A Good Hearth (Théodred Heavenshield)

[Ylva Heavenshield]

Ilum - Iron Legion Pantheon​

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Ilum had been good to her, here a world that fit both her liking and that of Bjomolf, her Ice Wolf that she had rescued out of the vessel that [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] had pulled her from in it's forced descent upon Roxuli. Having returned to the wreckage to find that not all had been left to the fires, the metal of the merchant hunting vessel having perhaps saved some of the captive wildlife destined for crueler fates, Bjomolf had stuck out to her, a creature that had not been taken but rather chosen to follow after being pried from out of its caged holdings. Time had passed since the battle of the Insurrectionist Chiss on that barren world and they had since found themselves upon Ilum where she and Théo had spent some time together, coming to better know and more importantly learn to trust in one another; it was a slow process and Ylva regularly made it difficult for the lad to be easy around her. What with her constant reminding him of his noble birthright, teasing him for being 'upon high' above the 'common folk' and other such plays made out in jest carrying a subtle show of genuine beliefs brought up in her words.

​Ylva Solveig wasn't exactly the space faring type and usually she'd have strayed far from the likes of such places yet Théodred had invited her to accompany him to the world of Midvinter, The Tarly to be their ride away from the worlds of the Iron Empire to visit the place of his birthright, his family and heritage. While it hadn't yet occurred to her that she'd be being introduced to his people per say; the promise of a world that would better suit her given lifestyle and held similar cultures that she'd been brought up within did seem to agree with her. Olstyn had already proven itself to be a fine example of what these Val-...Valkyre? Valkyrie...

'Oh what the hell' ​

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​...-What his people were like.

Striding up towards the raised landing platform with Bjomolf in tow, the young Ice Wolf Pup the size of a full grown wolf sauntered alongside her already making her look small by his comparison and causing those of the Empire around them both to stare in awe and disbelief at how loyal this wild beast was around the women of fire in her hair. This introduction to her Midvinter friend she hoped would go smoothly and she was uncertain how the great snow hound would fair aboard his ship. The flight over would be far easier if the two males in her life were to get along with one another.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Departure time was fast approaching and Théo seated in the cockpit was prepping the ship, engines warming, systems running checks across all measures and the galley full of food. How many times had he flown from Ilum to Midvinter he had lost count, his frequent flier points would be through the roof by now. But he did not mind a bit, it was always a great thing to go home. Although this time .. we is nervous and so his hands kept themselves busy dancing over the control panels.

With his men, he is confident, in leadership .. confident. Even when presenting himself to the Emperor he holds his grace, with Ylva? All of that vanishes. So when he went to greet her before the boarding ramp, he stopped and watched her approach at the entrance.

This would be an interesting trip, it takes some time before reaching Midvinter and they would have hours upon hours couped up with nowhere to go if things went pear shaped. Regardless, a smile formed on his lips until he noticed the large ice wolf at her side. Théo respects all creatures, especially on Midvinter for if you do not, they will kill you. He had the feeling this one would too. The large teeth and claws evident enough for that.

“I see you are bringing a friend”, he pushed off the entrance and walked the ramp toward her and this wolf. He kept a distance between them, letting the wolf know he meant no harm to her, or him for that matter. It is best to let them come to you in these first meetings. “What is his name?”.

Slowly Théo approached them both, extending the back of his hand for the wolf to take in his scent, or .. rip his arm off. However, he had a trick up his sleeve and a calming aura surrounded the wolf through the force ensuring him there was no danger here, either on the ship or with Théo.

“Let me take your bags and I will show you both to your quarters”.

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[member="Ylva Solveig"]​

 

[Ylva Heavenshield]

His hesitance pulled at the corner of her mouth as she watched [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]'s expression shift from one of pride to one of suprise and dare she believe it, reluctance at the sight of Bjomolf, the Ice wolf of which took up a slight pace to be free of her side and moving to intercept the high born lord placing itself between the pair with a low rumble rolling up in its throat and raising its maw showing some of the beasts great teeth. Bjomolf was a natural predator, beautiful in how dangerous nature could be, the great hound's ears flattened as it glared across the wide catwalk spire leading to the docking and freight bay at Théo's back.

