Flashback [Sacred Arch Hotsprings] A Welcome Reprieve

[Aoren]

6th of Summer, 510 AV
Late Evening

“You have a horrible habit of getting yourself into the oddest situations. You realize this, yes?” Aoren brushed off a bit of broken glass from his shoulder as he exited the Rearing Stallion, Raven in tow. The man he’d managed to get to calm down after trying to persuade the dark haired woman to share a bed with him had suddenly changed his mind.

The ensuing brawl had been…well…short lived. Having had virtually nothing to drink and given that he was highly intoxicated the man hadn’t stood a chance against Aoren. He hadn’t roughed up the man terribly but he’d certainly made him land on his arse at which point a few off-duty Knights had decided to step in and promptly tell them to knock it off or spend the night in the Tank.

Aoren had backed down immediately. Only to get a bottle broken over his shoulder. The drunkard had been hauled off while one of the off duty knights pulled the bits of glass out of Aoren’s shoulder and told him to go home. He had every intention of leaving the Rearing Stallion he just wasn’t quite ready to go home. Rousing himself from his thoughts he glanced at the woman beside him.

“I sincerely hope that you are satisfied with your ill-gotten gains?” He gave her a half-smirk and nudged her with his elbow. Raven had, once the Knights were well out of earshot, revealed to him how she’d gotten mixed up in the whole situation in the first place. He’d only sighed and shook his head. He had tried to be angry with her but she had just pouted and his anger washed away like foam in the tide. Not waiting for Raven’s response he rolled his injured shoulder. The bleeding had stopped but it still stung like gods knew what.

“Well, I think you owe me one. Lucky for you I am in a generous mood and instead of making you actually pay me for being your unofficial bodyguard you can just tend to the injury I got. Because of you.” He eyed her. His own eyes were filled with a quiet mirth.

“I think a trip to the hot springs is in order. Don’t you? Once we’re there you can make up for getting me horribly maimed. Sound fair?” He mock glared at her.

[Raven Nightfoot]

“ You have a horrible habit of getting yourself into the oddest situations. You realize this, yes?” Raven couldn't help but smirk at the handsome young mages words, "Yes I do and it's a trait I'm quite proud of actually." she teased as she followed Aoren out of The Rearing Stallion. He had shown up at a most convenient time and put a stop to a drunkards rampage, not that Raven had needed the help. “I sincerely hope that you are satisfied with your ill-gotten gains?" Yes I am, thanks for asking. she teased as she tossed the newly stolen coin purse into the air before re-pocketing it. Aoren responded with a playful nudge as the pair walked on through the dark and quiet streets of Syliras. The night air was cool and refreshing compared to the dry heat of the day and Leth was bright in the clear night sky, his light illuminating Raven's amber eyes giving them a faint eery glow like that of a cat. “Well, I think you owe me one. Lucky for you I am in a generous mood and instead of making you actually pay me for being your unofficial bodyguard you can just tend to the injury I got. Because of you.” Raven could help but laugh at his words as they walked on, "Owe you one? You know full well I could have handled that horny drunkard on my own, although...I doubt I would have taken the bottle as gracefully as you did." she teased, "That being said, I do appreciate the help, however unnecessary it may have been and so, because I am such a 'generous' person, I will oblige." “I think a trip to the hot springs is in order. Don’t you? Once we’re there you can make up for getting me horribly maimed. Sound fair?” They were already exiting the city gates by the time Aoren suggested that she join him at the hot springs, an idea which she didn't mind in the least, it was late and dark and the hot springs would/should be empty, not to mention she would get a chance to see his amazing body again. "Trying to get me alone out in the woods...again?" she teased shooting him a mischievous smirk before continuing to speak, "Very well. And don't worry, I'm sure you'll survive with your arm intact."

[Aoren]

"Very well. And don't worry, I'm sure you'll survive with your arm intact."

Aoren rolled his eyes before reaching over and draping an arm across Raven's shoulders. He pulled her a little closer reaching up to ruffle her hair. He knew she hated it when he did that. He released her from his grip quickly and flinched away from the retaliatory punch to his ribs that he knew was going to follow. Chuckling softly he rubbed at the back of his neck.

"I'm shaking in my boots. Really. I am." He shook his head. They were already exiting the city. Thank the gods for that. He needed to get away from the stuffy air of the citadel. It had been a day or two since he'd wandered outside of the safety of Syliras. He was looking forward to the chance to bathe in the hot springs as well as spending quality time with Raven. The young woman had begun to grow on him. She was a little bit on the wild side. She was most certainly a smart-mouthed fiery individual but there was a spark within her that made Aoren smile. As they walked though and he caught sight of her, the way Leth's light illuminated her amber eyes he had to quickly look away. He felt heat rush to his face so he cleared his throat deciding to fill the silence with conversation.

