Cold Hands, War[m] Heart [Namingtoohard & Fanatasia]

[Namingtoohard]

"Mhm. She is indeed" the prince answered simply. He would slowly slide both of his arms up, slipping them around her waist and linking his fingers together, so that he could hug her against him tightly. A smile of blissful calm seemed to have settled across his features as he watched their daughter stumble about, still trying to get the hang of things. Still, as he watched, his expression darkened slightly. He found himself tightening his grip a little on reflex, not even conscious that he was sign so.

"Yes. She's all ours, and nobody is going to take her away from us again" he added in a much lower voice. The words were most quiet as he spoke them, but filled with a hardness, a determination, to make sure that they never again repeated the disaster that had befallen their growing family. After a few moments though, he would snap himself out of his little daze, shaking his head for a moment, before smiling wryly. He would mumble a quick apology to his wife, loosening his excessive grip just a fraction, before once again turning his attention to their daughter.

Even as he watched, the little girl stumbled and started to fall again. This time, though, Irina decided to intervene. The dragon stepped forward, almost anticipating the slip, imposing herself between the girl and floor. She practically caught their little baby, using her body's mass as a barrier to stop the girl from hitting the ground. Yelena, of course, remained ignorant of such an action, as babies were want to do. She simply righted herself and got ready to try again, determined as ever.

[Fanatasia]

Aine giggled softly as she was pulled into a hug. She shifted slightly as his grasp tightened, though she did not say anything. Her lips pulled into a quiet grin as she nuzzled against him, murmuring, "No, s'okay." Aine squinted down, trying to make heads or tails of what her child was doing.

Irina intervened and Yelena was happy to just babble on, giggling and continuing to try and walk. Softly, Aine murmured, "Lets send her back, okay? She's got to get used to being with the nurse, Leith. We can't have her with us all of the time."

The woman offered a slight smile to the man, murmuring, "She won't be able to come into negotiations, or our room at night, or go with us should we need to travel for treaties. She's got to live this bit of the royal life, though I don't plan to hand her off and see her rarely, by any means." She'd kiss his cheek, grinning softly. "She's still a Princess, and we can't protect her from that title."

[Namingtoohard]

The prince would continue to watch his daughter in silence for a moment as he pondered his wife's words, before giving a little bit of a dismissive shrug. He enjoyed the thought of getting to spend time with his little girl while they had the chance, but there would be plenty of time for that during the rest of the trip, and his wife spoke sense. He would pull back the curtains to knock on the window with the back of a free hand, summoning one of the guards from outside. It would be a moment until they joined them, but until then he could settle for trying to retrieve their toddling child.

"Well I didn't hear any screaming from the other carriage, so I assume that she was behaving herself....more or less. Though maybe it's just this one nanny in particular" the man answered simply, though he was distracted by their little girl. He would twist and squirm beneath Aine for a moment to lean across towards Yelena, reaching out to loop an arm around their little girl. Hauling her off her feet, the prince would straighten up, holding her for just a moment. He also took advantage of the brief pause to adjust his grip to something more comfortable.

"You be a good girl, okay Yela? Try not to burst any more eardrums, or cause any more panic attacks. For us or the nurses" he chided her simply, though he continued smiling the whole time. When an answering knock came at the window, the prince would transfer the little girl back across to Rairi, trusting the guard to run her up to the leading carriage just as she had before. With their daughter gone again, Leith would turn his attention back to his wife once more. He pouted a little as she announced that they couldn't shelter her from the title of princess, clearly not happy with the idea.

"You say that, but it's not going to stop me from trying...though I can't help but wonder how Aspen is going to be received" he answered, frowning momentarily as his thoughts wandered. His hands set about tracing their way along Aine's sides gently, in an almost absentminded gesture. "She's technically a princess, but not a Sindarian princess. So do we treat her as a trueborn one, or just an honoured guest? The court will be expecting us to return with one princess, not two..." He muttered softly, before snapping himself out of it quickly. Instead, he would lean in to steal a quick kiss from his wife, aiming to distract himself. "Ah well. We have all trip to think about it, anyway. No need to rush"

[Fanatasia]

The queen would grin as the child was handed off to the guard, and returned to the other carriage. The woman shifted into her husband's grasp, murmuring, "You can try, my love, but she's still royalty. We all are. Some asperations and expectations cannot be done away with."

