To See Ourselves Elsewhere...

[Breanna Keelan]

Conlaed:For the evening, it had been a wonderful start. there had been a drifting of snow from the heavens, down to the realms of Skye. For but a few moments, the bookbind and his wife had watched the snow fall. Listened as the chill wid blew around the warm, cozy, and recently-thatched house in Luib. Then the bookbinder had smile to his wife, murmuring, "You promised to keep me warm in winter......." Amd he had guided her back toward their bedchambers. Back to were a bed lay, with warm furs stacked. (D)

Breanna: "How hard is that for you, when there is more than one fire place in the house?" She teased him, just as she had the entire day be it the color she'd chosen to wear that day..or perhaps it was how she poured his drink..what she fed him? Breanna did not let the season of cold keep her from behaving as though the sun lingered longer in the sky for summer. It was always time to jest, to play? He led her to their bedchamber, where upon on arrival she fleed from his grasp, holding on to a chair across the room. She leaned against the back of it, grinning as if she'd drank the water Taesin did that held all the secrets of the Cerridwen's cauldron (d)

Conlaed: There was a pause, as she broke away from his hand. For a few moments, he looked a touch confused. Then he could not help but let a smile split his features, as he laughed softly. Ah, how could he have forgotten? While the wintry months were something that Conlaed was never fond on, he had forgotten that he had married a summer sprite. Even in when, she acted as though it were the most brilliantly warm of summer days outside. Ever energetic and joyful! That was the reason that the great beast had always enjoyed having her company about. Even when it was something that he claimed 'anonyed him'. There was a smile, as he gave a sigh, "How long must I chace you?" And indeed, he would begin walking toward her. (D)

Breanna: "Until I tire of it or you are successful.." She held on to the back of the chair with just the lightest touch of her fingers. The summer sprite was a fitting name, and he could indeed be a cranky, detested old dragon but never did he mean anything but well. She moved to another chair, opposite the line he made while walking. The sound of a braid with beads on its end gently clicked in her hair. (d)

Conlaed: "I am glad it is not always this way with you," he grinned. He stopped, where he was. Thre was a cant of his head, a pause in his gate. His eyes narrowed. Now it was on! Conlaed made a spint toward her, hoping to be agile enough to move around her chair and snatch her up. (D)

Breanna: "Because I have been kind. You are older than me and it wouldn't be fair to tease you, spurn you on." Oh now that must have done it! She laughed allowed as she ran about the room, leaping over the chair seat to drawn him back toward the bed (d)

Conlaed:"Haw!" The dragon was frustarted when he went to grab at her, leaving her to jump over the seat of the chair. He proved quick and agile on his feet, despite his size, turning to continue the case toward the bed. "I'll getcha!" (D)

Breanna:"Will you Conlaed! Hurry slow feet, buttery fingers..hurry now!" She even ran about the bed, until ultimately she came behind her dragon to tickle his sides. Gypsy blood made a woman so fiesty, so tricky at times! At least in his life he would never say he was anything but entertained. Down in Luib, there lived a book binder and his wife whom ran a publishing house and trading post. At times there rooms were filled with folk whom rented them, at times not. At times they did great business, at others no. Now they were in the business of only one another for it was winter, and Luib was quite sleepy. None remembered them outright, which suited either fine for there were other things besids concocting wonders to dazzle the populace. (d)

Conlaed: There was laughed from her dragon, as she continued to pursue her. As she got behind him and tickled his sides! For now, the house was quiet. Save for the sounds of their feet upon the floor boards, as they chased one another around and around their home. It was the Gypsy blood that made her fasty. That made her playful. That saw her lover chase after her so! (D)

Breanna: And he would catch her if he turned around, for she wanted to wrap her arms around him so that she could feel the warmth of his body against hers. She wanted to feel where his laughter originated, and the music that came from his heart beat. "You've caught me..or I willingly surender , which one you prefer." She grinned (d)

Conlaed: There was a smile, as he turned about. As he wrapped his arms around her! He nuzzled her cheek, murmuring, "Tis I who have been caught by you...." He could not help but smile lovingly to her, "And I who have caught you....." (D)

Breanna:"Then never let me go, keep me with you always, hmm?" She purred back to him, shutting her eyes for the touch never grew old. This was how it began. A gentle brush of brows, the cheeks, leading up to her gently pressing her mouth to his own (d)

Conlaed: "I will always keep you," he murmured. There was a smile, as he murmured, "After all...... does not every dragon need a beautiful princess to call his own?" There was that brush of lips to her own, as he smiled, "I am glad that I was able to take you as my own...." (D)

Breanna: "Dah, he does. Or he grows hungry from no tributes, or cranky from no entertainment." She kissed him again, and then a second time. "How glad I am that you too, are mine Conlaed. I promised to keep you warm in the winter...I keep that promise." She whispered the last, pulling him closer so that as lips met with his, he would fall gently into her as she leaned back against the bed. (d)

