A Mid-Afternoon Spring....Nap

[Lord General Maahes Asad-Aziem]

"In the eye of storm you'll see a lonely dove
The experience of survival is the key"

A mid-afternoon’s nap, let Spring in with it’s rush as the winter white turned to a bright vibrant green. Tall trees swayed in the breeze shifting their branches over the Valley of Stars. Dark restless clouds that threatened the horizon of a storm hid the day’s light,, and in the distance lighting would split the sky followed by the boom of thunder.

The children had all been put to rest, each within their beds as the rest of the house continued their work upon returning the Temple to it’s vibrant shape. Maahes had left Ealora to join their son in his slumber, with the promise of reuniting once she was finished. However, she had become a dictation around the home, and with the spring clean she would not see one spot missed.


“You will sleep my son.” He whispered to the infant who was very clearly not ready to nap, but as Maahes laced his fingers over the small hands of the little Prince—Ra’s eyes would start to close. Soon father and son were lost together, down the path of slumber sleeping deep and sound…Until…


Thunder boomed enough to shake the wood panes upon the pointed roof, and the sounds of little bare feet would sore down the hall. Maahes would not need to even open his eyes to know Eppie was now in the bed. Her sweet little cold feet touched his, and he could feel the soft brush of her blonde curls over his arm as she snuggled in. She was his silent muse, the gentle soul who calmed every storm, but when the heavens broke who knew she would be the one in need of calm. Eppie would be quick to settle, content against the warmth of her father, and would soon find herself securely asleep.


However…


Issa would be settled in his room, against a bed that felt so foreign yet somehow it was a haven he wished to never leave. For the length of his short life, this child had never known security. Never would he run across a floor to the arms of another, but would remain reserved as he dipped a toe into the pool before he leapt. However, with the rush of the rain and the blasts of the thunder he could not help but tremble. For a child who had his voice, he bit back his cry, and covered his mouth with the palm of his hand—tears raising. Who would he cry out for? Who would listen? Besides..The General would think him a fool for being afraid—and get angry for being bothered. Yet, as Eppie’s little feet ran past his door, she would stop dead track and return to the door.

"You coming?"She questioned with her raised brows, and would dart again when the thunder threatened the rooftop above, and here he would test the water once again. One foot before the other he found the chilled floor, hanging back as he heard the door slide that lead into the room of his parents. He listened with a pounding heart, waiting to jump to her rescue if the Beast roared to life, but only the silent sounds of slumber would remain. Holding his breath he continued on through the hall to stand in the doorway, holding tight to the frame wishing then he could simply blend in. Straddling the line, he wanted to run..wanted to stay, but found himself frozen.

The sound of the silence was so pristine a pin could be dropped and the sound would carry down the hall, no doubt to wake the nation. Issa held his heart in his hand within this moment looking in on the small family, the love written across their face even without his mother—how could he not want to be apart of such a treasure? To feel so safe and secure would be the frail hope of a wish upon the first star, but oh how he wanted it. His thoughts were lost then as he lingered in the door, and his attention would fall along with his eyes, until a deep voice broke the silence in a gentle rich sound.

“Are you afraid?” Maahes spoke from the white mass of covers, pillows that was their bedding. The rich red fabric that was their wedding gift had been taken to the townhouse, but in many ways he preferred the pristine feel of the cleansing white. Always had he slept upon his chest, one arm under the pillow building a cradle for his infant son, and allowing a footrest for his silent daughter.

The child from the sea could not find his voice, as his nerves found him fidgeting back, as his head would nod, and Maahes would slow move his infant son up higher in the bed creating a cradle of the down filled pillows. In that motion Issa would get a glimpse of his bare chest, and the scars that stretched them old and new. Much like his own, and would humble his feelings; that even the toughest of men could break. With a space cleared, a massive hand would motion on as he held back the covers, and without a second thought the child closed the distance finding solace in the warmth created—the halo of security.

As the time would roll on, Issa became settled inside the bed but still distant from the beast who was so well respected. However, when the thunder boomed once again the child’s eyes closed tightly as he shook, the sounds so much like canon fire..another to take him away. It would only be when Maahes’s hand came to touch his shoulder and clasp his arm would he ease and open his eyes once again. Was he going to yell? Or worse..laugh? No, the General would brush his palm back and forth over the boy’s arm until he eased enough to be pulled against his chest. Issa held his head in shame; unable to pretend he was no longer afraid.

