Just for this moment

[isadora]

Isadora giggled when he referred to her dress as her 'cage', of course that would be how he looked at it. Just one more thing that tied her to her noble life, kept her all bound up. She took a deep breath, then turned halfway around to face her so-called liberator. "I suppose I should thank you?" She said suggestively, putting her hands on his chest she leaned up to kiss him deeply.

Later, after she had finished showing her gratitude, and she was wrapped up in her blankets with his arms around her, the dreams started. Isadora had had dreams before, and nightmares, and while sometimes they felt real...they were nothing compared to what she saw. She was in the market of Caerleon, and it wasn't just that the sights and sounds were more vibrant than any other dream she'd ever had. She could smell the market, the heavy odor of smoke from the forges mixing with the unpleasantly earthy scents of animals and manure and several other aromas she couldn't identify. Everything just seemed...so real. She thought she was really there, watching the peasants and the merchants go about their days, busy and bustling but so very alive. But not for long.

Someone she didn't recognize was leading a few horses through the market. They paused by one of the forges. A horse backed up, just as the smith was turning, holding a pair of red-hot tongs. The horse brayed loudly as the metal seared its flesh, and reared up, kicking out a support beam. The smith cried out as the beam collided with his chest, pushing him back into the fires of his own forge. His anguished screams and the scent of burning flesh filled the air as people crowded around, trying to save him without spreading the fire. Isadora sat bolt upright in bed, cold sweat beading on her skin, her breathing rapid and shuddering while she stared into the blackness with wide, terror-filled eyes. It had been...just a dream?

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ADMINISTRATOR NOTE: This temporary allowance of minor magic has been granted after detailed discussions with the admin, based on the current long running plot between two OCs.

[Alistair]

Alistair hated her soft bed; it always felt as if there was nothing under him and he might fall though. He was so used to the cold bit of the hard ground that a warm soft bed was like a cloud of heat. Still; it had it's advantages. He was growing slightly used to it, even if there were times when he wondered what she would say if she woke up and found him sleeping on her floor.

He had just started to drift off after a night of play between them. There seemed to be always something new with her. He never felt as if it was something he already done a million times. Often times it left him more relaxed then any hot baths that people kept delivering to his room. Let him drift to sleep easier then---

He felt her jerk up and sat up quickly beside her. His eyes darted around the room as if someone or something had been what awoke her or frightened her. At the same time he put one hand on the back of her neck gently. Once he knew it was safe in the room he leaned over to kiss her shoulder. "Princess?"

[isadora]

She clutched the bedsheets to her chest in an iron grip, her breathing ragged as she tried to tell herself it was just a dream...it didn't feel like a dream. Even now, it didn't fade or slip away like dreams usually did; it stayed fixed in her mind, more like a memory than anything she'd ever experienced in her sleep before. She could still smell the acrid stench of burning flesh, and the sounds of the man's anguished screams were still ringing in her ears. No matter how she tried to tell herself it was just a dream, she couldn't help but feel like it was...something else.

She closed her eyes when she felt Alistair's touch, forcing her breathing to calm down as she kept telling herself it was just a nightmare, it wasn't real. She was here, she was safe, and there were no flaming smiths anywhere near here. She didn't know why she would have such a dream, about people she didn't know, but maybe it was just stress? She needed to calm down, clearly. She was here, and Alistair was here, and she was safe. She kept repeating that over and over in her head, trying to calm herself down.

Once she at least had her breathing under control, she turned towards him, and put one hand on his chest, resting her forehead on his shoulder. She breathed in his deep, woodsy scent, reminding her of the forest and the trees and helping her to scrub the scent of smoke and...cooking meat from her memory. "It was...just a dream. An awful, awful dream." She murmured against his skin softly, she knew he'd understand about nightmares, and it made her feel better to be in his arms. She just wanted to forget it, wanted it to go away.

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[Alistair]

Alistair did understand. He knew all about bad dreams; especially the ones that felt real, because they were real. Some where so real that he didn't know he was dreaming until he awoke. He would see them die, sometimes even feel them die. He knew how they could twist the mine and knew the fear she must feel over her one that was made up. He was used to them and his dreams still caused him to jolt awake.