Conlaed: There was a smile. That, quiet honestly, could be why the great dragon had sought his own company for so long. It had only been the 'pestering' of Breanna -- and her own mother -- that had eventually brought him around. "How glad I am that you are mine.....and I am yours....." (D)

Breanna: "Mmhmm.." She grinned at him as they lay in the bed, content, with the world spinning beyond their windows. "The night is young and so are we, Dragon, what are we going to do?" To have so much time to themselves was not a sore subject at all. To be still when others traveled was not ,for they had Conlaed's books for company (d)

Conlaed: There was a smile, as he lay his head to her shoulder. He hesitated, before smiled and murmured, "I wish a child, woman....." He tickled her sides. (D)

Breanna: "Oh, is that so dah? You can not make one appear from thin air..or we shall not find it in a well, though you have made great efforts to the matter." She laughed, tickling his sides back before looking into his eyes. "What, you look like you are thinking on other things too, Conlaed." (d)

Conlaed: There was a pause, before there was that faint tint of a blush over his features. There was a clearing of his throat, before he murmured, "I have not....noticed the change that comes over you...." (D)

Breanna: "Conlaed, what is it you are speaking of now, hmm? Are you trying to use white eye for divining again? Last time you did that, all you did was burn the stew in my pot for staring too long at gravy with the good eye." She sighed, then noticed he was blushing as if he were to genteel for what was coming out of his mouth. "The change come ove rme..I thought I spoke in riddles.." She layed with her head looking up at the ceiling. It took a moment, before she deduced how keen her husband was. How attentive to all that she was, and noticed he was right. It had been perhaps a moon, if not more, that such a change was not marked. (d)

Conlaed: There was a sulk, as the great beast said, "I do well divining with my eye!" Well, except for the gravy. But she shouldn't hold that against him! "An' it was just that one time....." Then he said, "Beloved.... it has been a month since the change last came over you...." He lay with her, smiling as he watched. As she gave a very thoughtful study to the ceiling. What would she do, when she realized he was right? (D)

Breanna: "Two, two times. The second time my rainwater barrel paid forefeit. You fell in. It broke. Had to start all over again." She reminded him gently but didn't forget unlike a man that wanted to, trying a hand at even what he called 'house wife tricks.' When she realized he was right she turned her head to him and looked for a long, long time. The length of time seemed an hour before she spoke, but what was an hour but wonderful in her company? She let her lips curl up into a hopeful smile. "Do you think.. vest'acha, finally? Do you think that maybe.." (d)

Conlaed: He was quiet, before he shook his head. There was another sulk, "Twice -- an' ye know tha' be the end o' it!"That was correct. But for the moment, he cuddled with her. There was a hopeful smile, before he said, "......Aye, I dae. T'was nae this long.... the last time...." (D)

Breanna:"Vest'acha.."

It was amazing for the gravy he burned, or the rainwater he spoiled, that at times each knew the other better than they knew themselves. She took his hand, still placing it on her flat, perfect belly before smiling to him in a way that pulled back time as if to bring him back to place, where long ago they once dreamed of the same thing. "You are right..it was not this long before. Conlaed, you wanted a child, no? Perhaps you ..perhaps we will get one this time." It would only be fitting that for love and a man that waited that life would reward them in this manner. "It has been so long that..I forget..what it feels like." (d)

to be continued
History- Breanna andConlead

[Breanna Keelan]

Breanna:"Conlaed, come, will you play cards?" A wife asked her husband to play cards? A gypsy asked a vagabond to play a rake's game at their own supper table in the odd house in Luib. She shuffled the cards painted with dancing girls upon one side, and suites on the other. (d)

Conlaed: There was a smile, as he rose quietly from where had been lounging. There was a cant of his head, "Do you ask me to play cards.... so that you can game with me? Or do you wish to play cards to see if your own talents at diving remain?" (D)

Breanna: "I do not need cards to divine, Conlaed. I do not even need fire, but it works well dah? Water, wine. Come sit with me and entertain your wife." As he would sit down at the table she looked across to one good eye, one bad. Leaning over, she cupped his face. "You not taking care of your scar..Conlaed." She sighed, sitting on the table itself cross legged to examine it (d)

Conlaed:There was an uneasy shift, as she reached out to caress his face. "..... It is long healed," Conlaed said. He stayed sitting, looking up into his wife's eyes. (D)

Breanna: "The winter makes the top of it crack, and the bottom red vest'acha. How come you will not put an ointment on it." She scolded him tenderly taking hold of his face again. The cards lay forgotten, turned up between hearts, spades, and dancing girls (d)

