek? That I was treated like the dogs, or worse? That I was dragged into their battles, hands tied, to fight for them or die?" He made a vague, almost helpless gesture. "Does it console you to hear that?" He didn't speak of it because there was nothing pleasant to say. He was quite sure it would do no one any good to hear of it.
AYMELEK: She could discern that the night was not going to be pleasant from how he described what would transpire, but she was at least prepared. But everything grew more ominous when he sighed. When he grew flippant with her she turned quickly, the dark eyes lighting up like black flames. "What do I want to hear? Does it console me?" She was well and truly pissed. "I will hope there is a mistranslation in the words you just used to speak to me." She approached him without flinch or hesitation, her hands lifting the hem of her skirts to make the walk easier. "It is not what I want to hear, it is that I want to know what you suffered. It is because such a thing leaves a mark on a person and you are the person I am to live with the rest of my life. How dare you treat me as if I am one to be brushed off. Do not mistake my manners for weakness, Mika, for you will be walking down the wrong path." She turned and walked toward the door and left the room. She would remove herself until he was gone and then she would dress for dinner. Alone.
MIKA: "It is a thing I have no desire to discuss - with anyone," he shot back, struggling not to raise his voice to her. "And do not mistake my dismissal for ease. Ask Birgir if you want the information so badly - it is not something I wish to relive tonight." Or any night soon. Nor did he wish to visit the Nicor, or be o good terms with them, but now that he had this position he would be forced to return to the people that held him hostage. As their ruler, to be sure, but that did not soothe his mind. He scowled when Aymelek retreated, apparently intent ont he last word. He shook his head and finished changing.
EYDIS: In her furious retreat, Aymelek near ran into Eydis. She caught the young empress to keep both of them from falling to the floor. "Empress, is everything alright?"
AYMELEK: Aymelek was not expecting Eydis but with their near collision she was pulled from her thoughts and gave a smile by habit. "Ah, Eydis. Everything is, how did you say it, as well as can be considering?" She smiled again. "I needed a walk is all, Eydis." It was not that she was falling apart. She and Mika had not grown close enough for that to happen, and probably never would at this rate, so it was just a matter of re-balancing to face the evening ahead. "Do I have time for a walk before we are expected for the evening meal?"
EYDIS: "I'll walk with you," she said. She laced her arm with Aymelek's, as she had earlier. "It is safer that way." She gave the other woman a dry smile and started her way down the corridor, into the open all again. Food was being set out on long tables, plates were being set all around. Ghost was laying by one of the big fire pits. Eydis was quiet for a moment, then gently ventured, "I heard raised voices. You said everything was alright, considering. What happened?" She tried to keep from sounding invasive, but she was curious to know what was going on beneath her roof. As they reached the end of the hall Eydis pulled the heavy door open so that they could go outside. The sun was setting, the air more crisp.
AYMELEK: She smiled gratefully and squeezed Eydis' arm gently as they walked. Aymelek was not going to discuss her private affairs with anyone. It was simply not done. No matter what roof it happened under. So she repeated, "Everything is fine, Eydis." She brushed her fingers over the lady's arm tenderly in thanks. The preparations for the evening meal held a familiar feel, like that of the Palace of Susa at this time of the day. When Eydis opened the heavy door Aymelek steeled herself to go outside. She saw the sunset and the colors in the sky, however, so she braced herself and stepped outside with Eydis. "Its so beautiful here. All the lands in the north are graced with splendor."
EYDIS: She sort of nodded her head to the side. "I know Mika better than that," she said. "But I suppose then I will have to ask him." And she would, later. "I suppose I should be used to it, but I have never stopped loving the landscape," she admitted. "I'm glad you're taking to it. It's important to your husband. He'll never be free of it's now, it's too much in his blood, too much in his heart. It doesn't hurt that his mother is one of us, even if she has been living in the south for most of her life now." Mika had spoken of his mother with her, and Eydis hadn't known her, but she had known the family name. With Birgir's help, Mika had eventually found the people his mother had been born to, found what family he still had among the Andvari.