When she turned into him; he wrapped his arms around her. "I know all about bad dreams." He reminded her softly, his deep voice a soft rumble rather then sharp. "It was only a dream, Princess; I wont let anything get you, or to you. Your safe here." He moved them so they could lie back but she was still wrapped up in his arms and tucked to his side. "Think of something happier for a few moments, the fear will pass. I think of you when I see dreams." Of the memories and his hope for their time to come.

he reached his and up to touch the locket that hung there. He often held it in his fist as he was trying to forget the dream enough to think of something else. It was a reminder of her. When he had his visions he did not like to wake her. So he often just climbed from her soft bed and paced the room silently, while holding onto the locket. The one he never took off. Because he loved it.

[isadora]

She could feel his chest rumble as he spoke soft reassurances, and she was able to push away the unpleasant thoughts, even if she wasn't able to forget them so easily. She still didn't know why she would dream of such a thing; even when she had nightmares, they were usually about herself or at least people she knew, people who were important to her. Sometimes she still dreamt of the man she'd killed. But while there had been people she recognized in her dream, she didn't know the man who had died. And it had seemed so real, she didn't know what to make of this. So she wasn't going to make anything of it.

"I know," she whispered when he promised he'd never let anything hurt her. She knew he'd protect her from anything if he could. She let Alistair pull her back down onto the bed, feeling better for having his warm, strong arms around her. She rested her head on his chest, tangling the tips of her fingers in his chest hair for a moment before she smoothed her palm against his chest. Something happier to think of...it made her smile when he said that he thought of her. She liked knowing she was on his mind, and more than that, she liked knowing that she helped him when he was in need.

Something happy. She could do that, couldn't she? She stared into the darkness, thinking happy thoughts, but when she thought of Alistair she just found her thoughts going to all the times they fought, or when he had to kill people for her, and those sorts of thoughts weren't helping. When she thought of her childhood, she thought of her mother's death, or her father's illness, her dark dream making her thoughts gravitate to all the darkest corners of her mind. She was grasping for something to ebb the darkness away when she realized she'd moved a hand to her belly, almost protectively. She was going to have a baby. And on that thought, she found her eyes closing, and slowly, she managed to drift off to sleep again.

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[Alistair]

He wasn't sure what she was thinking about but when her hand went to her belly he paused for a moment. Was she thinking of their future? Of what they could have for her happy thoughts? He hoped so. He wasn't sure of the monsters in her dreams but he knew that they were ones he could not fight for her. Still, it was only one dream and tomorrow she would be well again. "Sleep well, Monisha." She muttered into her hair as he kissed her and then moved his own head to lie back and stare at the ceiling.

He did not fully sleep that night, for one nightmare was enough for one bed. He did not want one of his own. Their were stories of enchanted things that could ward off such dreams but finding one and openly wearing it were two very dangerous things. He knew he could wear something only at night, but if anyone found it in his rooms and knew the marking on it then his life could be forfeit and her life could be risked as well. It would be a risk he would weigh on for a long while before making any actions.

[isadora]

Isadora's sleep was restless for the rest of the night, and when she woke, just before dawn as usual, she still felt tired and groggy. But she had to get up now, before the servants woke at dawn to start their work day. She blinked her eyes open, and finding herself still curled up by Alistair's side, she leaned up to kiss him softly; she knew how he liked to be kissed awake. "Time to get up," she murmured after she broke the kiss, and then rolled over onto her back, closing her eyes and trying to fight off the urge to just go back to sleep.

She didn't always have to get up so early; only when Alistair stayed the night, which was a bit of a pain since those were the nights when she really wanted to get some extra sleep in the morning. She knew that if she didn't wake before him, he'd just leave without waking her up, but she didn't like that either. She liked to wake up next to him, and she couldn't do that if he decided to spare her waking up early enough for him to slip out unnoticed. So she'd gotten used to waking up as early as he did, just so she could say goodbye in the mornings.

She rolled onto her side facing him as he got up, watching him. She wished it could be simpler for them to be together; she wished she didn't have to worry about him getting caught sneaking in and out of her rooms, she wished there wasn't the need for such secrecy. And yet she knew why it was necessary, she knew that until they were married, this would be necessary. If she were anyone else, they would be married by now. It bothered her that her position had to come between them like this. Why couldn't life ever be easy?

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[Alistair]

This was how every morning should start. Sometimes he would try to leave without waking her; even if she hated it. He did not want her to loose sleep because he had to report to her captain or get back to his own rooms before too many eyes were about. Still, on the mornings she awoke on her own to kick him out of her rooms he liked better. "If I stay, your rules would demand you marry me in your laws sooner." He jested at her before rolling out of bed. He knew she was watching but he never cared if she wanted to look.