She moved to trail a hand along his legs, absently as he turned her thoughts to Aspen. Quietly, she replied, "Trueborn. She'll have everything our daughters' have, if I've got a say." And she did have a say; he'd ensured that by kidnapping the blind girl. "She'll grow up happy with us, in Sinder. Perhaps she'll not grow up cold, and harsh." She stated, before falling into silence for a moment.

"How do you think Fiora is faring?" She breathed, as she settled back into his grasp, carefully.

On the convoy that housed the guards, and Ledora, Sorei had only grown more and more frustrated with Fiora. "Why can't you keep anything down, Fia? You've got no fever--everything we've fed you has been bland." She scowled as she brushed her fingers across the other woman's cheeks. There were times, of course, where Fiora kept food down just fine and Sorei was convinced she would be okay--and others where the other woman couldn't handle anything; especially the smell of cooking meat.

"Sleep, a bit longer," she coaxed, as she gazed out the window of the carriage they were housed inside, with Ledora--who was currently outside riding horseback with another guard. The girl was whooping and hollering as she went. While Fiora was by no means bedridden, she'd not slept the night before, for getting sick--which meant Sorei had not slept. The thought that her girlfriend was anything else, aside from ill, had not crossed Sorei's mind; and wouldn't for quite a while.

[Namingtoohard]

"I daresay you will. I doubt anyone would deny their beloved queen anything...not that they would have the ability to stop you otherwise" the man would croon softly, now that the two of them had been left alone again. With Yelena gone, they could simply focus on enjoying each other's company.

"You mean after Sorei wrote us she was sick?" The prince questioned simply, tilting his head a fraction. As he pondered the question, the man would slip his hands into her furs, bringing them to rest on her waist once more. The physical contact was enjoyable, and would help them stay warm besides.

"I'm sure she'll be fine. I doubt anything short of frostbite could keep her down for more than a few days...though Sorei may become the first person to ever successfully fuss over her" the man admitted, a wry smile flickering across his features.

"If I figure it out, then I'll be sure to let you know" the girl would answer her companion as she shuffled in her seat. For all her spirit, though, the lack of sleep and food had taken its effect. Bags were visible under her eyes, and her face seemed more drawn than usual.

"I'm sure that I would have fallen asleep by now if my body was going to let me" the girl would add dryly. She would reach out to take her lover's hand then, placing her own palm over the top of Sorei's own. "Besides, you look like you could use a nap yourself. There's no need for you to torture yourself on my behalf"

The girl herself had a sneaking suspicion as to the cause, but kept denying the possibility, even to herself. Regardless, she kept quiet on the matter.

[Fanatasia]

Aine grinned wryly, murmuring, "That would be Sorei, all right. Successfully fussing over Fiora." She chuckled and snuggled into her husband, fingers dragging through his furs. "I cannot wait to get home; introduce Aspen and Yelena to their people." It was clear from the way Aine spoke that she planned to treat her sister-in-law no different than if she were her own daughter.

"I think they'll receive her well." She added, as an afterthought. She truly thought the kingdom would take the news of princesses very well; it was great news and marked a new era for her people; open trade routes to Neve.

Sorei scoffed. "If you think I'm leaving you by yourself, you're insane." She murmured, as she pressed a kiss to the top of Fiora's hand. "But if you'll lay down with me, I'll nap, just a bit." She was hoping that a familiar embrace could draw the other woman to sleep.

She'd focus on trying to get Fiora to eat properly the next morning, if they slept well tonight, that was. "We should arrive in country sometime tomorrow, as well. We'll have a healer properly look at you." She chimed, as she drew to release the other guard, and stand.

The mixed girl would flash a smile as she reached to take her girlfriends' hand, only to pull her to stand for a moment. She'd claim the blankets from underneath her, and allow her to sit once again. "Please? I'll feel better if I can snuggle up with you." How true that statement was.

[Namingtoohard]

The prince would hum thoughtfully to himself for a moment, silently hoping what she said was true. It was hardly a surprise, that he wished only the best for his daughter and younger sister, and Leith honestly shared her desire to return home. To the estate that hey shared in Sinder, not the cold and foreboding castle he had grown up in.