AYMELEK: Aymelek paused. Eydis did not seem to understand that the Empress was not going to discuss any of this with her, at all. She could ask Mika or whomever she wanted. She smiled and inclined her head. "If you will excuse me, Eydis" She turned and headed back into the home. She was not going to work out a new marriage in front of and with the interference of those who knew nothing of her. It was the height of rudeness and borderlined on insult. To be honest, Aymelek was feeling outnumbered and slightly manipulated, but that would end. Soon. She would take her own guards and return home immediately. She said nothing to anyone. The small Empress made her way back to her room, she plucked up her cloak, her gloves. Having been outside without it, it suddenly felt warm. Whether Mika was there or not, she did not bother to ascertain. She headed through the main hall and with a sharp command in the Susain tongue she summoned the guards that were of Sarraf to her, those of Mika's remained. She was outside and on her horse with her guards hustling behind her before anyone could stop her. It was growing dark, but they could get in at least a few miles before making camp.
MIKA: Aymelek was quick, but she would not escape far before the emperor was hot on her heels. Mika rode bareback with only a bridle, and without a cloak or layers. He brought his horse sharply before Aymelek's, forcing her to turn and slow at the very least. He snapped his own command to the guards - what was hers was his now, and what was his was hers. He was emperor, and he would remind the guards of that if necessary. But he was more concerned with getting a hold of Aymelek's reins. "Where, exactly, do you think you're going with the sun setting, my lady?" Even in the dying light his eyes were fierce. Aymelek could be angry with him - that was fine. But putting herself in danger by leaving in a huff? He drew the line there.
AYMELEK: Aymelek adeptly turned her horse as he pranced to come to a stop. The long dark hair danced around her face like a dark goddess as her own eyes flashed to Mika's brighter fierce ones. "What is it you want to hear, my lord? What will console you?" She said with a ferocity that even sounded hot in the chilly evening. Then she said quietly, "Your forget yourself, my lord. I will go where ever I wish." She did take note of the poor confused guards. They were in a state of discomfort, so they simply remained still, hoping to every God and Goddess they knew that the pair would work this out, at least long enough to get them back to warmth.
MIKA: He scowled at her. "I will be consoled if you stop acting like a child and return with me. And if I have to throw you across my horse to accomplish this and ride back that way, I will." And he would leave no room for doubt on that. Dimmamark was dangerous, and even with a good moon it was easy to lose the road in the dark. Never mind what might be out there waiting. "Be angry with me if you will but do not put your life in danger in an attempt to get back at me or escape me." His jaw set, and in his anger there was some fear. He cared for her, like it or not, and he wanted to keep her safe. He could hardly do that if she was tearing off down the road in the dark.
AYMELEK: Her eyes shot quickly to his horse that he threatened to throw her over. She heard his determination in the words. And the insult. Even with the threat he insulted her, yet again. There seemed to be no end to Mika's sharp insensitivity. She glanced to her guards, they lowered their eyes as if that would distance them from their lady's predicament. She had two choices. She could bolt. Just take off and let Mika try to catch her, the trouble with that was, he would. He did once, he would again. The other was to concede and just go back, astride her own horse because she would never allow him to humilate her the way he indicated. She jerked her reins from his hands with a surprising strength. "I will return, but you will beg me ill for I will not sit at table tonight." She didn't care what her hosts thought anymore for it was obvious they cared little for what she thought. The look she was giving Mika was hot seething. It was beyond their prior argument when she first learned of him being her husband. She was frustrated and felt trapped. She never expected to feel trapped. Should things continue to be so unpleasant the north would have no soft spot in her heart whatsoever, and that was something she never expected. Along with many others.
MIKA: "You can sit where you please." He let go of the reins even as she jerked them free. And she could glare at him as much as she wanted - he focused on the road back. He dismounted outside the hall and helped Aymelek, if she allowed it. He walked back inside with her - the hall was almost full now, but he stayed between her and the Andvari lining the tables. He simply shook his head after making brief eye-contact with Birgir and guided Aymelek back to the door at the back. "I trust you will not attempt to leave again if I leave you to your own affairs." One of them had to show face tonight, and it was very clear that the empress would have none of it. Mika was no longer in the mood for any kind of merriment, but he would put on the face for it, for a while at least.
