The continuing stories of Argis and Nikolai, because these two wont leave me alone. :o Picks up right after 'Now and Forever.'
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Traveling with Nikolai was never so straight forward. There was no point A to point B for that man. No, if there was something off in the distance that may be worthwhile he had to see it. Whether that item was a ruin or just a collection of flowers, Nikolai was driven by curiosity. While it would have bothered most companions Argis found it rather entertaining to see a grown man watch butterflies with a child’s eye, or even spending hours just looking across the country from a cliff side.
“No horses,” Nikolai had said the very first time they set out together. “No horses and no carriages. You’ll miss what there is to offer. I promise that you’ll always find something breath taking when you travel on foot.”
Nikolai was never one to break a promise.
Traveling together after the wedding was no different than it ever had been. While they set off towards Windhelm Argis soon realized that their simple path was becoming a winding one thanks to Nikolai’s flights of fancy. When the young man did decide to walk in stride with Argis, he lingered close and his fingers would reach for his. To any passerby the two appeared to be nothing more than close companions and it was that thought that eased Argis’ nerves.
“Ah! A spring,” Nikolai grinned. He hurried away from Argis’ side and jogged beyond the bushes and sparse trees. “Do you want to set up camp here?”
“Set up camp already? It’s barely past midday.” Argis stopped as he came to the edge of the spring. It looked rather inviting. He glanced at Nikolai and sighed; the young man had already dropped his pack and was pulling his weapons from his belt. “There would be no way to convince you otherwise, would there?”
Nikolai laughed, “Come now, this place looks more than inviting. Plus the spring looks rather relaxing if you ask me.”
Argis shrugged off his own pack, “Well, I’m not. Besides, if it wasn’t for you running after every animal and shiny object we could be relaxing in Windhelm.”
“Well pardon my curiosity but a straight march from here to there would be rather boring,” Nikolai explained matter-of-factly. “Either way, make yourself comfortable. I’m going to have a look around.”
“Don’t wander too far.” While he sounded more like a father reprimanding his child, Argis knew it needed to be said.
The sound of nature slowly filtered out anything else. If Nikolai had responded Argis hadn’t heard it as he stared at the spring. His body ached from the previous day’s travels and escapades through a cave. He wasn’t lying when he told Nikolai they could be relaxing in Windhelm; it was something he desperately wanted.
Glancing around Argis figured that there was no reason not to follow his urge. Slowly he stripped off his boots and clothes until all that remained was his breechcloth. Without a second thought Argis stepped into the water and found it warm rather than chilled like expected. He waded into the middle of the spring, finding that the water only rose to his waist. Never-the-less Argis slipped beneath the surface and reveled in the soothing warmth.
Argis surfaced with a gasp for air, standing his full height. He smoothed his hair with a slow breath and closed his eyes. This was what he yearned for: the comforts of home. Or at least a decent bath house. Argis figured that one of the first things he would do once they returned to Markarth was soak his tired body. He was beginning to wonder if the travels were starting to take a toll on him. He wasn’t that old but Nikolai seemed to have endless energy.
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timeasmymeasure
My Favorite Drinking Buddy (1a/?)
Date: 2013-07-28 06:25 pm (UTC)-----------
Traveling with Nikolai was never so straight forward. There was no point A to point B for that man. No, if there was something off in the distance that may be worthwhile he had to see it. Whether that item was a ruin or just a collection of flowers, Nikolai was driven by curiosity. While it would have bothered most companions Argis found it rather entertaining to see a grown man watch butterflies with a child’s eye, or even spending hours just looking across the country from a cliff side.
“No horses,” Nikolai had said the very first time they set out together. “No horses and no carriages. You’ll miss what there is to offer. I promise that you’ll always find something breath taking when you travel on foot.”
Nikolai was never one to break a promise.
Traveling together after the wedding was no different than it ever had been. While they set off towards Windhelm Argis soon realized that their simple path was becoming a winding one thanks to Nikolai’s flights of fancy. When the young man did decide to walk in stride with Argis, he lingered close and his fingers would reach for his. To any passerby the two appeared to be nothing more than close companions and it was that thought that eased Argis’ nerves.
“Ah! A spring,” Nikolai grinned. He hurried away from Argis’ side and jogged beyond the bushes and sparse trees. “Do you want to set up camp here?”
“Set up camp already? It’s barely past midday.” Argis stopped as he came to the edge of the spring. It looked rather inviting. He glanced at Nikolai and sighed; the young man had already dropped his pack and was pulling his weapons from his belt. “There would be no way to convince you otherwise, would there?”
Nikolai laughed, “Come now, this place looks more than inviting. Plus the spring looks rather relaxing if you ask me.”
Argis shrugged off his own pack, “Well, I’m not. Besides, if it wasn’t for you running after every animal and shiny object we could be relaxing in Windhelm.”
“Well pardon my curiosity but a straight march from here to there would be rather boring,” Nikolai explained matter-of-factly. “Either way, make yourself comfortable. I’m going to have a look around.”
“Don’t wander too far.” While he sounded more like a father reprimanding his child, Argis knew it needed to be said.
The sound of nature slowly filtered out anything else. If Nikolai had responded Argis hadn’t heard it as he stared at the spring. His body ached from the previous day’s travels and escapades through a cave. He wasn’t lying when he told Nikolai they could be relaxing in Windhelm; it was something he desperately wanted.
Glancing around Argis figured that there was no reason not to follow his urge. Slowly he stripped off his boots and clothes until all that remained was his breechcloth. Without a second thought Argis stepped into the water and found it warm rather than chilled like expected. He waded into the middle of the spring, finding that the water only rose to his waist. Never-the-less Argis slipped beneath the surface and reveled in the soothing warmth.
Argis surfaced with a gasp for air, standing his full height. He smoothed his hair with a slow breath and closed his eyes. This was what he yearned for: the comforts of home. Or at least a decent bath house. Argis figured that one of the first things he would do once they returned to Markarth was soak his tired body. He was beginning to wonder if the travels were starting to take a toll on him. He wasn’t that old but Nikolai seemed to have endless energy.