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"Aurora?" Kal's voice was distant, familiar and comfortable but muffled to her distracted senses. She should have been paying attention - she was the one who'd asked for these 'lessons' after all, but her focus was being pulled away. She was studying his soft lips while he spoke, transfixed at how they formed the unfamiliar Syldrathi words. They had a melody that Auri had always loved, especially in Kal's voice and when he'd whisper soft sentiments he'd never translate just to tease. They made her heart flutter every damn time.
"Aurora." Still nothing. Kal smiled a little at the dreamy look in Auri's eyes, realising her mind had wandered somewhere. Auri, for her part, was indulging in a memory of that sweet smile pressing messily against her own last night when they'd snuck out of that fancy party and hid away in a closet just for a little privacy. She'd felt like a proper teenager for the first time in forever and the ridiculousness of it after everything had her in fits of elated giggles. Kal's smile had been brighter then, Auri's own carefree joy utterly contagious, but the one she’d zoned out staring at now was no less beautiful. There was nothing less than perfect about him to her smitten heart.
"Be'shmai, have you heard a word I've said?" Kal chuckled as Aurora's eyes cleared just a little and she shook her head, biting her lip in a failed attempt to suppress her grin. Guilty but not in the least bit apologetic. Kal merely sighed, his voice laced with exasperated affection.
"You have to pay attention if you wish to learn."
"Easier said than done."
"How so?"
“Kal, do you know how beautiful you are? It’s quite distracting.” Colour rose in Kal's cheeks at the compliment and a wicked edge slipped into Auri's grin. It was exceptionally pleasing to fluster her usually calm and composed warrior and Auri had gotten incredibly good at it. "Please, continue. I promise I'll be good and pay attention." Doubtful. And they both knew it. Kal had an idea that might encourage her to focus a little better though.
"Okay, well, is there anything, in particular, you wish to learn?" Auri thought for a moment before remembering a few phrases she'd heard from him several times before. Phrases he'd always blushed at and refused to translate whenever she brought them up. Kal almost choked when she asked about the first of them. She'd been able to take some educated guesses on the meaning since Kal only uttered it in very private moments but she wanted to know.
After several long moments, while Kal gathered his composure and Auri stayed silent, offering no out on him answering, it was her turn to be the flustered one. Kal had decided it was rather unfair to be the only one teased and flustered and quite easily got his own back by swallowing his embarrassment and answering her query. Turned out the words he'd groaned in her ear all those times were surprisingly filthy, adoring beyond belief but absolutely filthy.
Auri sat still, wide-eyed, and flushed in front of him and any embarrassment from admitting the things he'd said in those vulnerable out-of-control moments was quickly washed away at her reaction. Eventually, her eyes cleared once again and she gazed up at him, still a little astounded. Kal decided to press his advantage a little. It was rare for the tables to turn like this after all.
"Anything else you would like me to teach you?" Auri's eyes darkened a fraction and Kal felt his face heating again a little as he realised how suggestive that had sounded. She didn't bother acknowledging it though and simply asked about some of the other things he'd whispered to her in the dark. Some of them were filthy but others so sweet and adoring that Auri swore her heart stopped. Kal answered all her queries with only minor hesitations while a blush raged on his cheeks until Auri was finally satisfied, her memory of Kal's sweet Syldrathi nothings running dry.
"Are you content now, Be'shmai?" Kal asked with an attempted teasing smirk.
"For now- oh!" Auri's eyes lit up at another memory before frowning as she struggled over the words. " ish'la ambres'dai siy Syldra ai'mlent esk somi'sal da'ir selai reis mani'shai."
Kal's pause was much longer and deliberative than before and Auri sat quietly as she watched until finally, he opened his mouth to speak.
"It does not translate perfectly, but it roughly means: my love forged eternal by Syldra's light I lay before you, my heart and soul forever bound at your mercy. It's the promise we make when we commit ourselves to our life-love." At Auri's dumbstruck look, worry slipped into Kal's expression and he quickly continued. "You do not have to accept the commitment, I do not wish to pressure you for anything, it is simply the most honest way of explaining the way I feel about you and-"
Auri's lips against his own abruptly cut off his words and he relaxed into the sweet but brief touch before she pulled back a fraction to speak.
" ish'la ambres'dai siy Syldra ai'mlent esk somi'sal da'ir selai reis mani'shai. " She stumbled over the words but the message was clear enough and Kal stilled as he opened his eyes to meet her adoring gaze. "I love you, Legolas," her sweet smile took on a hint of impishness. "'Til the stars burn out."