AYMELEK: She said nothing, no response. She wanted to be somewhere alone. She hoped it would be their room. She did not allow his assistance. If she fell flat on her face, it was preferable. She said nothing to Mika on the walk through the hall, not did she glance to the left nor the right. She walked calmly, the long dark hair was loose and hung down her back, swaying as she made her way to the room. "You have my word." With that she turned her back to him and walked to the fire. Her emotions were wound so tight she was trembling, her jaw hurt from clenching it, and her eyes stung from the restrained tears that she refused to let fall. She wanted to find warmth and escape in sleep.
MIKA: "Someone will bring you dinner." And with that he pulled the door shut to give her privacy so that he could return to the main hall. Eydis brought Aymelek a plate of food and a cup of cider, but did not intrude on the woman's silence and left as soon as she had set everything down, wishing Aymelek a restful night befoer she slipped out the door. Eventually the noise from the hall died down to silence and Birgir and Eydis retreated to their room - it was at the very end of the long house. Mika still hadn't returned.
AYMELEK: The moment the door shut Aymelek felt the tears come. She had no one here, no lady, no servants, only guards. She missed her father, she missed her home and she had no where to turn. She looked up, and then just closed her eyes and let the tears fall. There was little choice. She ignored Eydis and the food. She wanted no part of any of this place. Aymelek undressed and crawled into the bed,curled into a ball and cried until exhausted. Then she lay in silence. In order to seek solace she thought of those days when the vendors were allowed to come into the palace walls and Aymelek got a taste of the outside world by watching from above. As the hours passed, she realized Mika wasn't returning. It was probably for the best. They seemed to have entered a place where words between them were only harming their relationship.
SUNNIVA: In the morning there was a young woman tending the fire in Aymelek's room. She had taken away last night's dinner and now there was a covered bowl and a spoon waiting on a tray. Mika had not come in at all the night before, and there was still no sign that he'd been in the room at all since Aymelek had sequestered herself there. The girl cleared her throat when she saw even a hint of movement from the bed. "Don't want to frighten you, Empress," she said in a sort of tentative tone. "I'm just here to straighten up some and tend the fire. I brought some breakfast, if you like. I can warm water if you'd like a bath." [d]
AYMELEK: She raised up quickly, pushing the long dark curls from her face and looked at the girl confused. "Who are you? Why are you here?" She licked her lips and glanced to the window, it was morning. She felt like death from not enough sleep and what she did gain was restless. She finally comprehended the girl was here to tend to her needs. "No food. Hot water is fine.." She raised up fully, then slinked from the bed to get nearer the fire. She lowered to a small stool there and hugged herself. Miserable.
SUNNIVA: She curtsied unsteadily. "My name's Sunniva, my lady. Empress." She wasn't quite sure what to call the woman. "To tend the fire and the room. And to see whatever you might need." She nodded and moved back to the fire so she could start heating up the water she'd brought with her. She glanced over at the beautiful foreign woman as she came closer. "Are you alright, my lady?" She seemed... not well. Sunniva couldn't quite tell. She got a blanket from the bed and came back to drape it around the woman after Aymelek settled on the stool.
AYMELEK: Aymelek eyed the girl and the look in her eye indicated she should not be questioning the Empress. She was a cute girl, very sweet, but Aymelek was not in the mood to instruct this girl on what was appropriate. As it was Aymelek was in a state of shame. Her husband not returning to her room and shaming her in front of the entire house was unforgivable in Susain culture. It was the same as saying Aymelek was of inferior quality. It no longer mattered. If he had returned their fight would have removed all doubt of the state of their marriage. Aymelek was not sick. Just tired. She waited as patiently as she could for the water and once her bath was drawn she added her own oils and fragrance. Something her lady always did. Why had she not brought her own lady? Ah yes. She wanted this to be a meaningful trip for she and Mika. Well, it was definitely meaningful. She let her gown slide from her body and stepped a foot into the water. It was beautifully warm. She sank into it with a long soft exhale. "thank you, you can leave now. I need nothing else but the water. Your services are appreciated Sunniva." The creamed mocha body was soon submersed in the fragrant bath. Aymelek lay back and put a wet cloth over her eyes. Perhaps she could steep it all away.
