Episode 151
When You Kiss Me Like That
“Elowyn, wait,” Rominy calls, but Elowyn strides past his guards without a backward glance.
They all do double-takes as they recognize her. She nods toward Jonas.
“You look much more like yourself, Your Highness,” he says, and she laughs.
“In more ways than one, I’m sure.”
He merely inclines his head, and she turns down the main corridor toward the central storeroom where the attics are accessed.
Only when the clomping of multiple sets of human boots follows her does she stop and turn. Rominy slams into her, knocking her back against the wall. He catches himself with his hands on either side of her as his entire guard contingent looks away.
“Well, this is fun.” She grabs his waistcoat before he can move. The flush that creeps over his cheeks from beneath that shadowy beard he’s been growing draws out her smile.
“That was not on purpose,” he says.
“Well, now I’m disappointed.”
“Elowyn.” His cheeks flame brighter as he glances back at his men, and she laughs.
“Your heart is racing, my love.”
He hesitates for a moment before leaning closer. “Perhaps I’m suddenly questioning everything I thought I knew about my wife.”
“How intriguing. Such as?”
“Such as the fact that she turns heads everywhere she goes.”
“So far, I’ve only walked down the corridor.”
“It was enough.”
She struggles not to laugh again. His guards did appear momentarily flustered by her presence.
“Are you jealous?” she asks.
“Should I be?”
“Never. My own head turns for only one man. Leave your guards here. I’ll keep you safe.”
“Before I agree to that, tell me where we’re going.”
“To the attic to find you something less Nunian to wear.”
“You don’t think Tharios will leave without us if we take too long?”
She lets go of his waistcoat to run her finger over his lips. “What are you planning to do that will take too long?”
He pushes away from the wall, laughing his adorable nervous laugh. “You really will be the death of me. Jonas, stay here. Elowyn will ensure my safety. I doubt there’s anything dangerous in the attic.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
Elowyn grins at the smirks his guards exchange.
“Follow me, Your Highness,” she teases as she starts down the corridor again.
“Nice. Is this going to be a thing now? Calling me that?” he asks as he matches her stride.
“Perhaps. It feels so good to feel good again. To feel like myself.”
“Just don’t overdo it. I never want to watch you go through anything like that again.” As they walk, he takes in the rounded passageway with the tree-grown walls. “This really is an amazing place.”
“I wish I had time to give you the full tour.” She stops at a nondescript door. “For now, let me introduce you to...the central storage room.” She pushes open the door and gestures inside. “Where the most fascinating treasures may be found.”
“Yeah, I’m going to need some light before I venture into a shadowy storage room.”
She rolls her eyes. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“I seem to have left it in the heartlanding. But I might be able to muster up something. For you.” He steals a quick kiss before stepping into the darkness, and she follows, closing the door behind them. “It’s pitch black in here, El. Can’t you make a light or—”
She finds his lips in the dark, cutting off his words, and he only stiffens briefly before kissing her back. He buries his hands in her hair, deepening the kiss as her fire magic roars to life.
“I’m pretty sure Tharios will leave without us,” Rominy whispers, but he doesn’t pull away. He spins her back against the door, blocking her in on purpose this time.
Then his hands are on her.
Whistling wind. He’s burning as hot as she is. Her water magic won’t be able to manage her fire for long if he keeps doing that.
“You know, love,” Rominy murmurs against her neck. “If we stay here, we could find other more intimate pastimes to occupy us until the others return.”
Her eyes flash open, but it’s too dark to see anything in the shadows.
“In the real world this time,” Rominy adds so quietly she can barely hear him.
Elowyn’s heart beats faster as she considers his words.
But Uncle Quilian is hurt. And she needs to see for herself that Cerian is well. Surely Rominy feels the same way about his sister.
Elowyn lights an orb light in her palm, and they both blink against the brightness as their eyes meet.
“Don’t you want to find Arisanna? Ensure she’s unharmed?” Elowyn whispers.
Rominy doesn’t respond at first as he stares down at her.
Then he sighs and rubs his eyes. “You put on the leathers, drag me to a dark closet, and kiss me like that, and every rational thought flies from my head. Yes, I want to find my sister.”
Guilt fills Elowyn. “I’m sorry. I—”
“Don’t you dare apologize. Maybe just...take it down a notch. I’m only human.” He steals another quick kiss before stepping away, and her smile returns.
“It’s really warm in here now,” Rominy says with a laugh as his heart rate slows. Then he turns serious. “Are you all right? No nausea?”
She shakes her head. “No nausea. Just fire magic that wants to engulf us both when you kiss me like that.”
