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[Alvida Osulf]

Skógur Heim | [member="Asher Mossa"]

​

Why don't you fall together?​

Sweet, rose red lips curled up into a soft smile that barely even registered on her face. Asher could hear the Father, just as she could. Her hand smoothed out over his forearm, running past every hair that stood on end. 'There will be no delay, as long as you are not too sore in the morning.' Her tone was littered with an amused lilt. She had conveniently forgotten to mention that the mead here was likely stronger than anything he had had to drink before, it was just smoother and sweeter so it didn't feel or taste like it. At least not until the next morning. The first night Alvida had been given permission to drink something she had woken up balancing precariously on the edge of the crater, one tiny inch away from rolling over the edge to her death. Her Father had laughed till his face turned blue and so had she.

She threw her head back against his chest, a laugh bubbling up through her throat and releasing into the night air. 'Actually, that ship was my only option. Even then the three heads were against it. You have no idea how hard I argued to be able to buy it. I love her almost as much as I love the hunt and I am grateful for her even if she is not perfect..' Alvida paused for a moment and trailed her eyes across the tree tops to where her ship was resting in the clearing. There was no denying it did need some tender love and care, but she had no knowledge of how. Another smile broached her expression as he spoke. He sounded so natural speaking her tongue, and though he likely didn't understand the connotations of the word his sweet tone made her feel at peace.

Asher casually mentioned her Father and in response she shrugged her shoulders lightly. 'I doubt anyone will notice right now.' Alvida closed her eyes and shut off her other senses, focusing on the twitch in her ears as she listened to the noise carried up on the breeze. 'They are singing and dancing of our arrival, nobody will be any wiser.' Alvida ran her hand along Asher's forearm and released a soft sigh. They should really return to the festivities, eventually her Father would realise and wonder what they were up too. 'We should probably return.' She turned in his grasp, settling herself against his chest and tucking her arms around his waist. 'In a moment.'

 

[Asher Mossa]

Sore in the morning? Was there something about the mead he did not know? Perhaps they would all play a trick on him and drug him again. Asher did not think Alvida would do such a thing again. Considering the way Rikhard and downed his booze, Asher was certain that the mead was going to give him a hangover that he had not experienced in a long time. He was not as drunk as he had been before in his life, but he had to trust Alvida knew what she was talking about. As she rubbed his arm Asher pulled her closer. All he wanted to do was keep this moment for as long as he could. There was something about this woman and the way she worked which made Asher want to know everything about her. Her home was his, but it was more than that, something he was willing to commit his life to pursuing.

Her laugh was intoxicating, and it seemed Asher had triggered it with his comment about the ship. It seemed it had been her only choice, and Asher would have done the same thing if it was the only way to get off the planet. One thing was uncertain and still a mystery to him. Why had she left in the first place? It seemed that she loved home, and was at most herself among the forest of their world. Why had she chosen to travel the stars? His hand began to caress her arm.

"Perhaps they will not. The drink is strong and they are all drinking a lot of it. Is this how they are every night?"

It was all so new, and Asher would not complain if she said yes. Her words made him frown slightly as they were missing the songs. Asher was curious about the song they sang, and the dances they danced. His eyes met hers as she turned around. He did not know their songs, but he knew songs, and Asher began to hum a song he had sang for his son. Asher did not know where he had learned it, but perhaps it had been one of the songs of his childhood. Still, as he hummed, and as he began to sing the words, Asher began to slowly dance with Alvida. He pulled her close, holding her at the waist, his eyes never leaving hers. When the song finished he placed his forehead on Alivda's.

"We should not have to miss the singing or the dancing either. Sing me something?"

[member="Alvida Osulf"]

 

[Alvida Osulf]

Skógur Heim | [member="Asher Mossa"]

You were never very good at singing.

Bright white teeth flashed from behind soft pink flesh. 'No, they are not like this every night.' Alvida paused for a second, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. She seemed to remain silent for longer than a minute as the cogs in her head turned. 'Actually, most nights are like this one. But none get as drunk as this. This is only for special days.' Her hand flicked casually in between them to indicate that they were probably a little worse off for ware at the moment. 'We do seem to have a lot of special days though.' Alvida was content in their position, enjoying the wind as it rolled over her skin and flicked her golden locks up into the air. Before too long, Asher began to hum a melody she had heard before.