SUNNIVA: The girl's ankles were tied together by a short length of rope. It showed when she lifted her skirts to keep them away from the fire. She poured the water into the tub for Aymelek, then moved away with the bucket. "Just call if you need me," she said with a quick little smile. She had to shuffle as she left, but she seemed to be used to it. She slipped out of the room and carefully pulled the door shut after her. She didn't want to make too much noise - most of the household was still asleep, after all.
MIKA: Not too long later the door opened again. Mika came in and kept his eyes averted when he saw Aymelek was in the tub. "I won't be long, just getting something fresh to wear," he said. He'd slept on a bench in the great room last night to give Aymelek her space, so that she wouldn't feel annoyed or threatened by his nearness.
AYMELEK: Aymelek did not comprehend what she saw on the girl's ankles. She was so tired and out of sorts it did not hit her right away. She was letting the image of those tiny ankles in shackles filter through her mind when Mika's voice frightened her beyond measure. She squealed and raised up, the cloth from her eyes falling, then realizing she sat up too far, she sank back down. She crossed her arms over her chest. She waited for him to get his clothes or whatever it was he said. *
MIKA: "Did you manage to sleep, at least?" Mika kept his eyes politely averted, which was a shame because he knew his wife was stunning. And his wife. He put on a fresh tunic and refrained from belting it as he shimmied out of his trousers and into fresh ones. He pulled his boots back on, then his belt.
AYMELEK: Aymelek was incredulous. Was this truly happening? Her husband strolled back after not returning all night and was asking how she slept? "I closed my eyes just before dawn but the dreams were ..." she snapped her eyes closed. What was she doing?! This was insanity. "Mika, do you understand your slight to me, no matter our argument of last night? Your culture is not the only one that matters." She rose from the water, it sluiced down her body in rivulets as she reached for the cloth and wrapped herself in it and stepped out. "MIne does as well." She was heading for the door, glancing back to be sure he was clothed.
MIKA: "What slight?" No, apparently he didn't know what he'd done wrong. He knew he'd insulted her last night in the heat of their argument, but he was also sure that wasn't what she was referring to. Or at least... fairly sure. He was completely dressed by the time Aymelek got up to head to the door. He rubbed his neck, trying to relax a bit more. It had been a long, exhausting night.
AYMELEK: She had her hand on the door and turned to look at him. She studied his face, and while there was the distance of door to where he stood, she could see he wasn't lying, not that Mika made a habit of lying. No, he told the painful truth. The truth of what he thought of her, and how he didn't wish to share with her. She blinked, then took a breath. "You have formally shamed me, Mika. It's considered the ultimate way of informing the wife and everyone in the house that I am inferior. In our home, we have separate chambers but you always return to our apartments. Here, this is our bed. No one knows we have not consummated our marriage. So this..." She looked at him a moment. Then she just shook her head. The wet curls of her hair were up, long tendrils dangling down damp and sticking to her skin. She opened the door. "Sunniva, come here please?"
MIKA: He lifted an eyebrow. "In Dimmamark when a man sleeps in the hall, it means his wife is angry with him and unlikely to welcome him to bed. I did it to give you space, so my presence wouldn't irritate you and so our argument wouldn't flare up again. And when someone here sees a man sleeping on a bench, they'll know he's either single, or he's lost a fight with a woman." A misunderstanding - a culture clash - but certainly not an intentional offense.
SUNNIVA: The girl appeared not long after Aymelek called for her. She hurried along as much as she could and tried curtsying again once she arrived. "Yes, Empress?"
AYMELEK: She was staring at Mika when Sunniva came into the room. She frowned at Mika, he still made it clear what he thought of her, but Sunniva was standing there. Aymelek leaned down, holding tightly to the cloth she was wrapped in and lifted Sunniva's hem. She let the hem drop quickly and as she raised her eyes met Sunniva's. That sweet little smile of earlier, the way she seemed to wobble when she curtsied. It made Aymelek gasp with regret. She put a hand to Sunniva's cheek. "Oh my sweet child..." she murmured. It was horrific, and Aymelek had to let her mind wrap around what she was seeing. She looked back to Mika then, her eyes shattered, questions in them about this young girl.