Conlaed: "Does it?" He asked, doing his best to act disinterested. He sighed. There was a weak smile, as he said, "May'ap I perfer your attentions to it more than m'own...." (D)

Breanna:"You can't let it do that.You know it hurts your head.still hurts eye even if you don't see out of it..Conlaed. Why do you let it do that?" She slid down into his lap, such the unusual wife with such odd ways to show caring (d)

Conlaed: For a long while, Conlaed was quiet. He took a deep breath, before quietly letting it out. Then he murmured, "......because it still hurts, and I don't notice...." It wasn't the wound that he meant. (D)

Breanna:The depth of his breath and his silence made her cross her legs before she tilted her head. Hugging her knees to her body, still able to turn in that way, she whispered, "How do you mean, vest'acha? How do you say?" (d)

Conlaed: "I still think of them sometimes," Conlaed said. He wrapped his arms around her, holding his vest'acha close. "Even after all of these years, it aches now nad again.....an' I don't notice." (D)

Breanna: "You do if you think of them, and how I wish you would be able to find peace after so many years Conlaed....(d)

Conlaed: There was a smile, "I find more peace then I ever thought I would, vest'acha, in your arms and holding you close." There was a soft sigh, a murmuring, "I just have but a long memory...." (D)

Breanna:"But you still need to take care of this...of you Conlaed." She wrapped her arms around him, bringing his head to her breasts for comfort. "My memory is long too, but if we follow the wrong paths in it, we will only hurt. No one will hurt us here like that, dah? No one" Or so she wanted to believe as the wind played in the chimes at their door. It made the ones in their back archway between home and press rooms dance. No one would burn them. No one would hurt, or marr Still did dreams come in winter? She sighed softly, suddenly losing the interest for cards (d)

ConlaedThere was a soft smile, as he gave a gentle poke to her side. "Tend to your husband....an' we shall go afore the fire an' see how warm our quilts are." He canted his head, smiling. If the memories came worse in winter, it was better to forge new ones. (D)

Breanna:"Dah.." She agreed. Sliding off of the table, she went to fetch a bowl of water and a little salve. Water to clean, salve to heal. But what ever would? Did he notice how she lingered at the water basin..how her own optimism shrank as in the ripples she saw the images of years agone? She jumped, the bowl shattered. She scolded herself as she knelt down to pick up the pieces (d)

Conlaed: The great beast could not help but smile softly. He rose, going to help his wife. He picked up the broekn shards of glass gently, doing what he could to help. "Didja hurt yourself?" (D)

Breanna: "No vest'acha, not anything on my body. I just remembered.your eye...my scars, your scars. for a moment, only a moment. Mm.." She put some of her shards into the refuse pile in a bucket by the fire.. She smiled at him. "I will still fix it for you. I don't want to see you hurt." (d)

The same things we master control us, from time to time,
to be contined..most certainly

[Breanna Keelan]

Conlaed: What would outsiders make of it, if they had been allowed to see the bookbinder and his wife being so gentle with one another? There was the cool feeling of a cloth against Conlaed's scar, as Breanna lightly tended it with her special salves. The eye beneath the closed lid moved now and again, seeming in response to her touch. (D)

Breanna: They would hardly beleive that those who threw about fire with no care for how it hurt, danced with the element as if to be one with it. "Vest'acha.." the wife of the bookbinder, prince of fire eaters, had no fire in her hand. Water was cool on the cloth, the salves soothing. (d)

Breanna:Her husband designed to smile, even if it was a small bit. "I know," he murmured, "I know.... I should have let you tend to it sooner...." (D)

Breanna: "Dah..you should have." She smiled at him, looking into the good eye. To her, each one was good. To her, it mattered little that one was sightless to the things around them for he would not be blind even if both eyes were undone. "There now." Pulling the cloth away she blowed to seal the work with a wind blown kiss. In the township of Luib, the world was washed of snow in exchange for the fall of rain. (d)

Conlaed: There was a soft smile, a lovely thing to seen on his features. And just as lovely to be seen on hers! He smiled, sliding his arms around her waist, as he held her close. Evenutally, he murmured, "We have all we desire, dah?" (D)

Breanna: Her lovliness could be attributed to many things. Country Clare gave the Irish an advantage by way of looks. Exotic travelers took what was Celt made and threw in the allure of ancient sand dynasties that moved upward into the wild mountains. She laughed for no reason, drawing in to him. "Dah, we do. We will only draw more of what we seek. Conlaed." She wrapped her arms around him as she watched the rain.Through the slits on the wood shutter, it seemed to be pounding. "I had a dream..about them. There was a fire in the hearth of one of our neighbors. It crept into my mind, and then I rested. While I rested, it happened again. Like it were yesterday." (d)


And I see them..everywhere. In all things. Some depictions are more horrific than others.

To continue, most certainly