He picked up his pants and dawned them before pulling the padded shirt over his head. He had made the jest at her knowing that in his way they were mostly married; he had not made her his wife in his world yet but had given her the promises a husband would make. He knew however that she would feel better and see it as really so once they married under her laws. Dragging his armor off the floor he did not bother putting it on. He could just say he was taking it down to the armory to put on before beginning his day. Leaning over the bed he paused, and sat on the side of it. Reaching out he touched her eyes very gently, "You should sleep more. They have not seen enough night."

[isadora]

Isadora propped herself up on her elbow, pulling the blankets up over her chest and watching him. She laughed at his suggestion. "That would certainly make things easier, wouldn't it?" She teased, if it were that easy, she would've just let one of the servants catch them together a while ago. But she wasn't sure they would get such an easy out. What if an opponent used the information to challenge Isadora's position, to try and prove she was unworthy of the throne? She wasn't willing to risk it, even if it might mean they were able to be married sooner.

She closed her eyes when he touched her, smiling, she reached up and took his hand, bringing it to her lips, she kissed his knuckles affectionately. "Who's fault is that?" She pointed out, raising her eyebrows at him suggestively, before she reached out to put a hand on the back of his neck and pulled him down to kiss her. "Don't forget to get me that list of names." She reminded him after she pulled back, trailing her hand down his shoulder before she dropped it back down to her side. "And don't keep me waiting. I hate that."

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[Alistair]

She hated to be kept waiting? How Princess of her. He stood there and watched her for a moment, debating on if he should call her out on being a Princess like he use to or to leave her thinking about kicking him out of her bed all day? He wanted to do the first but decided revenge would be sweeter if she suffered a bit for it. He moved forward to kiss her deeply; letting his fingers trail over her before he then pushed off the bed.

Picking up his stuff, he looked down at at once more. "As you wish," His voice was soft while in his normal deep timber and he dipped his head in a formal bow before turning to walk toward the door. While his bows were always slightly mocking, for he did not truly believe in titles; he was getting better at hiding the mocking behind it so they look real.

[isadora]

Isadora half-expected a remark about her being too much of a Princess, but she far preferred the way he kissed her instead. She reached out her hands to put them on his shoulders, but just as her fingertips touched him, he pulled back, reminding her that he couldn't stay. She pouted after him as he went to the door and bowed to her, something he hardly ever did, so she knew he was teasing her. She was loathe to admit that it was working, too. Once he turned his back, she couldn't keep the smile off her face at his three little words, watching him until he closed the door behind himself.

Once the door closed again and she was left alone, she fell backwards onto her bed and closed her eyes, but she couldn't keep the smile off her face. Nor could she get back to sleep, it seemed, thoughts of her not-so-knightly lover bothering her in ways that couldn't be talked about in polite company. And as she tried to do as he had bid her and get some more sleep before starting her day, Isadora got a much better idea than twisting and turning in bed until her maid came to get her. He always did like to hear about how she kept herself from getting too frustrated when he wasn't around to satisfy her...she'd just have another story to tantalize him with later.

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[Alistair]

Hours later Alistair had build his list and was delivering it to her after his 'morning rounds'. At first he had not understood while each knight had to circle the grounds but when he found things other missed; and watched them each back up the other he began to understand. You were making sure nothing was missed. Protecting the castle by checking, double checking, and checking again. He approved.

He found a servant and asked where the Princess was; something he always felt awkward doing but managed to make it look indifferent. In his world homes were so small you looked up and found whom you were looking for. Here, he could walk around all bloody day and still not even catch the scent of her soap in a room.

When he arrived at where she was, he paused at the door while a servant entered and 'announced him'. Something he would never understand. Once he was announced, they opened the door so he could enter the room.

[isadora]

Isadora was in her office, leaning back in the high-backed chair that sat before the rectangular table that served as a desk to the princess. Also in the room was Sir Garrett, who had a map spread out over the table and was leaning over it, discussing matters of deployment and defense. They were just finishing up, with Garrett marking some changes on his map as a servant entered to announce that Sir Alistair of the Black Mountains was here to see her highness.

Garrett straightened up, rolling up the map as the knight was shown inside, glancing from the princess to the knight with a somewhat suspicious look. "What brings you to see the princess?" He knew very well that Alistair was a man of few words, and he wanted to know what could be of such importance that it begged an audience with Isadora.

