Laughter rippled through the night and the smell of honey wine lingered in the air. What had started out as an awkward afternoon had slowly dissolved into lazy conversations over a meal and drinks. Nikolai knew he could thank the mead, which he made sure was free flowing. It eased Argis. The man mellowed with booze and loosened up, something Nikolai had learned early in their companionship. Drinks rarely happened between them as Argis knew it softened him. He was always on guard; always making sure nothing would bring his Thane into harm’s way.
The corner of Nikolai’s mouth quirked as those thought filtered through his mead addled mind. He glanced at his near empty tankard before watching Argis down the rest of his own. There seemed to be little concern now. “Perhaps we should sleep,” Nikolai sighed as he drank his wine. “I was thinking we head towards Windhelm in the morning; see what we run into along the way.”
Argis shrugged and reached for the bottle of mead. “There is still half a bottle left. Can’t let it go to waste, can we?”
Nikolai smiled and shook his head when Argis offered the drink, “I’ll let you finish it. I may have neared my limit.”
The slight smile that was on Argis’ face faded and a look of concern took its place. He wet his lips before taking a quick drink from the bottle. “Somethings troubling you.”
“No, just reality setting in I suppose.” Nikolai moved away from the edge of the bed, patting it as he did so. “Come, let me undo your braids.”
Argis stared at Nikolai for a moment, unmoving and unsure of how to respond. With a sigh he downed the last of the wine and moved to the bed. He sat with his back to the young Nord and glanced at the empty bottle. ‘Not enough in the world.' The thought was fleeting but it was there. Argis felt Nikolai’s finger snake through his hair as he slowly began to work. He let his eyes drift shut with a deep breath and quickly found himself lost in the sensation. He heard Nikolai’s voice but his words didn’t register. “Hmm?”
“Your war paint, I think it might be best if you washed it off before sleeping. It’ll make a mess of your face and of the bed.”
“Is there a mirror in here,” Argis asked as he opened his eyes. He turned to watch as Nikolai slipped off the bed and began peering in the dresser.
“Doesn’t look like it.”
Argis snorted, “Damnit. Well, it’s a cold night; I doubt I’ll sweat it off so there won’t be a mess.”
“I can help if you’d like.”
“It’s okay. I’ve done it plenty of times before,” Argis chuckled. “You ever see me putting this on when we’re camping?”
Nikolai smiled, “I guess I never have. Are you fine sharing a bed? I mean, if you’re uncomfortable I-”
Argis let himself fall onto the covers of the bed, once more shaking his head. “It’s dry, clean, and there’s enough room.”
Re: Now and Forever (3/?)
The corner of Nikolai’s mouth quirked as those thought filtered through his mead addled mind. He glanced at his near empty tankard before watching Argis down the rest of his own. There seemed to be little concern now. “Perhaps we should sleep,” Nikolai sighed as he drank his wine. “I was thinking we head towards Windhelm in the morning; see what we run into along the way.”
Argis shrugged and reached for the bottle of mead. “There is still half a bottle left. Can’t let it go to waste, can we?”
Nikolai smiled and shook his head when Argis offered the drink, “I’ll let you finish it. I may have neared my limit.”
The slight smile that was on Argis’ face faded and a look of concern took its place. He wet his lips before taking a quick drink from the bottle. “Somethings troubling you.”
“No, just reality setting in I suppose.” Nikolai moved away from the edge of the bed, patting it as he did so. “Come, let me undo your braids.”
Argis stared at Nikolai for a moment, unmoving and unsure of how to respond. With a sigh he downed the last of the wine and moved to the bed. He sat with his back to the young Nord and glanced at the empty bottle. ‘Not enough in the world.' The thought was fleeting but it was there. Argis felt Nikolai’s finger snake through his hair as he slowly began to work. He let his eyes drift shut with a deep breath and quickly found himself lost in the sensation. He heard Nikolai’s voice but his words didn’t register. “Hmm?”
“Your war paint, I think it might be best if you washed it off before sleeping. It’ll make a mess of your face and of the bed.”
“Is there a mirror in here,” Argis asked as he opened his eyes. He turned to watch as Nikolai slipped off the bed and began peering in the dresser.
“Doesn’t look like it.”
Argis snorted, “Damnit. Well, it’s a cold night; I doubt I’ll sweat it off so there won’t be a mess.”
“I can help if you’d like.”
“It’s okay. I’ve done it plenty of times before,” Argis chuckled. “You ever see me putting this on when we’re camping?”
Nikolai smiled, “I guess I never have. Are you fine sharing a bed? I mean, if you’re uncomfortable I-”
Argis let himself fall onto the covers of the bed, once more shaking his head. “It’s dry, clean, and there’s enough room.”