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A song floats around Halsin, a song just for him and the forest morning. He closes his eyes to listen, as it would only be kind to do, as it’s a song he requested.
As the dawn breaks
Over roof slates
Hope hung on every washing line
Most of his lovers and partners over his centuries of life had been as diverse as there were animals. But generally they were nothing like her. They were lithe like runners, the broad shoulders of swimmers, the muscles of a fighter and even corded mountains like himself. Variations of the typical hero body, or … villain… a body trained for battle, or fighting or more. Some dipped in the center and swelled at the top, some flat and hard. But it had been so rare he had one so soft. Halsin had watched her over their journey, bright and warm, full of life and song, a bard. A perfect summer day in the midst of such hard times. And she was here, with him, her dark hair waved and curled down past her shoulders, like roots of a tree splayed out on the ground beneath her. How he loved when she didn’t put it in a bun… How undone she looked when it was down, for he had seen her keep those curls always up and tamed away. “So hard to take care of when traveling.” She had said, when the Archdruid asked her once. That night the bard had let him braid her hair back around the campfire after she had gotten her chance at a river bath. Outside of a pat on the shoulder and a protective touch, it was the first time he had really gotten to touch her. Finger tips brushing her neck as he had gathered her hair, her sitting almost flush to him, his thighs touching hers from where she sat between them.
As your heart aches
Over life’s fate
I know we never had much time
Her skin was light olive, dappled from the sun, he could count her moles and freckles, a scar or two. Constellations of stories across her body. There was a mole underneath her ear, next to the small bruise that he had left on her neck that night, and two between her shoulder blades, like suns among a shower of freckled stars. She also had the smooth shiny lines of her stretch marks that appeared in her softest of places. Halsin has seen those places now, and his thumb traced over one near her waist as his head laid on her naked stomach. He remembered earlier in the night, the slight unsureness she had in his focus on them, but those faded under his praise and fondness. There was also a scar there, near her hip, a story not ready to be told, almost hidden among the striping of her marks, another two among her ankles. Some scars are more recent, from current battles, stories he already knew, for he had been there, and some he had the pleasure to heal.
For us to give
We did
There’s something in those deep blue eyes
Halsin remembered watching her turn down advance after advance at the tiefling party. Even after a few drinks, she couldn’t be swayed by anyone, not even the wordsmith Astarion. She had confided in Halsin, later, that she thought that they’d hate being with her. Her last few lovers, if he dared to call them that, had been unkind, selfish, and memorable in a way that would tinge all her future attempts to be with someone in a haze of darkness. Her confidence in her musical ability was great in comparison to the confidence in her own self. Words cut to the quick as easily as a blade. He soothed those worries with gentle kisses and touches, time and trust, assurance and adoration. Kind words of a friend, a lover and healer.
As the light creeps over houses
And the slates are darkened by the rain
In the morning search for meaning,
I hear a songbirds melody
The song still floated around them, her voice weaving through the sun beams trying to break through the morning haze. He rested his chin on her bare belly looking up at her. Right now, she was threading her fingers through his hair, humming softly letting her fingertips linger on the ends of strands, over beads and braids, before letting them fall and starting again. The Druid had promised to keep her warm under the stars, and he had, and continued to be draped over her through the night. If this is what waking up next to her would be like, he felt torn, between keeping these quiet gentle moments to himself and letting her share them with others, should she ever want to. She deserved whatever she wanted. The morning sun caught her hair, illuminating the flower and leaves tangled in them, part intentional, mostly situational, a crown for a goddess. Built like a goddess too. He thought as a hum buzzed in his chest.
I hear a songbirds melody
And she’s singing just for me
He took her hand when it passed by to run through his hair again and kissed the palm of her hand. The druid felt her happy thrum as she paused her singing and cupped his cheek, thumb brushing over the red markings of his tattoos. Her fingers trailed up under his chin, pulling him up her body wordlessly, easily. He felt her shift under him as her arms moved to encircle his neck. “I hear a songbird's melody~” She sang as he drew his face down to hers.
“And she’s singing just for me…” He finished for her before pressing his lips to hers, feeling her smile before they even touched. “I don’t know how you knew that song, it’s one of my favorites.” Halsin said with a soft chuckle. Then he kissed her cheeks, above her eyes and the top of her head. Then he sighed before carefully resting his weight on her. She liked the pressure, he was hesitant at first, but she had told him, it was comforting, made her feel safer. He tucked his head into her neck and breathed in. She smelled of dirt, dew, and roses, like the bloom of life. “We should head back to camp soon.” He said against her neck, nuzzling as she gave a breathy laugh.
“They’ll survive a little longer without us.” She mused her calloused fingertips, about the only rough thing about her, ran down his back. Halsin closed his eyes a moment as they moved over old scars and thick muscle, tense still. Her fingers drew back up, then he felt the light pressure of knuckles against his spine. He gave a light huff and a stifled sound of releasing stress. Even that little bit made him want to melt into her.
“My sweetest nectar, my little songbird.” Halsin’s voice was just almost a whisper, he surprised himself thinking almost a needy sound. “Careful, I might just keep you forever.” Halsin lifted his head, golden gaze looking down at her.
“You might just.” She said, soft and hitched. His gaze caught her to flush from ear to ear and cheek to chest. He rested his forehead on hers and closed his eyes for a moment.
“Careful…” He started before her lips silenced his, a long lazy kiss, soft and perfect. He kept his eyes closed a moment after, savoring it. It was all so soft.
“Halsin.” His name, a melody from her lips. He felt his own smile now, it felt a bit goofy and he opened his eyes just as she bumped her nose against his, drawing him back down into a kiss. They laid in the forest until dawn fully broke, and the sky’s colors moved from sunrise to morning. Till the song birds sang their own song to start the day, soaking in every moment they could before they’d be fully missed.