The Preserve [early, early, early Saturday morning]

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis stopped at the edge of the woods, waiting for Seely and their bags (small though hers was, she did have gifts in it) and eyeing the trees warily. "I wonder how long we'll be gone."

[for the pack mule/boyfriend, and great SP justice.]

Comments

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely followed, hefting their bags. "Hopefully long enough that there'll be no vampires to come home to," he grumbled.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis reached over and patted his arm. "At least in Anvard the only people who look like other people are twins, and neither of them is evil. Just dim."

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely had a very mature pout on his face. "Still think they should set him on fire."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Maybe they will have when we return," she suggested.

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Good," Seely said. "Stupid, jerky, psychotic vampire."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis stepped closer. "Who won't be in Archenland." She was still watching the woods carefully.

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely eyed her. "You okay?"

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Why wouldn't I be?" Aravis asked, only slightly defensively.

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"You just seem a little...you know."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Little what?" Aravis asked, reaching down to pet Ata, who was by her feet.

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Worried."

There, that was a better word than scared.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Well, I'm not." That was kind of a lie, as one might gather from how her hand was resting on the hilt of her sword.

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely reached to take her hand. "It'll be okay," he said softly.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis bit her lip. "It's just -- the last time I was here...."

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"I know," Seely said softly. "But it's different now."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"And soon we'll be in Archenland, and it'll be Christmas," she added, kissing his cheek. "All right."

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely tilted his head to kiss her cheek. "And there'll be presents."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"And cake!"

Aravis had decided that was part of Christmas.

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"And cake," Seely agreed. "Probably won't be chocolate though."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I brought some!"

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Just be careful no one finds out," Seely murmured. "They might steal it."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I brought it to share," she said. "Aren't I nice?"

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Very nice," Seely murmured, curling his arm around her waist.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"It's a day's walk, though, so we might get hungry on the way."

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"We won't want to risk fainting from hunger," Seely agreed seriously.