"So, what do you intend to do with yourself once you've acquired enough wealth?" He arched an eyebrow at her, a half-smile touching his lips. The hot springs were that far of a walk away from the main gates of Syliras. They probably weren't any further than fifteen chimes. Already he was excited to feel the soothing warm waters ease the tension in his muscles.

He didn't often get the opportunity to venture out to the springs. He was usually either too busy finding odd jobs around the city, training with Ileera or working on his own personal disciplines to give it much thought. Besides, the Soothing Waters bathhouse was more convenient. The only problem was that they cost money. They weren't horribly expensive but Aoren certainly didn't have very much coin to spare and what he did was used to help better his own life and the life of those he cared about.

"I mean, what are your plans for the future?" He pushed aside a low hanging branch from a tree offering his hand to Raven so that she didn't trip over the roots. Ever the gentleman he would protect her so long as she was with him. He knew that she was a fighter. They both were. He couldn't help it. He was a natural protector. Ileera had called him that once. He shook his head flinging away thoughts of his surrogate sister. She would not approve of his current company. More because of the fact that she didn't approve of any girl who sought Aoren's attention if they weren't cleared by her first.

[Raven Nightfoot]

A shiver ran down Raven's spine as she felt. The heat of Aoren's large muscled arm across her bare skin, causing her to look away so he wouldn't see the slight brush on her face. Next he ruffled her hair causing her to scowl at him playfully before jabbing him in the side and fixing her hair. She noticed he winced before her hit had landed, no doubt anticipating her assault. As they made their way out of the city and towards the hot springs Raven couldn't help but watch him curiously as they walked, he was truly massive, towering over her like a sexy muscled god with eyes as deep as the ocean...She sighed slightly annoyed at how handsome he was, Raven was not the type of girl to be enchanted by a guy, but Aoren was an exception, the young mage had clearly cast a spell on her. "So, what do you intend to do with yourself once you've acquired enough wealth?" Raven raised an eyebrow at his question, it was an unusual one, but in a good way, a way that expressed that he was actually interested in her as a person instead of as a woman. A small smile crossed her face, not her usual confident sultry smirk but a more vulnerable girlish smile, as soon as she realised she righted her face to her trademark smirk and looked away feeling blood rush to her cheeks. "I mean, what are your plans for the future? She thought in silence for a while, taking the hand he offered her solely to show her appreciation, something she'd wouldn't do with just any man, it made her feel like a helpless damsel, but she knew Aoren meant it only in a helpful manner. "Well, that's a tough one, no one's ever asked me that before...I don't really know, perhaps build my own empire and hire you as my 'official' bodyguard. she said bumping gently into him as they walked on. "How about you?" she added, she had to admit that she was curious.

[Aoren]

He chuckled as Raven bumped into him on their walk toward the springs. Dipping his head slightly so that he didn't get smacked by a branch he could already feel the warmth of the springs not far off. They had been walking in the general direction of them for several minutes. He could hear water trickling over rock. He even heard the occasional laughter of late night couples taking a dip into the spring. He could see the firelight of groups of friends having decided to camp out at the springs for the night. As far as wilderness was concerned this was about as relatively safe as it could get given how close it was to the city proper. It struck Aoren then how the outing to the springs might construed to Raven. A thought that made his step hitch nearly causing him to topple over. He caught himself though clearing his throat pretending that what just happened actually hadn't.

"Well, that's a tough one, no one's ever asked me that before...I don't really know, perhaps build my own empire and hire you as my 'official' bodyguard." Aoren chuckled then brought his arms up flexing the muscles in his torso in a mock attempt to show off his physique. He hissed as his shoulder flared in irritation then chuckled rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Think I'm worthy of a full-time bodyguard job, eh?" He shook his head. "I can see myself doing that. Protecting people."

"How about you?" He eyed her for a moment. He then shared with her a private smile. It was one that did not touch his features often. His eyes softened. His posture relaxed and he turned his gaze skyward.

"I want to find my family. I want to know why I was left at an orphanage. Beyond that though I want to see what's out there. Sometimes I think I should take up the sword and join the Knighthood." He shook his head. "When I really think about it though I see myself traveling to the known cities helping to improve the lives of those who can't help themselves. I just haven't figured out how best to do that yet."

