Chapter Twenty Six

Bronwyn gave the woman a curt nod, acknowledging that Nerys had questions for her, and she'd do her best to answer. She finished shuffling through papers, stacking them in an order Nerys couldn't define in piles upon the desk. Nerys was quiet until Bronwyn rounded the desk, taking up the seat next to her.
"How long have you been aware that I have a part to play in this prophecy of yours? What's in it for you to help Wynne know who she is, to help teach her what she wasn't able to learn in the human world? What do you gain from all this? " Nerys asked, expression grim as she stared at the queen, trying to decipher all her secrets.
Bronwyn laughed, the noise grating to Nerys's ears. Not the reaction she had expected from the wily old queen. "I gain my life, dear child. " Bronwyn said, her eyes gleaming. "I don't know who will come out on the other side, but I do know that if I provide assistance, there's more chance of my own survival. " Bronwyn and Nerys fell into a long conversation, and the two women let time slip away.
Wynne POV
Back in their rooms, Wynne had succumbed to sleep, nestled into Arandir's arms. Drowsily, she found herself stirring, no longer where she had been. As her eyelids inched open, she took in the change of surroundings. Arandir must have brought her to the bed, tucking her into the sheets and drawing the curtains closed to block out the late afternoon light. He was tucked into her side, an arm slung tightly around her waist, his cheek pressed against the pillows as a small puddle of drool seeped out from the corner of his mouth. His icy hair was an entangled mess around his head, but it looked as soft as fur.
Wynne rolled gently, freeing an arm from the grip of his own and the tangle of blankets. Slender fingers reaching out to run gently through the icy blue tresses of the man next to her. His beauty still alarmed her, made her heart thump frantically in her chest, and she ached to hold him close to her forever. He stirred as her fingers caressed his hair, pulling her small body into him as he nestled himself more into the pillows and let out a soft snore.
The noise made her giggle softly, letting her fingers trail lightly over the smooth, tanned expanse of his cheek. She marveled at the softness of his skin, and at the lack of the ache that normally coursed through her at the use of her hands. When her fingers touched his cheek, Arandir lifted his head, lavender hues peeking at her from behind a halo of his own hair. His voice was rough with sleep as he spoke, hues clouded with it. "What is it, little one? Did something alarm you? You should be sleeping. "
Wynne leaned into his hold, cupping his cheek with her palm and lightly brushing his lips with her thumb. "Nothing alarming, Im afraid. My hands don't hurt today." The wonder at such a thing was clear in her voice. Wynne had thought for a very long time that the pain she lived with for years would be with her until the end of her days. "I don't think I'll be able to return to sleep, though. "
"Is that so? Im glad of it, and on ours travels, I aim to find you someone that will ease that pain from you forever. Are you hungry? Or merely restless? " He asked, blinking the clouds of sleep from his vision. He pressed himself against her, nestling his face into the crook of his neck and breathing deeply.
"No hunger, I can eat something later. " Wynne replied softly, not eager to leave the comfort of his arms and the warmth of the sheets. With a soft brush of her fingers against his velvet soft hair, she let her hand drop. Her arm around him and pulling herself closer, savoring the feel of his body so close to her own. "Arandir? My answer is yes." She whispered quietly, nuzzling her cheek against his chest.
"Yes? " The man asked, laughter evident in his voice as his fingers cupped her chin. He lifted her face towards his, purple hues pleased when they met her own moss green ones. He pulled her up gently then pressed his lips to hers. At first, his kiss was a gentle insistence, eager for a taste of her, but patiently waiting until he was allowed. Then it grew, her lips parted against his, and with soft licks, his probing tongue found hers. Their kiss was heated, almost ravenous, as if they'd both been dying of thirst and they were the only water each other could find.
Wynne's hands curled against his chest, fingers finding the downy hair that covered it, peeking out from where is woolen buttoned shirt had opened. One of his hands found the hair at the nape of her neck, and they began to weave through it. The other cupped her waist, fingers caressing her hip. Quiet noises escaped from Wynne's mouth against his, no more than mewls as she melted against his touch.
Their kiss broke, and they both gasped for air. Wynne's fingers were frantic as they loosed themselves from the hair on his chest. They danced between them for a few moments before she slowly drew the shirt she'd been wearing over her head. She turned once it was off, making a gesture towards the ribbons of the corset that restricted him from seeing the her body. "Please, I need this off. " Wynne said, her voice quaking slightly. She found herself burning with need, and if she didnt have him soon, she felt as if that need would be all consuming.
His touch was light as he obliged her, undoing the carefully tied knots and freeing her to easily remove the corset. His lips peppered delicate kisses against her neck and down her shoulder. "Are you sure? " He asked, voice warmth with reassurance. At Wynne's nod, he helped her pull the corset off, allowing it to fall to the side with her shirt. The pair squirmed and maneuvered to remove all their clothing, shoving the pile of discarded fabric off the bed and to the floor.