“In that case, how’s your water magic?” he teases, and she laughs at the grin he sends her.
“Now that one is struggling. I’ll be fine, though. Let’s find those clothes before Tharios leaves without us.” Elowyn tosses out a few more lights as she steps around some boxes toward the hatch to the attic, and Rominy follows.
“Are you sure anything we find in here will be wearable?” he asks. “Especially by me? I’m a little broader than your brothers. And most elves, it seems.”
“My grandfather was a big elf, or so I’ve been told. Grandmera gave quite a few of his things to Corivos when my pera promoted him to Second, but there are still some things up here. I know because I used to play with them.”
She jumps to reach the sliding ladder for the attic, but the string that usually hangs down is caught on a rung just out of reach.
“Can you grab it?” she asks. “Or should I build a mountain of boxes like I did when I was an elfling?”
“I’m surprised I survived your childhood,” Rominy mutters. “We will not be climbing on boxes. Come here.” He wraps his arms around her legs and hefts her onto his shoulder. “Can you reach it now?”
She stretches to hook her fingers around the ladder rung and gives a firm tug. “Got it.”
Once she’s on her feet again, she quickly ascends the ladder, and Rominy climbs up behind her.
“I haven’t been up here in years.” She takes in the circular chamber full of trunks and old paintings. It looks pretty much as she left it the last time she ventured here. A few more boxes have been added to the collection, but otherwise, it’s still a treasure trove from her family’s past.
“Which trunk?” Rominy asks, and Elowyn turns around.
“If I remember correctly, it’s this one.” She kneels by a polished cedar chest and blows the dust away before carefully lifting the lid.
They both stare down at its contents.
“I’m pretty sure those won’t fit me,” Rominy says, and Elowyn bursts into laughter.
The trunk is full of her own clothing from her elfling days. Tiny gowns and shoes. Her first split cloak with a place for her quiver. Even her first leathers Mother and Pera gave her for her tenth birthday.
“Grandmera must have packed all of this away since I last came up here. I wonder why she kept it.”
“Perhaps your mother wasn’t ready to let go of your childhood,” he says softly.
“Perhaps.” Elowyn sighs. Then she smiles up at Rominy. “Perhaps it will get used again.”
He stares at her before another one of those huffs of laughter escapes him.
They probably should have a serious conversation about elflings soon. Before they get caught up in more intimate pastimes in the real world.
Not right now, though.
Another trunk like this one catches her eye. “That must be it.” She carefully closes the lid on the trunk full of her own past and hurries to the other chest nearby, opening it. “Yes, this is it. Here.” She reaches for the leather jacket and trousers neatly folded inside.
Grandmera must have laid everything to rights again after Elowyn’s play. The thought tugs at her heart.
Rominy holds up the jacket. “This might fit. What do I wear under it, though? Is there a shirt?”
Elowyn rummages through what’s left of her grandfather’s things and shakes her head. Grandmera must have parted with the rest since Elowyn played with it all as an elfling.
But she kept the leathers.
They must mean something to her.
“Are you sure about this, El? Maybe we should check with Grandmera first.”
“Perhaps you’re right. Bring them, and I’ll ask.”
Relief fills Rominy’s eyes, and he nods.
They quickly put everything the way it was and descend the ladder.
When they step into the corridor, Tharios is there with Viala, and he frowns. “What are you doing in the storage room? We’re ready to leave. And I will leave without you.”
“Where’s Grandmera?” Elowyn asks.
“Outside. She insists on coming, and I couldn’t dissuade her. Are you ready?”
Elowyn ignores him as she grabs the leathers from Rominy and hurries down the corridor. The door to the stable yard stands open, and Grandmera turns when Elowyn bursts through it.
Her eyes dart to the leathers in Elowyn’s hands.
Whistling wind. This suddenly seems like a bad idea. What was she thinking?
Elowyn opens her mouth to speak, but no words come.
Their eyes meet, and for the briefest moment, a well of emotion fills Grandmera’s gaze. Then it’s gone, and she reaches for the leathers as Elowyn relinquishes them.
“I know you got rid of everything else,” Elowyn finally whispers. “I’m sorry. I just thought perhaps—”
“Hush, young one.” Grandmera turns to Rominy. “I had a feeling these would be needed someday. I see now that I was right. These are the leathers of a king, my youngling. Wear them well.”
She offers the leathers to Rominy, and he takes them, running his hand over the jacket before looking up at Grandmera again. “Thank you. I’m not sure I could ever live up to the legacy of King Restoval, but I will do my best.”
“That’s all you can ever do, Rominy of Nunia. I have faith in you, and he would have as well. Now go change so we may depart.”