They had arrived at the springs. While some of them were obviously occupied, the late night dippers offering friendly waves. Aoren returned them then gently placed his hand on the lower part of Raven's back. He jerked his head in the direction of some of the unoccupied springs not far from the main collection of pools. Just as soon as he gently nudged her though he dropped his hand.

"When you say you're going to build an empire do you mean as a merchant?" He came to the edge of an unoccupied pool of spring water and crouched low. He dipped his fingertips into the water nodding at the warmth.

"This one's a good one." Smiling like a teenage boy he leaned against a nearby outcropping of rocks pulling off his boots. Gingerly he removed his shirt wincing as his shoulder protested against the movement. The dried blood cracked leading to more minute bleeding. He wasn't worried about it. In a day or two the cuts would scab over. A few days beyond that they would be pesky reminders of the dangers of horny drunkards. Once he was shirtless he tugged off his pants leaving him only in his undergarments. He opted not to remove those then he stepped into the spring wading into the water.

Aoren took a deep breath then submerged himself into the hot spring. The blissful warmth was delightfully pleasant. The summer night, while still warm, had the typical chill that came from all nights. After a moment or two underneath the waters he stood up running both hands through his hair. He then walked up to the edge of the spring holding his arms up to held Raven into the water.

"Well? Come one. This shoulder isn't going to clean itself." He winked at her.

[Raven Nightfoot]

She listened curiously as Aoren told her about his hopes and aspirations for the future, going quiet when he explained about wanting to find his family and answers as to why he'd abandoned him. She couldn't even begin to understand how he felt, her family had always been too close for her to handle, so close that it was infact suffocating. Then he went on to say he wanted to find a way to help people, something which she thought admirable although it couldn't have been more different than her own personality. She couldn't help but roll her eyes when he mentioned joining the knights, she supposed she was unjustly biased against the knights because her family came from a long line of them. The springs were more occupied than she'd thought, here and there people would greet them with smiles, Raven pretended as if she hadn't seen them. She felt Aoren's large hand on the small of her back as he gently directed her toward a secluded hot spring. She could see the excitement in his face as the neared it. "When you say you're going to build an empire do you mean as a merchant?" Raven laughed softly at his question, she had just been joking, "I actually don't know, right now I just want excitement and adventure, nothing more." she said with a smirk. He knelt down and dipped his fingers into the water, looking pleased with the feel of it. She watched him pull off his boots and then his shirt, biting her lip as she watched the muscles ripple beneath his skin, she had been hoping he'd allow her to take his shirt off for him, what with him being injured and all, oh well. Next to come off were his pants, causing Raven to look away, she didn't want him to think she was 'over admiring' his body although she did shoot a few glances at his large muscled legs while he descended into the water. He submerged himself for a short moment before resurfacing, dripping wet, the dim light reflecting perfectly off of each muscle on his body, adorning his form. Once again she bit her lip before she began to remove her own clothes, first she pulled off her boots tossing them to the ground followed by her tight leather pants, leaving her in only her black lower underwear and her corset. " Well? Come one. This shoulder isn't going to clean itself." He spoke as he stood at the edge of the spring, hands held out, offering to help her into the water. His wink did not go unnoticed sending heat wave through her body as she sat there looking at him for a moment before returning to the real world. "Actually you're going to have to turn around, if you don't mind. she said as she reached back and began to undo her corset, "This corset doesn't allow for an undergarment." she said mischievously. Once he'd obliged and turned around she loosened her corset, slipping it off and tossing it with the rest of their clothes before slowly climbing into the warm water and dunking her head under it. The warm water relaxed her body almost instantly, easing her aches and pains. She re-emerged and pulled her wet hair out of her face, she stood there, the water covering her chest. "You can turn around now." she said as she looked up at him, with his back turned to her he looked even more massive, like a giant fleshy statue towering over her lithe form.

[Aoren]

Aoren did as he was bidden to do and turned around. From the reflection on the water he could see Raven undressing he quickly averted his eyes. She had asked him not to look. He would preserve her dignity as much as possible. While he had no parents to speak of, Ileera had instilled him a healthy respect for women's privacy. For privacy in general. When one lived in such a crowded city like Syliras it was a luxury that everyone appreciated.

"You can turn around now."

