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Callum squints harder at the runes on the second page of the dusty leather book amaya sent, there’s no urgency to translate it as she just
Saw this in a bookshop in Lux Aurea and thought of you
He’s tracing the lines over the page with his left index finger when he’s startled by a movement at his right side. He looks down to see a slender, pale arm snaking around his stomach and registers a soft pressure on his shoulder. He can smell herbs, soap and what can only be described as moonberry wine that’s been left out overnight.
“How are you feeling” he speaks softly, sliding his left hand off the book and interlocking his fingers with the hand that has settled at his left hip. He’s met by a groan and a long sigh. He squeezes his hand lightly and feels a faint squeeze back.
“So… rethinking your drinking partner last night” he tries to fight the amusement in his voice.
“I am going to kill him as soon as this nonsense passes” he can’t help but smile at the exasperation and determination in her voice. “I feel like I’m on a bloody boat! Stupid party, stupid drinking games, stupid vintage moonberry wine and stupid bloody Soren!” He fails to suppress a chuckle and feels a sharp pinch on his right hip from the hand not wrapped across his waist.
“Ow, Rayla!”
“Oh shush, too loud!” She groans “and you deserve it for laughing; I was so nice to you when you drank all that mead.” he feels the cushions sink as she shifts beside him and turns his gaze to her face resting against his bicep. She’s curled up, cat-like, with her long legs tucked into the side of the couch. She looks as if someone has added two extra drops of white to her complexion this morning, faint dark circles beneath her eyes tat betray a late night and a slightly faraway look on her eyes. Her sliver hair is out of its usual sleek bun, braids and sections pinned haphazardly atop her head with long pieces falling past her shoulders. She’s adorably frazzled and messy and breathtakingly beautiful all at once.
He drops his lips to her temple and speaks into the soft strands of silver at her hairline. “I’m sorry you’re feeling so rubbish, I promise to make sure Ez tells the servers at the next party to cut you off after your third glass, and to ban Soren from getting you more”
“You better” she closes her eyes and produces another long sigh “Did we do anything particularly awful?”
“Well, if the scale puts the jelly tart debacle at a one, the fencing contest at a five and the time someone threw up on Opeli’s favourite rug as a ten, it's probably a three” he watches as the lines on her forehead relax slightly before continuing “But you may want to consider how much detail of our romantic life you want to express through dirty limericks next time, I, err, think there were a few scandalised ladies in waiting”. She groans and dips her head so her face is covered by a wave of silver hair.
“Nothing to worry about , all in all it was very flattering and I think Opeli was more impressed than embarrassed in the end, the belching any the end of each stanza was a nice touch.”
He hears a muffled sound that he thinks is possibly an embarrassed sorry or a promise to commit acts of violence.
“At least we didn’t have to listen to Soren’s 'amusing' haikus”. She gives an amused snort. “And I was very flattered by your insistent advances to reenact two of your limericks once we got back to my room, even if Soren did make vomit noises as a result”. Her eyes widen and her cheeks flush and Callum wonders if it's from recollection or panicked embarrassment.
He gives her hand another squeeze before lifting it and kissing her knuckles. “Shall we go and get some breakfast?” Another muffled noise into his shoulder as his stomach growls in anticipation. She lifts her gaze as he half stands, twirling himself somewhat gracefully under her outstretched arm so as not to let go of her hand. She smiles up at him and raises an eyebrow before pushing herself off the couch and pulling him towards the door of the study.
“C’mon loud mage, I think I can persuade the kitchen staff to make me that greasy potato thing Soren made you after the mead incident and we can plan his demise” he smiles and lets her tug him towards the dining hall, and into another day.