“Somewhere in all our lives, we are afraid of storms.” He started in a low whisper as to not wake the rest, “Until we realize how strong they have made us once the skies have cleared.” Brushing back the brown locks of the boy’s hair from his forehead he would squeeze him a little tighter before allowing his thumb to brush gently the flesh of Issa’s arm. The child’s eyes grew heavy as they started to close he let his head fall against the chest of the beast and the beating heart beneath it, but it would be the General’s last words that would allow him to feel at ease.

“You are safe here.” With me....The words were a low gentle whisper, as the promise he made to the son of his wife would be kept within this moment.

[Chief Baliff Ealora]

Maahes:He had been asleep for what felt like a hundred years, having bathed beforehand, and spent the entire morning riding out to their home. After every child in the valley seemed to appear inside his bed, he was thankful to be free of them so that he could stretch out. Ra, had been the first to rise ready to eat and unwilling to return to his slumber; Eppie was quick to follow. However, Issa the child from the sea had been reluctant or so it seemed as he still slept sound curled on his side next to the General who now lay upon his back, one arm tucked behind his head. The weather had cleared of the heavy storm, to only drizzle a gentle rain across the rooftops and through the trees.

Ealora:Storms never seemed to bother Ealora, just another type of good weather right? At least her feet were on solid ground then upon the ship in open waters. Mother Nature was never nice in that situation. For the most part she let the children sleep in bed with their father, checking up on them every once in a while with a small smile curling the sides of her lips. The big brute in bed with his three tiny cubs. Now what story did this remind her of? When Ra awakened, he had been the first to be removed, the first fed as Nora cooked breakfast in the kitchen. Eppie was second and the first, besides the baby to appear in the kitchens. Their silent muse seemed a natural as she helped Nora in transferring cut fruit into bowls for each individual but the beast and their son of the seas? On they slept until finally with breakfast set on the table, Ealora went to wake them. Ra was handed off to Nora before she moved down the freshly swept halls towards their room. Sliding the door open, she tiptoed into the room to lean across the bed, a finger moved to curl over her sons tiny nose. "Time to wake up my little one.."She cooed within his ear before placing a tender kiss upon his cheek. Issa gave a muffled groan as he rolled around only to throw his little leg over Ealora's body. A hum of a laugh passed her lips as she kissed his cheek again as her hand ran through the dark strands of his hair. "Eppie will eat all your breakfast if you don't wake up.." She teased and instantly she was met by the raising of sleepy celadon eyes matching her own.

Issa:"but...but.."He mused before letting out a yawn.

Ealora:Instantly she felt horrible for her little tease. Leaning in she kissed his nose before rolling him over on top of her then over to the side of the bed. "Oh she wouldn't do that to her brother, go wash up and get to the table...Daddy and I will be along in a minute.."She waited till the little boy had scampered out of sight, fearful his breakfast would be eaten before she rolled over and pulled an Issa, throwing her leg over her husbands waist as her arm curled over his chest. Her head slowly fell, her nose pressing and nuzzling against his own. "Papa Bear..wakey wakey..or do I need to find someone else to impregnate me?" Ok so she wouldn't do the latter but she could still tease!

Maahes: One eye would part, revealing the display of amber so very pale after the deep rest; It found her, as if to make sure she was real before the line of his sight would close once again. For a good moment he was silent before the hand was free came around to clasp her hip gently. A soft motion his fingers curled into the fabric of her gown and he shifted a little under her. "I thought you did not want another child so soon." He spoke without opening his eyes or really even being awake period. God he loved this woman, and that came through as he tipped his head to be closer to her; to breathe in the sent of her. "You want me to pull away..so I have." Meaning the nights she had been close to him, and he would roll away..never knowing it meant an entire different aspect of their sexual life; Opening his eyes then he curled both arms around her pulling her against him and holding her down-- knowing he would force her into sleep if she was held for very long.