He turned and was positively stunned speechless. Aoren had always known that Raven was a beautiful woman. He had always considered her attractive. To see her bathed in the light of the moon, her dark hair highlighted by the starlight, those amber eyes burning in the night like smoldering gems ready to pierce his soul...he didn't quite know how to react. After a moment he realized that his mouth was agape. He quickly closed it and shook his head to wake himself from the stunned trance the sight of her had placed him in.

"You really know how to take a guys breath away don't you?" The moment the words were past his lips he was blushing with embarrassment.

Really, Aoren? Really? Gods, you can be such an idiot sometimes!

He silently berated himself for saying such a corny thing. He knew that Raven wasn't some doe-eyed girl to be frightfully besotted by silly compliments or stupid cliche lines. He couldn't help it though. He had just said the first thing that had come to his mind. Clearing his throat, because he didn't trust himself to speak before leveling his voice, he stepped up right next to her. It was then that he was struck with how much shorter the young woman was than him. He lowered himself into the water so that he was sitting on the edge of a rocky shelf just beneath the surface. He turned his body away from her so that his injured shoulder was near her.

"If you would be so kind?" He chuckled. Aoren was already enjoying the soaking. He hadn't realized just how much he'd needed the relaxation time until he'd stepped into the water. He could feel the twisted knots up and down the length of his spine. His shoulder was throbbing painfully. His feet ached from constantly being on the move, standing up or never getting a moment's rest. When it all finally hit him he sighed tiredly appreciating the simple pleasure of being in warm water with good company.

"If you could go anywhere in the known world, where would it be?" He glanced over his shoulder at the dark haired woman. His eyes lingered on hers for a moment before he cupped his hands in the water and began to rub it over his sides gently massaging the sore muscles in his abdomen. He knew Raven would take to her promise of obliging him in her own time.

[Raven Nightfoot]

After head turned around to look at her he seemed to become distant, his mouth opening slightly. Raven watched him curiously, waiting for him to return from wherever his thoughts had taken him. "You really know how to take a guys breath away don't you?" "I'm sure I don't know what your talking about." she said, shrugging innocently while her hand went to rub at the knot in her neck which was now relaxing, before following him to the edge of the bath. "If you would be so kind?" She smiled silently as she took a seat behind him, her bare legs rising to clamp gently at his sides in order to keep herself steady. Raven could already see the glint of shards of glass that the guard at The Rearing Stallion had missed. Her hands lid gently up his back before carefully picking at the tiny shards of glass in his shoulder and flicking them away. She continued to do this, every now and rising her hand to gently run water over the wound. "If you could go anywhere in the known world, where would it be?" Another question that struck her as unusual yet endearing, she thought for a moment as she plucked the last shard of glass from his shoulder and poured a handful of water over it. "Well, I've always wanted to go to Riverfall, it's said that the goddess of the night resides there, Akajia. I've always felt closest to her, whether that's just because of my dark hair and love of the night or for some deeper reason, I'm not sure." Her eyes widened as she heard herself, that answer had been genuinely honest, it wasn't often she found herself sharing her thoughts like she was now, but something about Aoren made her feel calm. What about you? Perhaps to return to Cyphrus, you are a Drykas right? she asked curiously, between his large stature and his tanned skin she assumed he had to be a descendant of the horsemen, the biggest hint being that Raven had always thought the drykas were of the most beautiful men, large, muscled and warm tanned skin. "Also, you know I'm no good at this right?" she added, gesturing to his shoulder, she was far from the average submissive, nursing housewife type after all.

[Aoren]

"Well, I've always wanted to go to Riverfall, it's said that the goddess of the night resides there, Akajia. I've always felt closest to her, whether that's just because of my dark hair and love of the night or for some deeper reason, I'm not sure."

Aoren thought for a moment on her words. They had sounded incredibly honest. He noted a hint of vulnerability in Raven's tone. It was almost as if she were surprised at her own honesty. He could relate in a way. It was often easier to lie about what one truly felt instead of being entirely honest. A web of lies only begets more lies though. When it came to most things Aoren opted to simply tell the truth. If he felt the urge to lie he often didn't comment at all. He winced when she pulled a smaller shard of glass out of his shoulder. The act pulled him from his musings.

"What about you? Perhaps to return to Cyphrus, you are a Drykas right? " Aoren shrugged.

"I don't know. I mean, I could be. There's nothing really to tell me that anything the caretakers at the orphanage said to me when I was a child was the truth. The only things that were left with mere were a note and the crystal around my neck. The note only told the caretakers my name." He shook his head. He still had the note. It was tucked away in his trunk in his apartment within the fortress city. He didn't often take it out. There were times when he held the frayed paper in his hands and he was visited with visions from the past. Visions he couldn't control or make any sense of. They seemed to visit him at random. He wasn't entirely ready to face those. Part of him didn't think he ever would be.