"His name's Bjomolf" she answered, pronouncing the name with silence in the first letter of which it was written; "Clan Solveig told stories of such creatures, said they could grow as large as the Ursine (Bears). I never believed them but he...-He's something ain'e" Ylva smiled in full, looking at the Wolf already with admiration in her eyes and pride of heart for the beast; "Careful, he's wild..." she spoke up again this time quickly in warning as Théodred sought to move in closer and introduce himself to the Ice Wolf. To her astonishment the beast's growl died down, it answering the offer of the lads head with apprehension and yet treating him more civilly than the others who had made the mistake to get to close to either of them; it sniffed his hand a moment before moving on passed him, the creatures weight bumping against Théo, pausing to turn and glance back at the rear of the man as he soon sought to come closer to Ylva, yet otherwise pushed on towards the vessel ahead as if it were it's own lair.

Looking to Théodred as he stood beside her now with the Wolf heading on ahead of them both, she turned and slugged him in the shoulder speaking at him accusingly as if he'd just insulted her blood mother; "How'd you do that!" she demanded, her brow furrowed though her anger was somewhat feigned, more astonished and frustrated that it had taken her so long to earn the pup's trust before it had come closer to her and allowed her to hunt alongside it on the slopes of Ilum; "Do you know how much effort I went through to befriend 'em ?!" she growled, pulling her pack from over her shoulder and more or less throwing it as his chest before moving on up the ramp, his offer to carry her belongings met with expectation as a means to repay her for her own embarrasment, her pace turning to a slight jog as she hoped to catch up with the creature before it went looking into any of the ships food stocks.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

First a thump to the shoulders, then a hefty shove with her bag to the chest .. "Is it always going to be this way with you?!", Théo feigned frustration and his voice held a hint of mirth in his question of her as she sauntered up the ramp after her charge. Naturally he had 'cheated' in befriending the wolf, but he was not about to tell her that as a grin formed on his lips.

He found them heading down the back end of Heartsbane heading toward the galley, he thought better than to shot a cooking comment to her, letting it go this time however, "I take it you and Bjomolf which to share quarters. Probably best he doesn't wander the ship when we are resting". Théo placed her bag by the open door to her quarters for her to find when she is ready to retire once fatigue claims her and her wolf.

"I am headed for the cockpit, we will take off in ten minutes.. if you wish, come join me there. You can see the stars shoot by before we jump into hyperspace", it truly is a sight to behold if one has never seen it. Only another minute had passed and the ramp closed and Théo began the cycle to ascent into the Ilum skies. He would be away for at least a month, leaving the Pantheon and Legion in capable hands until his return.

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[member="Ylva Solveig"]​

 

[Ylva Heavenshield]

The Ice Wolf wandered in onto the deck, dropping its nose to the floor and giving the foreign vessel a sniff, exploring the interior and more or less ignoring Ylva as she followed in alongside the great beast, she herself gazing about the ship curiously. "Yeah, I dunno about all this either boy..." She responded as if the beast had spoken to her, now in the privacy of their own company here she was going off to some distant world with [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]; "He seems alright though..." She muttered, eyes narrowing a little as though it were difficult to admit and yet not speaking entirely mindful on the matter. Truth be told she had enjoyed her time with him, the banter was competitive if not comical and took her mind off of the constant struggle for simple living. The fact was that in the time they'd been near to one another, the desperate living in which she was mostly accustomed to had been entirely distant from her immediate focus.

"C'mon ya big lug" she tried to pull on the Wolf's head to encourage it to turn back towards their quarters, it's weight requiring both hands to bring it about and eventually managed to convince Bjomolf to follow her. Their quarters weren't exactly simple to her, in fact the matter of having a bed for a start was far beyond what she was used to. Often sleeping on the ground itself with a bed of skins to soften the base and keep her warm yet here there was a bed fit for two of which the Ice Wolf jumped up onto quickly, turning to give her a slight look before falling to its side and giving out a loud huff. "Bed's yours huh?" Ylva commented skeptically, "Yeah I don't mind..." she added, assuming she probably wouldn't sleep well on such a fine fabric in any case. "Stay here, I'ma go find our hero and savior of the people before he loses himself in that big head of his" she smirked a little, dropping her bag in the middle of the floor and turning around; "Be good!".