Ealora: With his arm clasping her waist, she nuzzled in against him, pressing in as far as she could go without melding into his body. A hum of a laugh passed her lips as they curled into a grin. "An' I thought we discussed that I did, in my fathers cottage...you teasing me about having ten more. I was quite serious..I do want another, ten if you wish it, if God wills it.."she purred against his ear as she nuzzled her face against his own. "You know your never as sexy as you are when your being a daddy...practically need to douse myself in ice water to keep from pouncing you."Partly she was teasing, part of it was being serious, her heart swelled in pride and love when he was with their children, sleeping, playing..it didn't matter. She would have a bakers dozen more kids with him if he wanted it, and of course God willing. Never had she thought this role, wife and mother would fit so perfectly for her. A different kind of hum left her lips as he pulled her against him after of course rolling away. Pull away her arse! He couldn't be one second without her, as she couldn't be one second without him! "I'm going to retire from the fleet...Maahes.."It was off subject but she had finally decided that morning, seeing him in bed with their children. "Except for our own personal uses, the Shadow Storm will be retired...as will I.." and yes if he held her down any longer, she was going to fall asleep, he knew full well she hadn't slept much with Ra needing feeding and the house needing work.

Maahes: "You are the most sexy when you are mother...wife.." Rolling then with her he pressed her back upon the sheets, casting a gentle kiss to her neck as he continued, "But when you wear that..armor. I set back on my horse thinking of how much I want to take you home..." He breathed against her, the scent of his slumber still present of soft covers and the rainy cool air. "It is hard to control." He agreed with her then, closing his eyes he nuzzled against her neck, as it was clear the sleep was hard to shake off. "Where is my son?" He spoke again after being silent for a moment. "Both of them?"

Ealora:She let out a laugh at his words. Sexy when she was a mother? Now that was one she was going to remember. A squeal of delight left her lips as he rolled her into the bed and hovered above her. Her legs rose, the folds of her dress sliding back against tanned and toned flesh as slender long legs wrapped about his waist as her arms locked around his backside. "Oh I'll have to remember that one next time for when you train your men, surprise you...kidnap you and find a shadowed spot in the arena to have my way with you. "The grin spread wide over her lips flashing white teeth his way. Her fingers loosened about his waist to travel up and down his back, working out the tension of hard sleep as he nuzzled her neck. "Hmmm, you keep doing that and I'll demand we don't leave this bed. and our sons are in the dining room with Eppie and Nora having breakfast."

Maahes:Her words sank into him, about leaving the fleet and as he rose back to the support of his arm he met her eyes, "Ealora..you are more then I could have asked for." A rich deep voice thickly accented spoke quietly, "When I dreamed of my life outside of the arena, I did never think that I would be given someone like you." Setting up he pulled her with him to straddle his lap as he sat back with folded legs beneath her. This gave her eye level with him, and he to tip his head back slightly. "I had to realize how much I loved you, and would be without you..and it was hard. So I learn to cherish each moment of you. Love you as husband should." His hands held her arms gently, thumbs brushing against her skin, "You do not know how much you have made me better..you made me love life, and if your life is at sea..then so is mine."

Ealora: Oh so he picked up on that finally. Her head tilted on the pillows to look at him as he spoke. A smile slowly slid over her lips, her arms moved to link around his neck as he pulled her up to straddle his lap, her knees pressing into the bedding as she cupped his face between her hands even as he spoke. "Maahes..you are everything I could ever of prayed for. Every moment, the breath of you..every word...every word.."She meant to say even the ones in anger. Her head leaned down against his own as her thumbs stroked at his cheeks. "Every moment, I can not regret, its brought us closer together, made us realize things we perhaps would not of realized on our own...I promised you once, and I am promising again, I am not going anywhere, you will never be without me again. I dreamt of a bloody and horrible past...before I met you. All that went away after I met you, Gods I fought so hard not to love you, now..I can't even remember why I did. I could never be without you. Part of my heart will always be with the sea...but this place...you..the kids..mean so much more to me then the drum of the sea. I don't want miss a moment with you or the kids. I want to be here for the people of the land, build homes they will be proud of, work beside them, make them proud we rescued them from that hell. I'll keep the shadow storm on reserve. If the Griffin Fleet needs my crew, my ship and me. Then I will be there for this land we call home but I'm sick of fighting battles, I want to fight for our land, in a different way, manage it, bring forth life from it as it was meant to be. Create more babies with you, spend every waking second loving you." Though him saying his life would be at sea with her...meant so much to her, perhaps more then he knew considering she knew how green gilled he was at sea. "We will never understand...what each of us have done for the other. That is how it is meant to be..but this.."She let her hands drop from his cheek to take his hand and place it over her heart, one hand held his hand over the pounding of her heart beneath her breastbone as her other hand lay against his chest. "This heart of mine..did not truly beat, till you loved me.."