Afternoon Picnic

Posted on 07 Oct 2022 @ 2:04am by Mage Kalian Winter & Warrior Rhiannon Cadash

2,036 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Hall of the Phantom Shadow
Location: Raven Roost Tavern
Timeline: Bloomingtide 3rd, afternoon

Rhi stood outside of the Raven Roost Tavern. This was something that Rhi had never felt before. Fear. Well this kind of fear. She had faced down things that others would consider way more frightening than this. Yet for Rhiannon Crimsonheart Cadash, this fear was not one she had ever felt before.

So there she stood, outside of the Raven Roost Tavern, picnic basket in hand as patrons passed her by. She had spent all morning cooking this meal. It starts with chilled cook shrimp with a red sauce. Next a summer berry salad loaded with spinach, fresh berries, candied walnuts and feta cheese all tossed in a light white balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Then a slow roasted herb encrusted lean boar sliced thin. With and Aus Jus sauce and asparagus. Followed by what she called a Death by Chocolate cake made with milk, dark and liquor chocolate. But would he like it.

After about five minutes of standing outside she summoned up the courage and made her way inside. She took a few steps inside and again stopped. Picnic basket in front of her she looked around to see if Kalian was there.

Tessa, Kalian's sister, approached Rhiannon with a wide grin, drying her hands on a dishcloth perched on her shoulder. Her brother had been spending far more time than he usually did on his appearance, and had informed her that he would be away all afternoon and evening. Fortunately, their elven server Dilana had come in early. Tessa spoke louder than truly necessary, so that Kalian would hear her. "Rhiannon, how lovely to see you. Kalian will be down in just a moment."

Rhiannon took a second to react to Tessa, she looked at Tessa and gave her a nervous smile. "It is good to see you as well." Giving Tessa a nod acknowledging that Kalian would be down in a moment.

"Maferarth's balls!," Kalian muttered when he heard Tessa. He'd intended to wait for Rhiannon downstairs, but then he'd decided to change after his hair – damp from his bath – had dripped on his shirt. And he was still trying to put his room back in order now that the Summerday festival was over, since he'd been relegated to the floor at his sister's house while she rented out his room in the tavern to the potion-master. It still smelled like herbs, though not in a completely awful way.

Kalian ran down the stairs and came to a full stop when he saw Rhiannon. She was wearing a form-fitting leather number that hugged her curves and left little to the imagination. And his imagination had been active overtime. "Wow," he gasped, and made a conscious effort to close his mouth, then repeated, "Wow. Rhi, you look absolutely amazing."

At Kalian's compliment Rhi looked down towards her feet as one turned in slightly, her cheeks turning a bright red. She has been complimented before, even by Kalian, though this is a bit different. She had been falling for this man and she knew it. This was new territory for her. After a moment she looks up and smiles. Warm, caring with just a hint of mischief. Her crimson eyes shown with the budding feelings of love. "Thank you. You look very handsome Kalian." As calm as her voice was both Kalian and Tessa could hear that touch of nervousness. "I made....Are you ready to go?"

"Thank you, my lady." Kalian dropped to one knee and formally kissed Rhiannon's hand, then got to his feet and bowed. "It will be an honor to accompany you… anywhere." Rhiannon seemed to be as nervous as he was. Kalian had never dated a dwarf before, and he'd been more cautious and taken his time with... certain aspects. Plus, he really didn't want to screw this up.

Chuckling, Tessa took the dishcloth from her shoulder and snapped it at Kalian's backside, much as she had frequently done when they were children. "Go. Have fun you two."

Rhi seemed to relax a little when she saw Tessa snap the dishcloth at Kalian. A playful grin crossed her face as she looked to Kalian. "You heard you sister. Let's go have some fun." She reached out for his hand.

Kalian took Rhiannon's hand and guided her to the door, holding it open. "May I carry that basket for you?" He knew quite well that she was stronger than him, but offering was the chivalrous thing to do.

Rhiannon felt Kalians hand takes hers, it brought a sense of excitement. She looked up warm smile and eyes a glow. She handed Malian the basket, "Thank you."

"Do you have someplace in mind for us to go?" asked Kalian. "There are some places around Jader with lovely views."

With all Rhiannon had done to prepare for this picnic she had not thought of a place to have it. The look of nervousness returned. "Damn. I.......I hadn't thought of it. I was so focused on making it.....I'm sorry." Her tone was one of frustration with herself.

"Oh Rhi, no need to be sorry." Kalian paused to lean down and give her a brief, sweet kiss. "It is a bit of an uphill walk, but if we follow the road up through hightown and go past Lady Seryl's mansion, there's a lovely little clearing in the wooded area on the bluff, with a view of the harbor." It was also, Kalian thought, reasonably secluded.

The kiss was so sweet that Rhi did not want it to stop. The shivers that ran through her when their lips touched, she knew she was alive. It took her a moment to take in what Kalian had just said. "Uphill, through hightstown, lovely clearing. That sounds wonderful." She held his hand as they walked.