Wandering the corridor of the ship on her own, she reached out to trace her fingers along the metal wall, fingers dancing upon the smooth metal, her gaze not really watching where she was going, more listening to the sound of the big container coming to live, the vibrations the engines encouraged to rivet throughout the craft. This was the second time she'd been on such a thing, the first had crash landed upon Roxuli and now Théodred was taking her off somewhere to his home-world...The thought made her bite the inside of her cheek a little. What kind of people would be there, would they all be as inviting as he was or would she meet others, the kind of people she'd grown up with and known none the better until now. Stopping to lean against the entrance to the cockpit, she didn't say anything but simply slowed and stood their watching the back of him uncertainly. Her steps were silent, she rarely left a trace in the places she roamed and yet around him she always seemed to be noticed. Really noticed as if she stood out from all other things, she couldn't describe it but it was the kind of significance she had never really had in her life before, like there was some sort of meaning or appeal to her being there.

'Stop it...' she thought to herself, feeling her doubts and insecurities building within her. Why she was there, where and for what purpose was she traveling with him. Why did Théodred care and was this all some kind of set up to lure her in, hurt or betray her and try to take whatever she had worth taking like most people would. Her gaze faltered, eyes lowering to glance to the floor a moment, brows knitting together in frown.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Of course he had noticed her presence, the sensation of her near was familiar to him now. The ability was not something he could turn on or off at will, having learned the skill from his master as a very young age, it was second nature to him. Yet, he did not immediately acknowledge her rather he gave her time with her own thoughts which he also sensed were ones filled with trepidation and rightly so. Everything had happened so fast from their first meeting back in the forest on the planet that had been harsh to her and that description was generous in subtlety. But his noticing her was more than simply the force at work, he cared for her, he liked her.

There was something about Ylva he had come to realise he could not do without.

Finally, he spoke, "Come sit next to me", Théo turned and looked upon her face while he gestured to the co-pilots seats. "I want you to see something", even if she decided to remain by the door she would still witness the flames around the ship as it punctured through the protective atmosphere. Licking the outside of the ship and the viewing window of the cockpit, flames began to remove their view, the ice that had once crusted the window burned in an instant and vapourised, it sight would not last long before the ship broke through and before them lay the millions upon millions of stars twinkling the black void of space.

"It is not too late to change your mind Ylva", he said softly turning to her now as the ship edged along at sub-light speed. "If you are unsure, I can take you anywhere you wish, but before you change your mind, give it a chance. I honestly believe Midvinter will capture your heart". Upon his own words, Théo paused and was taken aback, as a heat began to burn through his body as if he was on fire. He had never felt such a sensation before, not this palpable and it caused him to question himself over it.

Deep down he knew...

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[member="Ylva Solveig"]​

 

[Ylva Heavenshield]

He hadn't even turned to look at her when his words were offered and caused her to flinch, her gaze lifting forward to take in the back of him seated within the cockpit; 'How does he do that...' she thought out of instinctive frustration and yet found a little amusement in it all at the same time. It was enough to break the ice and pull her out of her little pity party and step further into the small little control room for his ship, reluctantly taking a seat into the co-pilots chair and glancing sideways at [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] as he suggested there was more for her to see. The irony in the statement wouldn't impact either of them immediately though the way of her life her minds eye was always first and foremost on herself; there had never been any other priority since the end of Clan Solveig other than to survive and get through each winter on Nirauan. Now she found herself here and following his gaze out through the viewing screen to catch the warm orange glow surrounding the screen as they broke out through the atmosphere of Illum, the vibrations of the vessel gradually settling down and conveying a weightlessness to the craft as they entered into open space and the sub-light drives soon whined into gear and thrust them both forward at greater speeds.

"My last ride wasn't quite like this..." she muttered quietly though audible enough for Théo to hear and amuse himself with as she commented upon the last time she'd stowed on board the merchant ship, the very same craft that nose dived on Roxuli and she somehow managed to recover Bjomolf from in the aftermath of the battle. The poor little pup much smaller than he was now though still a weight to be carried, the Ice Wolf now the size of a large wolf had certainly grown in such a small time, bringing both comfort to her in knowing that she wasn't alone but so too that between her and Théodred...-Well, he seemed to trust him enough for her to consider settling into this little venture of theirs willingly.

