you said you wanted adventure :: 4/14 :: Jaeryth, Rowena [closed]

[Jaeryth Costayne]

Jaeryth swept into Rowena's rooms with a grin. He always loved it when his plans worked out, and he knew this would give him exactly what he wanted. There was only one last issue: Rowena. He hoped she would prove herself in this matter...

"Rowena," he said as he caught sight of her coming through the doors from the balcony. "I have news. And I need your assistance on something very important." Jaeryth opened his arms and went toward her to wrap her in a hug. "Our kingdom may be closer than I'd hoped."

[Rowena Letalis]

Rowena was standing outside, overlooking the gardens and enjoying the balmy air. She could taste the ocean, or so she thought, each deep breath bringing her closer to M'hare...

And then her doors opened. She turned and reentered her room, both eyebrows going up and a smile lighting her face at the sight of Jaeryth, practically beaming. Intrigued and suddenly a bit lighter for having seen that smile, she approached him and let him wrap her in a hug, a soft laugh answering his words.

"Truly? What is it?" It was hard to keep her own excitement from her voice.

[Jaeryth Costayne]

Jaeryth touched her hair, cupping her cheek with his hand and looking into her crystal eyes. "I'm about to splinter the Jin confederacy and set the tribes against one another. It will let us march against them and bring our war to a swifter end."

He bent and kissed her lips. "But I'm going to have to do something ugly to make it happen, and I need your help. Can I count on you to do this? To trust me? I need you for this, Rowena..." He studied her, his purple eyes worried. "I am going to announce a new betrothal, to Saia Sparrow of the Jin. It's a farce- the marriage will never happen, but I need to make the other tribes believe that her and her mother have turned on them. When that's happened, I can be rid of her again... My love, I need this if I'm to make you lady of this province in truth instead of only in title. I swear, this will not take long."

[Rowena Letalis]

Rowena's eyes searched his, happy that he was happy, though there seemed to be an undercurrent of worry. "That's so exciting!" she exclaimed with a little grin. The war over more swiftly. The Jin destroyed! She almost felt herself bounce a bit at the news.

She returned the kiss, her eyes still on his as he spoke. Something ugly? Frowning softly, she braced herself and listened, willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Rowena was stunned, though. She hadn't expected that. Even knowing that it was a design to make the Jin turn on one another, somehow it still hurt. It wasn't that she didn't believe him, that it was a farce and only designed to make this easier. It was just that...to all outwards appearances, she would have to be cast aside. What would Rex say of this? Did he know? And when would their marriage take place? Was it on hold indefinitely? And what would she do? Where would she go?

Her eyes dropped for a moment as the thoughts raced and she nodded. "What do you need of me?" she asked, proud that her voice was only a bit softer as she moved her gaze back up to his.

[Jaeryth Costayne]

He smiled softly and leaned down to kiss her cheeks. "I need you to rage. A proper Letalis temper at the insult. You and I will be married, my love, in June at the latest. I want to wed you when we've destroyed the last of the Jin lords, and set up our men in their places... but while Saia Sparrow's still alive, you need to react as if you're the spurned betrothed. Remember when I told you that the games we must play will be hard? The prize is immortality, Rowena. We will win it."

He grinned. "Can you do this for me? If there's any doubt of your ability to stay here while the play is enacted, tell me now. I can send you south to Faeta to wait it out if you cannot."

[Rowena Letalis]

Rowena'd had barely a week to be happy. She gave a grave nod at his words, her face drawn, skin pale. She wanted to be strong. To be able to handle any curve that life's road had, but this was going to be difficult. Gods.

"June? It's but April..." she protested softly. "Will I still spend time with you?" With that, her voice was small, almost tiny. She wanted to be around him, more than she had anyone else she'd ever met. The blood of M'hare, he'd said. Now she knew it to be true.

She wanted to do it. She wanted to do it for him. Swallowing thickly, she nodded, before a sudden smirk took her lips. "You'd best hide anything you wish to remain unbroken if I'm to have a proper Letalis temper..." Her hands moved down to his waist, tugging him forward as the smirk turned into a grin. "And you'd best make it in the very least an interesting intrigue."

[Jaeryth Costayne]

Jaeryth only laughed and slid his fingers through her hair and down to her shoulders. "April's half gone. We may wed at the end of May, or perhaps mid-June. It's only a matter of weeks, love." He brushed his lips over her forehead. "Yes, we'll spend time together. I have no intention of putting up with the Jin girl more than publicly necessary."

He kissed her then, not holding back the affection or the hunger her willingness had brought out in him. "Break anything you like. It's all replaceable," he said against her lips. "You, however, are not." He kissed her once more and drew back. "This will be any number of things but it will not be boring. We need to convince the court and any Jin spies around that I'm truly allying with the Linea tribe, at least until I can send my troops in to Vyla to assist them in destroying the other two. Then, with my forces already occupying the territory to either side, I'll see them crushed as well. We'll never again worry about the Jin, Rowena. I say its worth a few weeks' annoyance and a handful of false tears."

[Rowena Letalis]

Rowena laughed. "I have the patience of a girl my age, are you surprised?" she asked, an impish grin crossing her face. As he brushed his lips over her forehead, she shrugged. "Then it is no chore. We shall do this together. And in public I shall be the offended noblewoman. I have the pride of the Letalis. I can summon upon that."

She made a small noise of encouragement into his lips before he pulled back and spoke. She liked to hear that she was irreplaceable. Sometimes...she worried that she might just be. As he drew back entirely, she moved a half-step towards him again, not wanting to be away from him. This war business...this playing. It was exciting. "I will do what you need, Jaeryth. Whatever you need." She reached out, catching his hands and squeezing them.

[Jaeryth Costayne]

"I'm going to enjoy watching you be angry, I think. It brings out the color in your cheeks." He let his hands slide around her waist. But her words sent a chill of desire through him and he felt himself stirring as thoughts that had little to do with politics went through his head. He held her hands then let his fingers escape hers and caught her wrists to bring her hands to his lips.

"Whatever I need? I do hope you mean that entirely, love... because I can think of a few things I might need you to do just now..." He let her hands fall and leaned in to capture her lips with his own, one hand sliding into her hair to hold her head as he kissed her. He wanted her. Now.

"What if I need you to lie back and let me slip inside that warm, tight little body of yours, bella?" he asked in a whisper against her lips. His hand slid over her waist again to pull her against him.

[Rowena Letalis]

(continued here!! <3)