As they made their leisurely way past the fancy houses of hightown, Kalian was well aware that Rhiannon was a successful businesswoman, and well respected. And he… was basically a tavern server. "How is your mother? Is she still, uh… okay with you spending time with me?"

Rhi looked up at Kalian when he asked his questions and smiled. "She is fine. She is a stern as ever buy good. As for how she feels about you spending time with me. (long pause then a giggle) She is wondering when you will ask her for my hand." With that she stopped in the middle of hightown, looked up at him. "Now, the question I have, is your family ok with me spending time with you?"

Jessamir was wondering when he would ask for Rhi's hand? Kalian blinked, uncertain how to respond. Was that what Rhiannon wanted? They'd known each other for - he counted back - since Cloudreach 17th, less than three weeks, although it seemed like more than a year. So far, the two of them hadn't done much more than kiss, though Maker's Breath, he really wanted to, and he thought she did too.

"Are you kidding? Tessa, Ben, Iris, and my father… they all like you. You're smart, and capable, and independent. And, well, they can see you make me happy." Kalian took her hand and continued their walk up the hill.

They had almost reached the grounds of Lady Seryl's estate, and Kalian led Rhiannon along a trail that veered off into the woods. It was quiet here, the trees thick enough that the sun overhead was obscured. Kalian spoke in a soft, low voice. "It's been a while since I walked this path." The last few times he'd come up here, it had been as a bird.

Up ahead, the trees thinned out, and the trail opened upon a wide clearing carpeted by soft moss and grass. At the other side of the clearing was open space, the Jader harbor spread out below them. "Beware the drop-off, it's a shear cliff, but the view is magnificent."

Rhi smiled when Kalian told her that his family liked her. This made her happy. As they started to walk again Rhi listened as Kalian talked about it being a while since he had been to the clearing.

As the path opened up she could see why Kalian would come up here. It was beautiful. She made her way to the edge of the clearing and looked over the harbor. She spotted the Nights Kiss below and grinned. She caught the faint smell of the sea. She turned back and made her way to Kalian. "It is beautiful." She looked up at the man who was definitely stealing her heart. "Lets eat so we can enjoy the rest of the day here." She reached for the picnic basket.

"It is beautiful. Almost as beautiful as you are," said Kalian, gazing down at her. "The view here is similar to what I see when I fly over Jader." He looked behind him, reflexively, to assure himself they were alone. It was hard to get used to, speaking openly about being an apostate to someone who was not also an apostate, and yet accepted that he was. Kalian opened the basket to find a blanket on top. He spread it out on the soft grass, then knelt behind Rhiannon, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck beneath her ear. "I might want to start with dessert," he whispered playfully.

Rhi grinned. "I have something special for dessert. But it is for after lunch." Mischief and something more could be heard in her voice.

After lunch Rhi leaned up against Kalian feeling his arms around her. Her voice warm, soft, "Thank you for bringing me here." She shifted to look up at him. Her body fitting in just right. Her crimson red eyes blinked slowly as she tilted her head. "Did me telling you that my mother wants to know when you are going to ask for my hand, scare you?"

Kalian didn't let go but pulled back just enough to move in front of her and look into her eyes. "Not scared, exactly. It's just that... things are complicated, and we haven't known each other for very long. And my life as an apostate is uncertain. I might have to run away from the Templar order at any time. And, well, you're a dwarf and I'm a human." His gaze raked over her body, robust and enticingly curvy, but also compact in a way that worried him. "I've never been intimate with a dwarf before. I don't know if, uh… that is, I've heard dwarves only couple with other dwarves."

Rhi looked into Kalian's eyes. Hers shown with warmth and caring. "Yes we have only known each other for a short time. So you need not worry about my mother. I want to take things as we are now. Marriage is not what I am looking for. It least not at this time." She moved her hand so that she could trace his jaw line. "You being an apostate is of no worry to me. Yes there are the Templars, which we can handle if needs be." She snuggles closer, shifting so that her face was only inches away from his. "And if you had to run, just head to the Nights Kiss. They know better than to stop onboard my ship." Reaching up to run her fingers through his hair. "As for dwarfs only coupling with other dwarfs, that is not true." She leans in closer to whisper in his ear. "So not true." Her lips brushing his ear before she pushed him down on the blanket. Her hair hanging loose framing her face as she leaned down and gave Kalian a very passionate kiss. Only breaking to whisper, her voice filled with passion and wanting, "It is time for dessert."

"Rhiannon," murmured Kalian huskily, his voice full of emotion. He returned her kiss with equal passion. Everything he had imagined about what was under those tight leathers she wore paled in comparison with the reality, just as all of his fears about their relative sizes were quelled. He and Rhiannon fit together in the best possible way, and Kalian was besotted by her.

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