He had somehow picked up on her anxiety. Had it showed upon her face? She frowned a little, keeping her eyes ahead of them while she felt his upon her; it was uncomfortable, this feeling. Théodred sounded like he genuinely cared and yet she had such a hard time coming to terms with others and their often unreliability. In her experience most people only acted for themselves and their own gains yet she wanted to trust that he was good to his word. "Where else would I go?" she countered, neither giving an answer but instead responding in a question as if to avoid admittance of her insecurities. This was how she worked, how she kept herself stable and distanced from others and their possible threat to her peace of mind. In most cases it worked but this one, he was something else and she couldn't be sure if that excited her or left her feeling more vulnerable than anything.

"There ain't nothing out there that I can put my name to".

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

It would never be his intention to make Ylva feeling awkward or vulnerable, if his mere presences was doing so, he would have to consider making himself scarce. Or the journey to Midvinter would become this way for the both. But he also understood the feeling was not just him, but the whole upheaval of her moving to a place entirely unknown. No matter how much he would talk of Midvinter to try and prepare her, nothing would elevate this, nothing until she sees it for herself, experiences it for herself. If this did not work out for her, Théo would be willing to take her away somewhere else.

Gone was her sharp replies, and he hated that only because she was alive with fire in her eyes when doing so. But in return or rather in it's place was something else he equally liked. It was Ylva without the fascade of the fire words which he believed were in place to shield her from hurt and the dangers of it. Hurt of the heart, cuts far deeper than any cut from a blade. To be let down by anyone close, beloved or family or friend - enemies are enemies, there is an honesty in that.

He could not answer her question, how could he? Théo was the complete opposite of her, in all regards to life lived and experienced. Yes he can hunt, he can pull a bow with the best of them, which he hoped one day he would get to show her, and he had faced dangers greater than most as a child and beyond, but he had never lived the way she had .. and for it, he truly admired her.

"We are about the jump into hyperspace, strap in and sit back", he said taking his eyes off her to give her some form of privacy with her thoughts. So he busied himself with preparing the ship to launch. And within seconds the streaming blue tunnel burst before them as the ship lurched back. It was in auto now, and Théo unclipped his harness.

"You hungry? we could go get a bite to eat and go watch a holomovie .. or if you prefer some time alone, that is fine too".

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[member="Ylva Solveig"]​

 

[Ylva Heavenshield]

Pulling the straps down across her shoulders and meeting mid-center of her torso with the buckles, she snapped them together with a quiet click, the belts keeping her securely seated as the view of space before them suddenly distorted; this was a marvel that so many these days would no doubt take for granted and misunderstand just how much of an astonishing scene it was to behold. The stars started out slow within the initial seconds, moving towards them gradually building up speed until they had all exploded into lines of light and darkness pressed against the front of the ship as though it would swallow them whole; the hyperdrive field around their ship protecting them as they dove into what could only be described as a tunnel of blues, blacks and whites, what would typically take someone years to travel flashing passed them in less than the second it had taken for the hyper-drive to kick in. The words that left her mouth in a mutter of astonishment and awe were fit for no lady and harsher than she'd yet spoken in front of [member="Théodred Heavenshield"], something akin to a son born out of wedlock mixed with a series of body parts in their most vulgar names as she stared wide eyes and pale faced.

"I never realized..." She soon spoke up with a little more consciousness put into her speech, still to busy watching as millions of stars raced them on by; "Doesn't look so amazing when you're stowed away in with all the cargo..." She added, suggesting that she had indeed never been on board a vessel of any kind in this manner to her recollection.

As quick as the stars had blurred, Théo seemed to suggest they move elsewhere. While Ylva would normally agree if not to avoid making a big deal of anything, this time she hesitated in his company and with the view they had before them, she didn't seem so inclined to move in a hurry. "Give it a moment would ya" she responded with a little bit more confidence, glancing back at him with a slight roll of her eyes but too a curl to the corner of her mouth in a half smirk, "You're always on the move like this huh, never staying in one place to just enjoy yourself?", she lifted her hand to gesture to the view screen; "How many worlds are out there you reckon...-Stuff that no one knows about, places people haven't gone or figured out like the caves back on Nirauan...".

