29. Sleep well

[moonshadows]

The candles flicker in their sconces, patches of warmth seen dimly through the bedcurtains. Blue, naturally. He finishes lighting the last one and parts the curtain, simple linen tunic and loosely-laced trews hiding his powerful frame. In the dim light, his hair is black and my breath catches. I focus on his scars, reminding myself fiercely that Blackmoore is dead. He freezes, one knee on the bed, hand still on the hanging cloth. The silence stretches. He begins moving again, slowly as though I were an anxious deer he did not wish to spook. The bed is wide enough that he can, and does, lay down nearly out of arm's reach. He props himself up on one elbow, reaching out with the other hand so that should I choose, I can lay mine in his.

Tentatively, I reach out and lay the tips of my fingers in his palm and he curls his fingers slightly, cradling mine without actually holding them. He says nothing, just watches me with that smoldering look of distant worship until Blackmoore's ghost leaves my eyes.

"Are you really okay with this, Tari?" he asks quietly.

I bite my lip. While I am beneath the covers, he is laying atop them. "I'm so-"

"Don't." His fingers squeeze mine gently. "Don't apologize for this. It's not your fault."

"I'm inconveniencing you."

He raises one eyebrow. "Because I'm not beneath the covers? Tari, just having you here keeps me more than warm enough." At my blush, he smiles gently. "I have to warn you, though: I've been told that I snore."

I find myself returning the smile at his gently teasing tone. "Varian, thank you for being so patient."

Gently, eyes glued to mine, he pulls my fingers to him and bends his head to kiss them lightly. "I told you. The day we met, I said: I'm willing to wait as long as it takes."

 

===============

 

He stumbles out of the bedroom about an hour after I left it, sometime in the dark of night. Eyes bleary, still half-asleep, hair sticking up wildly, clad only in a loose tunic and trews, he looks absolutely adorable and I extend one hand in silent invitation to join me on the couch. About halfway there he seems to wake up and is dismayed. I can't blame him; we fell asleep holding hands on opposite sides of the bed, and here I am wrapped in my dressing gown, sitting on a couch as though grimly awaiting a dawn execution. He closes the distance and takes my hand, intending to kneel, but I tug gently and he sits next to me instead, visibly concerned.

"Tari?" The hand not holding mine reaches hesitantly for my face, caresses my cheek.

"I'm sorry."

My dull tone increases his worry. "What happened?"

"I woke up. The candles had gone out, and in the dark..." I shudder slightly.

"You couldn't tell that it was me," he finished grimly. I nod. "Bin mog g'thazag cha, Tari. It's okay now."

The ice is breaking now. I free my hand and lightly trace the scars that mar his face while he sits patiently still. When my tactile reassurance is complete I lean against him, head on his shoulder, arms around his powerful torso and he holds me while the aftermath of panic fades. When I am calm again I sit up straight and he smiles as my fingers find their way into his hair.

"I always suspected you liked my hair," he says with a grin. "As much as you tried to deny that you enjoyed my company."

I don't bother to dispute it. "Varian...what are we going to do?"

The grin flickers out. "Not that again. I won’t put you through this a second time." He catches my fingers and kisses them, tender adoration in his eyes and every line of his body. "We'll figure something out. In the meantime, you need to get some rest. Would you be able to...?" A nod at the bedroom implies the end of the question.

"I...don't think so."

He stands, gently pulling me to my feet as well. "Golthak?"

A scramble from the outer room indicates that my protector had been asleep, but a moment later the door opens.

"It didn't work, and Taretha needs to get some sleep. Escort her to her rooms?"

"Of course, Varian," he says, fist thumping his chest in a salute.

"Sleep in today," Varian urges me gently, thumb caressing the back of my hand. "I'll see you later in the morning."

I nod but hesitate, reluctant to leave his side.

"Tari," he chides teasingly.

That sparks an answering smile from me. "Is this how you treat your beloved wife, my lord? Sending her off like so much baggage? For shame!" I can barely keep from giggling, and he grins broadly.

"My sincerest apologies, my lady wife." He bows extravagantly over my hand. "The hours we spend apart will be like night in my soul until your smile brings the dawn."

"Nice," Golthak grunts from the door.

I have to agree, and I show my appreciation by leaning in to kiss Varian and moving away again before he can react. Astonishment fades into a gentle smile; it is the first time our lips have met without him being the one to initiate the kiss.

"Sleep well, Tari," he says, adoration in his eyes.

I smile with equal joy. "Sleep well, Varian."