The soft song he hummed floated into her ears and felt as familiar as the summer sun or the winter snow. Alvida even joined in, her voice breaking over the wind, putting beautifully foreign words to Asher's music. She broke briefly from her haunting tune. 'You remember more than you know, saetur einn.' Though his arms around her were comforting and warm, Alvida had always had a passion for dancing even if the tune didn't quite fit her eccentric style. Music set her soul on fire and it showed as she broke from the circle his arms had made. She danced on the tips of her toes, faerie like in her movements. Lighter than a feather across the masterfully crafted roof tiles with a laugh sweeter than berry wine on her lips. She littered her breathless words between the deep, entrancing rhythm Asher's lips made. By the time she was done she found herself in his grasp again, the comforting weight of his forearms on her shoulders.

'A song?' Her voice lilted, up and down quickly like a bird going for the kill. 'Hmm...' She turned herself in his grasp again to face the midnight sky. 'I will sing you a song, if you promise to be quiet and listen.' Alvida ran through all the songs she had ever heard as a child and in her early adulthood. Nothing seemed to stand out more than a popular nursery rhyme sung to children still in their cots. Her shoulders wriggled as she once again settled into Asher's chest. The song began without warning, her voice carrying high over the din of the party below and the creak of the building they stood on. Her tone seemed ethereal, like the words themselves were carrying her away to a higher plane of existence. With each note she rocked back and forth, swaying their bodies in time to the beat.

 

[Asher Mossa]

He did remember more than he knew, and the night air, breathing in the scent of his home, and hearing the voice of their origins call to him seemed to spark things he had forgotten or repressed. Asher was even beginning to recall the late nights of the various festivals that their people would celebrate. Maybe the mead was helping him to remember more, or the setting, but Asher was feeling more at home the longer he remained. There was also an intimacy he could feel being woven between him and the woman he danced with. Her voice joined with his even as they sang the same song in two tongues. Asher remarked to himself that it sounded better in her language, and he was determined to learn it if only to know what it was she kept calling him.

Asher smiled as she moved about, letting go of her as she pulled away to dance she saw fit. His smile remained as she had returned to him, and as they shared an embrace once more, Alvida began to sing for him. He nodded as she asked about a song. He wanted to hear all the songs of his people, but he wanted to hear Alivda more. Her voice was like a sweet sound to him, like honey on his lips he craved the ecstasy of hearing it. She wanted him to listen, quietly so he did. She moved them about, dancing in time with the rhythm of the song. The melody was entracing. Her tone was almost hypnotic. If Asher had not know better he would have guessed she was trying to put him into a trance.

As she finished Asher simple rest himself against her, as she had him. For a while he could say nothing. His only desire was to drink in the moment, and wish it would not end. Several long and deep breaths were taken in as the silence lingered. There was still one haunting question on his mind which had nothing to do with home, or his origins. Lifting up his eyes, Asher looked at her.

"What does it mean... saetur einn, you keep calling me that?"

[member="Alvida Osulf"]

 

[Alvida Osulf]

Skógur Heim | [member="Asher Mossa"]

Return to the fireside before trouble arises.

'It means sweet one, and because you are sweet.' Alvida pressed her forehead against his with a smile on her face. 'Sickly sweet. Like honey.' Her lips found his in several short, teasing, tender kisses. The moment could not last forever though, Alvida could hear the songs in the hall dying down. She could hear the rumble of her Father's voice as he spoke. It wasn't long now before the stories would begin. Young and old crowded round the long fire pit in the centre of the feasting hall to listen to Rikhard's bellowing voice regaling tails of old. Alvida did not want Asher to miss it. 'Komdu! We will miss the tales.' She wrapped her hand around his, but not before dragging the mugs of mead up to her hand and downing the amber liquid in one go. She would likely regret it later but for now she was content with the warmth as it spread from her throat to her stomach. 'Drink up...' She passed the second mug of mead over to Asher with a grin on her face. '...If we do not hurry everyone will notice.'

Dragging them back to the ladder Alvida's face seemed bright and warm with the premonitions of the night to come. They would spent the rest of the evening by the fire, telling stories of heroes and villains, drinking and eating till they could do so no more. By the end of the night Asher would be sleeping in his own bed, in his own home, on his own planet. That thought alone made Alvida anxious to return to the gathering. After all, there is no place like home.