It would be evident that Ylva Solveig perhaps for the first time since they'd met, was content to just sit there and make idle conversation. Naturally she wouldn't stop him from leaving but this was an entirely different experience, one that came as a great wonder and a beauty to her where she'd never fathomed living with technology of this magnitude.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

A paused and turned back, eyes flicking to the viewing window of his ship. It was then he supposed such sights he took for granted, especially with the constant travel between home and Ilum. But the wonder in her eyes and on her pretty face was far more appealing to him, the sparkle in her eyes beyond any beauty outside the window. As she turned back to continue to watch the streaming stars, Théo walked up behind her seat and rested his arms on the top of it and watched with her over her head. “It is in my blood to keep on the move”. The Corellian side of the man.

“Countless”, he answered her question. “A person could travel the galaxy for a life time and would never be able to visit them all. And it would not be a wasted life. I have seen many planets and system, nebulas and gas clouds, asteroid belts so beautiful it is hard to describe in words. And what I have seen is but a mere drop in the ocean”. His words spoken softly.

He would stay and watch the stars with her for as long as she wished, “You should never have to travel in the cargo bay again Ylva .. I will make sure of that”. There was determination in his words, and a truth to them if the means was in his power to provide her. He would say nothing, but now more than ever, he was eager for her to see the sight of Midvinter as they descend upon the jewel of the east. It is really a sight to behold.

The days would pass all to quickly for Théo’s liking, he had very much enjoyed her company on this journey and had spent time getting to know each other more. There would be moments in which Ylva would return to her defensive ways and tease him about his upbringing but now Théo understood it more, the reason why .. it actually had nothing to do with him or his upbringing but more that in moments of doubt or vulnerability, it was her way of building strength. We all do this in some form or another, and besides .. he liked the way her eyes lit up with passion when she did.

And so, he was rudely awoken from sleep by the alert that the Tarly was about to come out of hyperspace. They would approach the dark side of the planet, the Sun falling behind the perfect curve of the planet. Théo jumped out of bed, pulled on his trousers and threw a white shirt around his shoulders, hastily buttoned it up in the wrong holes as his feet slipped into his boots. A mop of black curly hair sat below his shoulder blades in a complete mess. He made for the cockpit, and took his seat to bring the Tarly home, but not before chasing the Sun.

[member="Ylva Solveig"]​

 

[Ylva Heavenshield]

Upon the floor of the cockpit, the first sight [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] would come to would be the mass bulk of Bjomolf laying lazily on it's side, lifting it's head only to glance up at him in acknowledgement before resting back to the floor. The great beast had come to grow acquainted with Théodred over the days they'd been forced to spend within such close proximity to one another. With the added interest and want for his company that the wolf had sensed coming from Ylva, it had been rather easy going and no one had unfortunately been bitten on either side. Most curious however was the question as to why the great wolf would sleep in the cockpit rather than take the bed that Ylva had been offered; well quite simply put, it was sleeping there because nestled in the co-pilots seat just ahead, Ylva Solveig slept soundly from her somewhat uncomfortable looking position, legs propped up upon the dash, arms crossed over her chest and body leaning back against the chair, chin buried against her collar and her hair strewn down either side hiding much of her face.

A good nights rest was rare and hard to come by for the lass, she of whom had never had such pleasures of well made bedding out in the wilds of Nirauan, nor did she manage to find an easy time without the star in eyes sight from where she would lay. There in the cockpit however she'd grown somewhat fond of the little room. Often greeted in the mornings by Théo who would come to check on their flight path and make sure nothing had been nudged or altered in her sleep; by this point he was probably tired of having to climb over Bjomolf every time he wasn't to take to the pilots chair...

"You're up early..."

She spoke, though didn't seem to inclined to move nor open her eyes, her words something of a mumble in her still very half asleep like state. He had woken her, some strange chime or alarm, most definetily his fault of course though she didn't seem too bothered to make a fuss about it, turning in the co-pilots seat to hug the other-side and bury her head under one arm as her right hand rose to take a hold of the arm of the chair trying to keep herself from falling off of it.