SUNNIVA: Sunniva blushed and looked down when the woman lifted the skirt. She was bound with rope rather than metal, but bound none the less. She seemed shy in the face of Aymelek's pity. "Is there anything I can get for you?" she asked uncertainly.
MIKA: "Some tea, if there is any," Mika said when he saw how uncomfortable the girl was, and how uncertain Aymelek seemed. He didn't want to discuss it in front of Sunniva, because it would just make her uncomfortable. The girl curtsied before she disappeared to the kitchen. Mika looked over at Aymelek. "She's a captive," he explained. "Like I was. Probably the survivor of some raid or battle." His voice was gentle.
AYMELEK: She lifted her hand toward the door, "But she is little more than a child, Mika." Her voice was low, hardly able to breath. The hand that was lifted then went to her chest and lay there. It was then she realized she was wearing nothing but a cloth wrapped around her. Suddenly she felt lost again. "And Birgir and Eydis are amenable to this? Even after he himself was captive?" She kept her eyes on Mika, her voice low, and utterly confused.
MIKA: "She could be dead," he pointed out. "As it is, she's lucky she's in this household. I have no doubt that Eydis sees that she's treated well. She could have ended up much worse off." Mika nodded when she asked about Birgir. "It is part of life up here, Aymelek. War, and death, and captives. Most are ransomed or let go eventually. If she belongs to a well-off family, they'll pay to have her returned. If not... if she does well here, Eydis will likely set her free and speak for her if she ever needs someone to." It was a very strange way of alliance building, but sometimes it did happen. It was more common among the Andvari that it was among the Nicor.
AYMELEK: Aymelek held up both hands, palms to Mika. And thank the gods her wrap remained in place. "Say no more. It is unacceptable no matter how you try and justify it. Some things are not bound by culture. They are wrong, Mika. Fundamentally." She put her hands down to hold her wrap again. "But I understand that you feel your culture takes precedence. We are in the north, so the north's culture it shall be." And that, was that. "Are we leaving today? If so, I should be getting dressed."
MIKA: "In the same way that I would not expect Birgir to try to tell someone in Susa how to conduct their affairs." He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "If it is something you wish to change, I'm sure we can work toward it. Though I expect it will be slow." He looked at her again. "I'd been hoping to visit with Birgir for a few days. But you seem in a hurry to return home, and we still need to spread some good grace among the Nicor people." So he supposed, for her sake, he could cut the visit short and they could be on their way. Birgir and Eydis were like family to him, but he knew they would understand if he told them they had to be on their way. He'd made Aymelek uncomfortable enough for one excursion.
AYMELEK: She was a breath away from leaving Mika here, no matter what he did or said. "We are Emperor and Empress, Mika. Brigir has no rights to say what happens in Susa. " She halted herself before they went down the path again. "No, by all means you stay. You visit. I serve no purpose here except to draw out some sort of venom from you." Her white teeth were flashing and the tears were gathering and that only served to infuriate her more. "I beg you to let me return home. You can continue here on your own." God forbid, he forsake family for his wife. She would never agree. "If you refuse me returning home now with my guards, then I will wait here until your visit with Brigir is complete. Those are my terms."
MIKA: "I just said that he didn't!" He had no idea what he kept saying wrong, but it seemed that no matter what came out of his mouth, it would not appease her. "You asked me about a difficult time in my life yesterday, and I had no desire to speak of it. Perhaps I handled it poorly but this fight, this constant edge we've been on since then is ridiculous, Aymelek. And it seems that no matter what I feel might be helpful, I do wrong by you. So tell me how to solve this. You draw out no venom beyond that I feel that every turn I've made since we arrived here has been in the wrong direction, and you certainly do not seem interested in providing me a map. I have no desire to make the rest of this journey alone, considering where I must go. And beyond that, the entire point was to allow Dimmamark to see its new empress. They know me." Mika felt ready to rip his hair out, and for an irrational moment all he wanted was his mother. Belshida had always understood him when no one else did. He made a helpless, sweeping gesture. "Tell me what you want. I am tired of guessing wrong."
AYMELEK: She tilted her head. She just told him what she wanted. Was he purposely frustrating her? She was taking deep breaths to try and halt the eruption of sobbing that was sure to come if she could not gain control. In a breathless, helpless voice, she lifted her hand and pushed out the whispered word, "I ...just...told you....if you cannot let me go home, we..wait for your...visit." She was trembling, completely confused and getting cold from standing in nothing but what was basically a sheet after getting out of water.