"A part of me gets pent up being inside the citadel for so long. I don't know how some people can stand it. There are days when even staring at a stone wall will drive me crazy. It's why I go to that clearing in the woods. Being outside of the walls helps me focus. It helps me clear my head." He flinched as she rubbed at his sore shoulder. The warmth of the spring water helped ease the tension in the injured limb however.

"Also, you know I'm no good at this right?" He chuckled softly then turned being careful not to knock Raven off balance. He caught one of her hands between his own proceeding to massage between the digits gently. It was only for a moment. It was his small way of showing his appreciation for tending to his shoulder. He then released her hand with a smile.

"I think you're better than you realize." He rolled his shoulders. It still stung. The warm water accompanied with the fact that the rest of the shards had been picked out helped tremendously. With a content sigh he leaned against the edge of the spring looking up into the starry sky. For a moment he just searched the heavens. His cobalt blue eyes peered into the endless canvas of night.

"I don't know anything about Riverfall or the Night Goddess but if a night like this is Her doing I will have to offer Her my thanks." Aoren was a deeply religious man. While he couldn't bring himself to face the gift that Avalis had bestowed upon him since as far back as he could remember he still honored Her. Or at least he tried to. She was his Patron obviously. The single power amongst the heavens that had taken the time to notice him. For that he would be eternally grateful to Her. He simply had no idea what Her plans for him were. If such a plan existed at all.

"You obviously want to meet the goddess. Do you think She has noticed you?" He turned his head slightly arching his eyebrow at Raven. Was it getting warmer in the hot spring or was the fact that she was so incredibly close just adding to the already pleasant warmth? He swallowed averting his eyes to the ripples in the pool.

[Raven Nightfoot]

Raven mentally scolded herself for bringing up Aoren's 'complicated' past for the second time in one night, he didn't need to be reminded of his losses...or what he had never eyed. " A part of me gets pent up being inside the citadel for so long. I don't know how some people can stand it. There are days when even staring at a stone wall will drive me crazy. It's why I go to that clearing in the woods. Being outside of the walls helps me focus. It helps me clear my head. " To this Raven could...no, DID relate. She herself found herself doing whatever she could to avoid the city and it's suffocating atmosphere each and every day, often finding herself outside of the walls. "Me too, but you knew that already, it is the reason we met in the first place." she said as she thought back on their little tussle, a good memory. Raven watched him curiously as he turned to take her hand and reassure her of her nursing skills, of which she had none, she still appreciated the compliment either way, not to mention the feel of her soft small hand in his large rough one. Then, just as it had happened as a spur of the moment, it ended the same way, their short moment over, but not forgotten. As Aoren turned his large form to lean against the edge of the spring and look up at the starry night with his deep cobalt blue eyes, Raven couldn't help but bite her lip again at the sight of his bare muscled skin, she took advantage of his day dreaming to take in the sight of him once more before her amber gaze joined his on the night sky. "I don't know anything about Riverfall or the Night Goddess but if a night like this is Her doing I will have to offer Her my thanks." Raven had to agree, Akajia had certainly blessed them with a remarkable night, the stars seemed to shine more brightly than usual, like precious jewels adorning the darkness. Raven couldn't help but wish she could just reach up and steal the stars from the sky so that she could wear them around her neck. " You obviously want to meet the goddess. Do you think She has noticed you?" Yet another unusual and unexpected question from the handsome mage who seemed to be full of peculiar questions on this particular night. Raven looked up at the night sky once more as if searching it for the answer to his question. "Well..." she started then trailed off, averting her gaze from the starry night to her distorted reflection in the warm water. At first she could barely make herself out but after a while the water calmed, the waves turning to minor ripples and she could see herself almost perfectly. Dark hair blending seamlessly with the night sky as if she herself were wearing the night and stars as a crown, pale skin contrasting the darkness and two amber eyes staring back at her from the dark water, like two stars fixed in her face. For a moment, for only a fraction of a second she had forgotten it was herself she was looking at and had thought it was The Goddess Akajia herself, staring back at her. She broke her gaze with her reflection, turning to look at Aoren instead, small shivers running down her spine like a trickle of icy cold water. "I doubt I've done anything worth noticing...at least not yet." she said almost as if to herself, there was another short pause and then she was back to her normal state, amber eyes meeting his cobalt blue ones, followed by her all too familiar smirk.