"Actually, I asked him to get some information for me." Isadora answered for him, getting to her feet, her tone casual. She held out her hand for the paper on which he'd presumably written the names of the men he trusted, ignoring the still-questioning look Garrett was giving her. When he noticed he was being ignored, Garrett frowned.

"I hope it's something important." He replied, knowing better than to pry. If Isadora was going to tell him, she would, and asking wouldn't be necessary. Otherwise, asking was a futile attempt.

"Of course. Now, if we're all done here, I was thinking of taking a stroll around the market. Care to accompany me, Garrett?" She asked pleasantly, looking at the commander expectantly, who suddenly seemed terribly interested in the map he had just rolled up.

"I have important... commander-y type things to do. But since Sir Alistair is already here, I'm sure he'd love to escort you." He took the easiest out that was available to him, and that meant using his new recruit as a scapegoat. He gave him an apologetic look when he turned, so the princess wouldn't see, and clapped his hand on his shoulder as he made his way out the door. Narrowly escaped that one. Isadora glanced over the sheaf of paper, before she slid it under some other papers, and looked up to Alistair with a pleased smile, walking around her desk.

"Shall we?"

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[Alistair]

Alistair walked into the room and noticed Garrett right away. He didn't dislike the man in anyway, but he wasn't pleased with the idea of any man working so close and alone with his woman. He also wasn't pleased with the ranks and how Garrett was over him. For Alistair to come from a world were no man held power over another in the way of being able to dictate his every move; he was grating to 'yes sir' and 'no sir'. Most times, Alistair did not, and just inclined his head in a silent way, to let the man take what meaning he would from it.

She held out her hand and it took him a few moments to realized what she wanted. The information. He had not written down a list, for he assumed he could just tell her. Alistair reached into his armor to pull out the folded paper were he would practice his writing on and handed it to her. It would not have the names she wanted on it but it would look like it for Garrett.

Alistair had not been able to read nor write in any language until he met Vaughn. Vaughn had been forced to teach him a few words to read in order for them to send 'word' of which stages a plan was at. Maeve had taught him some of his own language, while he was in her realm. He had never thought he would need to read or write in English. He had learned all he could while he was too weak to get up from a bed. However, it was not until Isadora that he started learning English on paper.

Garrett and her spoke for a moment about shopping and Garrett passed the chore to him. Alistair did not mind being ask to guard his princess; but being told too was still annoying. He could not however, refuse to do something he wanted to do. Not the shopping part; he hated shopping. He did however want to make sure nothing happened to her while out.

Garrett placed his hand on Alistair's shoulder as he passed by; and Alistair did not react move then a slight tilt of his head. He really did not dislike the man; he respected the knight. Yet for a free man; it was hard to take orders from anyone. "Shall we?" With a sharp glace behind him to make sure the door was shut and no one was watching; he turned back to her to pull her by the arm closer to him and cover her lips with his. "Yes."

[isadora]

Isadora gave a quiet squeak when he pulled her to him, but once he was kissing her she wrapped her arms around his neck, standing up on her toes to reach him better. When they separated, she dropped back down onto the flats of her feet. "Your penmanship is improving." She complimented him, even though the list hadn't contained the names she'd wanted, she hadn't really expected it to. It would simply seem weird to Garrett that a nobleman would be giving her information orally that would be more easily communicated in writing; and that way she didn't have to say anything about it in front of the Knight Commander. Too nosy for his own good, that Garrett.

Untangling her arms from around his neck, she turned back to the desk and took out a new piece of paper, loading a writing quill with ink. "Okay, so names?" She asked, bending over the desk to write it herself. He was better at remembering things because he wasn't used to writing them down; she had too much to keep track of to memorize all the names. When she'd finished writing them down, she straightened up, and tucked the paper under where she'd put his practice sheet, then turned to him. She'd suggested going to the market because she knew that Garrett would take the easiest out, which would be Alistair standing so conveniently in the doorway, and that way he wouldn't wonder why she kept asking Alistair to do things for her. He had asked Alistair to do this, not her.

But she also wanted to go to the market for another reason...she wanted to make sure that everything was okay. Her dream kept flashing back to her throughout the day, and while she knew it was probably just stress getting to her, she couldn't put it out of her mind. The more she tried not to think about it, the more it kept coming back. So maybe if she went down to the market and saw for herself that everything was fine, she would be able to put her mind at ease. That was the theory, at least. Smiling as she looked up at him, she dipped into a shallow curtsy. "So, Sir Alistair, will you please escort me to the market?" She asked in the appropriate way for a noblewoman to ask a favor of a nobleman, rather than the appropriate way for a princess to order around a knight.