MIKA: Mika sighed and slumped, defeated, on the bed. "As you wish, then. All of the guards will escort you back to Susa. I will continue on to Nicor today and follow after my duty there is done." He had hoped they could resolve this somehow without separating, but he had no desire to force her along if she would only grow to resent it. If she wanted to go home, he would send her home as safely as he could. "At least let Tam and Aisling house you again on the way south." Aymelek seemed to have liked them, at least.
AYMELEK: Aymelek was confused as to why he was acting as if he lost. "Thank you, Mika..." she said quietly. "You should feel more free, you will not have to deal with me now." She made no promises about staying with Tam and Aisling. She did like them, but if she was going home she would drive the party long and hard until she was there. She hated that she felt something was amiss. She knew if she left this place today, things between her and Mika would be irreparable, but she wasn't sure there was much she could do. So ...she closed her eyes and tried to remember what his mother told her. She breathed, then she went to him, and lowered to her knees in front of him. She reached for his hands, and yes her sheet slipped a little, and her hair was falling down, and she was not dressed as an Empress, but she needed to try and understand. Her smaller hands squeezed his and her thumbs brushed over the skin there. Then she raised up on her knees and placed her palms at each side of his face. "Am I to understand, despite it all, you still wish me to stay here with you? "
MIKA: "This was not about dealing with you, Aymelek. I don't want to do this without you, but I will not force you to endure more time with me if it's your unyielding desire to go home. He looked at her when her hands cupped his face. "Yes, that is what you should understand. The fight, whatever it was about, was explosive and poorly handled, maybe mostly on my part. But it was never my intention to send you away." Though Aymelek seemed hard pressed not to be near him. Well, except for now, apparently. "I know that the culture here is not what you know, and I know that I am difficult to deal with. But I am at least willing to move beyond misunderstanding if you'll let me rather than assuming I am doing something offensive on purpose."
AYMELEK: She watched his face, her own held a slight frown. Everything in her wanted to go home. She wanted to pack her things and leave. She took some time, seriously, to consider that. At least if she left now she knew the verdict. They would be Emperor and Empress together. Nothing more. If someday the people screamed for a child, Aymelek could chose a lover that was not so disinterested or insensitive with her. That still could happen, but something in his face made her speak contrary to what her gut was telling her to do, because it wasn't her gut that prompted it. The quiet seemed to go on forever. "Then we will see this through. We will carry out our visits as planned originally."
MIKA: Mika nodded. One hand lifted to cover hers, grateful, and squeezed. "Thank you," he said quietly. "We won't linger here, I'll compromise on that. Another day to let everyone rest, then we can be on our way." His thumb smoothed over the back of Aymelek's hand. Then he seemed to remember the woman was in just a towel and his face warmed, briefly, then he rose with a laugh. "Gods, I've let you sit here in a towel all this time. Get dressed, you must be freezing by now." Even with the fire, he was surprised her teeth weren't chattering yet - she wasn't accustomed to this kind of chill after a bath. He wouldn't forgive himself if she got sick on his watch. "I'll let Brigir and Eydis know that we'll be leaving tomorrow afternoon. We'll have to camp a handful of times, but we should reach the Nicor-controlled land in a few days if we keep a good pace. We need only stay with them a day if that's all you wish." Because, truly, he would spend less time than that if he could get away with it without seeming rude.
AYMELEK: He rose, leaving his wife on her knees, and Aymelek just shook her head. She rose from the floor, realizing Mika deemed the moment over. She drifted toward her clothing and pulled out the warmest ones she could find. She was indeed freezing. She was listening to him speak and made a motion for him to turn. When he did, she adorned herself in a gown of deep mahogany trimmed in ivory. She pulled the brush from her bag and lowered to the stool near the fire and began brushing her hair. "There is no need to rush, or to compromise, Mika. We can continue however you see fit though. If a day here is all you need, then that will be it. " She honestly had no desire to cut short anything once she decided to stay, but it was up to him now.
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TAHYA SUSA!