Some days she seemed every part as much an animal as Bjomolf...-Though not always very flattering, no doubt.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

A large hand reached down finger finding their way into the fur of Bjomolf to scratch the large wolf behind the ears which he seemed to like a lot. "We are here boy". Théo turned his head to give Ylva a grin as she still marveled at the calmness the wolf showed around him, but Théo was not using the force now as Bjomolf had grown trusting of him in these past couple of days. "Actually I am late". He looked her over all disheveled in the seat next to him. "You really should try sleeping in a bed they are far more comfortable .. high born or not". He winked with a grin.

Taking control of the Tarly, the ship began it's descent and moved across the sky toward the Sun to which Théo's grin turned into a genuine smile. For the Sun is his grandfather, now it's God shedding warmth over their homeland. "Not going to welcome your grandson home Grandpapa?", he spoke and although Ylva would think him mad or have little knowledge of why he would, it mattered little for she would learn of family past soon enough.

Midvinter came into view, the icy world that from afar sat white and billowing from it's surface the mists of the ice and snow swirled into the air. It was a sight Théo would never get tired of seeing and as they approached it's surface the large majestic mountain ranges would be visible. They are the tallest mountain he had ever seen anywhere stretching high into the Midvinter skies. Himmeldal was located to the west of Tháinbroek, nestled in a vale the locals call the Whispers, they believe strange beings live there and heed their warning as no one that enters ever leaves. The whispers are a trick of the wind whistling through the tops of the mountains that surround Himmeldal. Nothing sinister lives there.

It was home to the family when Théo and Nina were young, now it is his.

As they approached the isolated home, the Tarly descended through the ranges which loamed on either side of the ship, the white of ice and snow glaring their vision but far in the distance sat the home and soon the Tarly touched down among the white flowers of winters. Mother's favourite. "Welcome to Midvinter Red". Sapphire blue eyes looked deep into her's and in them she would find a softness, a tender look which would speak of more than just friendship.

​

[member="Ylva Solveig"]​

 

[Ylva Heavenshield]

"I did try..."

She muttered intolerantly, a grimace inspiring crows feet to claw at the corners of her eyes as she blinked several times against the blur of the new morning; or whatever time it was they were coming into upon the Starship of his. [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] may have been used to it, but she'd never been in such a place to wtiness this sort of view let alone had the first world problems of questioning the time of day in the absence of an atmosphere. The bed had been far too large, too immaculate and plush, cushioned by a mattress and blankets that smelled of stale air having not been used for a time since whenever Théodred had brought a guest on board last.

"It didn't feel right..."

She turned to look over to him for a moment, staring through furrowed brows due to her minds reluctance to awaken fully; as if to answer her prior question, he veered the vessel down to open up within the path of Midvinter's Sun and then spoke to it almost religiously, yet murmuring the distinct word Grandpa or Grand son, perhaps both...-It was not an uncommon sight for Ylva, regardless of what he was muttering to himself. Those of Clan Solveig were superstitious types also and yet because of these beliefs they had learned to anticipate the weather by reading deeper into the suns strength of light in the night. They could track their position in the wilds by looking to the stars for which many had whispered to be wardens in the night, watchers to guide them when they were lost.

The sight that followed was nothing short of breath taking as they plunged down through the veil of the worlds orbit and into the open skies of Midvinter, he mountain ranges and snow capped peaks and pale plains as far as her eyes could see. Himmeldal stood out like a sore thumb and immediately struck her as something she would one day hope to ascend, the great mountain posing an almost challenging presence to her as it towered over everything else nearby.

Soon enough they were touching down upon the ground and Théodred welcomed her to Midvinter with a tone that suggested something more and that pet name he had found suiting of her appearance, as simple as it might have been. "Gee, thanks Teddy..." She throw him the most feigned smile that any pretty little village girl might have in all their image of innocent flatter, before her expression hardened and she simply smirked at him before pulling herself up from the co-pilots seat and calling for Bjomolf to accompany her towards the vessels exit; eager to get out amongst the fresh air of the new world soon to cater for them both.