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[Alistair]

He ignored the comment on his penmanship He still had trouble with the letters that looked alike; and for the most part did not write anything. He could read them however; and everyone just assumed that he could write as well. He had not been called to prove it. He gave her the names; ones that induced Garrett, himself and a few others in which he had come to see would be good and worked well together.

Alistair knew that when she wed him that he would be expected to do something as their 'leader'; yet he planned to still leave that to Garrett. He wasn't sure what he would do as her husband but he knew that barking orders; and politics were not among them. She asked him if he would take her to the market and he tilted his head down to look at her better. "As you wish." It was his new phrase since 'yes ma'am' and 'my lady' were titles that he didn't like sticking on her.

[isadora]

She frowned when he mentioned Garrett...usually when she had to leave the city, he remained behind. He was the only one she trusted to govern the city, and in turn the kingdom, when she had to go away. And if something should happen to her, she trusted Garrett would look after the country as best as he could until a new ruler was found. She didn't point this out to Alistair, as she knew that he'd say that making sure nothing happened to her was more important than having a contingency plan. She'd work it out, somehow.

Isadora smiled at his response to her request, and stood up straight, pausing next to him as she passed by him to kiss him on the lips briefly, entangling her fingers with his, she pulled him along behind her out the door. She dropped his hand once they were in the hallway, not wanting to be caught, and walked alongside him towards the main castle gates, forcing herself to be cheerful even though she was dreading what they'd find at the market. Chaos? Screaming? Burning smiths and panicked horses? She knew it was silly, it was just a dream. But even so...she worried. She fidgeted absently as they walked. "How was your morning?" She asked, making small talk to distract herself.

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[Alistair]

Alistair almost pulled her back into him for a deeper kiss but she was walking before he could. Letting her pull him along, he followed her out into the hall and then fell into step slightly behind her. When he first arrived he had to follow her as he had allot of trouble making heads and tails of where he was and which way was which. He had not been used to high walls and not being able to get his barrings. Now he knew his way around but the rules were made clear. You walked behind your betters.

Small talk always confused him as well. He had spent his morning with her then patrol, so how did he answer? "Nothing out of the ordinary happened." It had been just a normal morning where nothing surprising happened. "Your morning?" He asked because she did, and he did not know what else he was supposed to ask.

[isadora]

She nodded to his answer, that was good. She was fairly certain that flaming smiths would count as something out of the ordinary, so at least he hadn't heard anything...not that he would. She was just stressed out. It was the strain of maintaining a deceptive relationship, ruling a country and being pregnant...not mention hiding her pregnancy from Alistair. It made sense...so why couldn't she rid herself of the feeling of dread that had settled in her stomach as they headed down to the market? She felt helpless against it.

"Oh, it was fine." She answered absent mindedly, almost forgetting about the pointless conversation she'd started with him. Alistair had never been much of a talker, so she didn't feel bad for leaving their conversation there as they exited from the castle's main gate, descending into the market below. She fell back a few steps to walk alongside him once they got into the marketplace, not wanting to get too far away from him in the hustle and bustle of the market. She didn't want to risk getting separated from him.

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[Alistair]

What the bloody hell did he say to that? Alistair let the thought sit there for a moment before no longer caring about not talking. The silence was never awkward with her; and he did not care to fill the peaceful silence with an awkward attempt at small talk. He did like however; that she moved closer and fell back in the crowd. He would not like have liked it if any had attempted to walk between them. Not that many would. Most seem to see her walking their way and take bows and move out the way.

He kept his eyes moving to make sure no danger would come close to her. While looking he noticed one woman bow to Isadora and when she did her necklace became apparent. He would know that work anywhere. Maeve. His eyes softened for a moment at the memory of his almost sister and her visit to her. She was often trying to give people things rather then ask for money. She would encourage men to give their lady loves the jewelery.

That was when the idea occurred to him that while he'd given her piratical things; and useful things; he'd never given her anything like Maeve suggested to other men: Pretty things. Something just because. "I have need to go down toward the forges if you are mind?" He rarely asked her to go anywhere finding it easier to just move her. However in the market he knew moving her or steering her would look unknightly.