"I'll be glad once this travelling is done, regardless. Another few weeks trapped in this carriage and I just might just go crazy" he mumbled softly. The words were accompanied with a small frown, and spoken fully conscious of the fact they had only been back on the road for a day. "I don't fancy leaving Sinder again until Oron and Irina are big enough to carry us away and back again in a matter of days." Such a thing seemed far off, but the prince was feeling his own sort of homesickness.

Fiora would roll her eyes somewhat sarcastically at Sorei's insistence, feigning annoyance, but a small smile tugged at the edge of her lips. "Alright, alright. If you're going to twist my arm like that, then I suppose I have no choice" she replied simply, rising with Sorei's assistance. Beyond that, she would move to lay down with the blankets, before waiting impatiently for Sorei to join her.

"I'm sure it's just an upset stomach. Nothing to be concerned about...though I might have to forgo our grand return feast. Too much cooked meat in one place" she answered simply, continuing only when the two were cocooned in blankets and snuggled up together. "In any case, it'll be good to have a goal again. There'll be a lot to do before our two little lovebirds get back" she would add, hoping such a change of topic would prove enough of a distraction

[Fanatasia]

Aine grinned softly, fingers tangling against her husband's shirt. "You can always get out and ride, dearest. A guard could sit with me for a few hours." She didn't dare offer to ride herself; she knew the man wouldn't agree to it for the mere fact she would have to rely on the horse to know where to go, rather than be able to lead it. The redhead tipped her head back to smile upwards, "We'll not have to leave until they're big enough, yes." She whispered, leaning to nuzzle into him.

Sorei would nestle into Fiora, curling her arms around the other woman. "So you'll skip the feast? Are you sure?" She murmured, nuzzling into the woman's shoulder. "True..." She paused, running a hand along Fiora's hip and thigh, gently. "A true goal--it'll be great. I won't just be a childrens' babysitter, either. I'll return to my role on the council, and advisor. You..." She shifted to hug the other woman tightly, "...will fall back into routine. Lead the guards, train them... Protect the king and his family," Sorei leaned to nuzzle into the woman.

[Namingtoohard]

"Maybe every now and then, to break up the monotony. Not today, though" the prince answered simply, a small smile flickering across his features. As she nuzzled in to him, the man would lean forward slightly, resting his head against hers. He would allow himself to close his eyes, just for a moment. To relax and enjoy the simple companionship, free of all the burdens that were normally placed on those such as they.

"Well, it's not like I'll have much of a choice" the guard muttered softly. She gave her hands the freedom to wander where they would, running their way down Sorei's sides gently as the two of them snuggled up together. She paused only briefly, to lean down and peck her lover briefly, but was otherwise content to try and relax like that. Even if sleep seemed as far away as ever. "I'm not sure where you would even start. It seems a mammoth task, trying to sort out so much at once. Guard duty is blissfully simple by comparison"

[Fanatasia]

As the first carriage entered country, Fiora would be escorted to a healer upon landing. Sorei had seated herself patiently in a chair, watching as the physician examined her lover. However, his words only caused her to tilt her head and stare at Fiora, blue eyes wide.

"Oh."

Those had been the only words she had uttered, as she rested her hands in her lap. She had not had anything else to say, really. The unmistakable symptoms only caused her to doubt how well she knew the other woman. Sorei would sit there, simply staring at the other guard, before she murmured, "You shaln't be able to continue with your normal duties in a few months." She seemed more stunned than angry, honestly.

The woman was twirling locks of white hair around her fingers as she tried to process. Then, softly, she whispered: "Who was it? A Neveian? Did you sleep with a Neveian the second I was off?" There was that betrayal. It showed in her voice, in her eyes.

The convoy would rage onwards towards the capitol, soon after this revelation though; and the entire time Sorei seated herself near Ledora, on the other side of their carriage. Her gaze never once met Fiora's. No--she was hurt. No part of her considered that she might be excited; that she could be a parent.

Eventually Fiora and Sorei's convoy would reach the capitol and Sorei would immerse into her duties to avoid her lover.

However, the king and queen would be slower travelling as Yelena began to walk. They were thrilled by this, endlessly. Leith often sent for Yelena, or even sent for his sister. Most of their journey was spent with the two girls. And as soon as they hit Sinderian soil, Aine was the first one out of the carriage, toppling right onto Oron who had been trotting alongside their carriage.

The dragon held her weight easily as he continued to trot forwards, following the line of horses in front of him. "Home." She whispered, burying her face against Oron's scales. "Home..."

She never wanted to leave.