A Life Worth Living

Narisa was somewhat surprised to see Calaren's confidence wane. He was normally so positive and confident and seeing him become worried about meeting her grandparents caused her to reach out and take his hand.

"Of course they will like you," she told him honestly. "How could they not? You are a hero...you saved my life and my grandfather likes anyone who is good with horses. They...they just can't know that we are sleeping together. My grandfather won't take that well. He's very protective of the women in this family. I heard he nearly killed King Elessar when he found out that he had married aunt Nauriel without his knowledge. Although, to be fair, they had been engaged for over 10 years."

Calaren accepted her touch and her encouragement which was really all that he had needed. They spoke of other things, their house, children and of even having a dog or two. Talking of the future always seemed to
Make Calaren happy. Especially knowing that Narisa was in it all. When the sun began to dip low once more It was he that time to select a suitable area to make their camp. He unhitched the horses and helped Narisa erect their tent. For supper he had salted fish and potatoes which he would roast over the fire even though it was Narisa’s turn to cook. In turn Narisa collected more wood and built the fire while he set out their things in their tent. 

The fish was actually pretty tasty and Narisa seemed to have just as much of an appetite as he had after riding all day. He washed up the dishes after and even made presence of a plum port wine that he loved and served it to her in a small, crystal glass by the fire. It was quite strong but sweet to the pallet and seemed to settle well after their meal. 

Watching her as he leaned back to relax Calaren liked the way her eyes looked in the firelight. “You are so beautiful Narisa,” he said as if it were just a known fact.

Narisa was happy thinking of their future together. She knew that they would be able to tackle anything that came their way as long as they were together. They would not just be husband and wife, but a team and she planned to work along side him with the horses. She did not want to live in a big house. She wanted something small and simple, but with a few of the rolling hills.

With thoughts of their house floating through her mind, they stopped for the evening and began to make camp. Narisa helped to put up the tent and then collected fire wood while Calaren put out the rest of their things. They got the fire going and Narisa went to collect more wood while he cooked their meal. Together, they sat by the fire and ate their dinner, which Narisa devoured rather quickly as she was quite hungry after the long day of riding. Afterwards, she helped to clean the dishes and then Calaren brought out a bottle of plum port and two crystal glasses. Narisa smiled as she accepted a glass and took a small sip. It was strong, but good and Narisa liked the relaxing effect it had upon her. She looked into the fire as it popped and crackled, letting her worries slip away. At Calaren's comment she blushed and smiled and looked over at him.

"If you keep saying such things my face will be a permanent shade of red."

He drank all that was in his cup and then refilled it.he offered more to Narisa and topped her cup off before he replaced the cork and set the bottle down. “Then I think you shall be blushing a lot,” he said as he took another sip. “I think I will miss traveling like this. Just you and I and the horses,” Calaren added. And he would. There was so much he still didn't know about her but also so much that he did. He paused as he watched her sip the wine and he smiled as if he knew something she did not.

“I left some water for washing in the tent. Perhaps you’d like a little help getting to the places you can’t reach,” he said not looking at her. Obviously the strong wine flavored with plum brandy had emboldened him and he leaned toward her and looked deeply into her eyes. “I can't wait to touch you again,” he whispered and his eyes shifted down to just where he wanted to touch her before he brought them up again. If this would be the last night for a little while that he would have with her he intended to make the most of it for certain sure.

Narisa knew that she shouldn't drink very much, but she accepted a refill on her cup before Calaren recorked the bottle and put it away. She looked over at him and nodded when he commented that he would miss traveling like this. She would as well. It was wonderful traveling just with him, but perhaps in a few years once they got things settled they would be able to travel back to Edoras for a short visit.

She took another small sip of her wine and then felt Calaren's eyes upon her. Glancing over at him she could see him smiling at her with a little twinkle in his eye. When he then mentioned the water he had left for washing she knew why he was smiling and she began to smile as well.

"Well...we have been traveling for a few days now and we wouldn't want to arrive in Gehenna dirty..."

Calaren took his time as he slowly and deliberately washed her body. Each stroke of his hand was a sensual gesture to her of how much he loved and desired her. He let her wash him as well and after they made love to one another until they fell asleep once more into each other's arms…

Not long after they started off again the next morning they finally did run into people. Carts filled with goods and those on horses or on foot leading sheep. In the distance Gehenna shone like a beacon in the sunlight. It was now surrounded by a wall made of stone and covered in a smooth, white plaster. Bluffs of dark smoke billowed out of chimneys and the noise and bustle of many people came to their ears. Gehenna was still quite small in size but the quaint little village was more like a small town now than a village.

The large grey gates were wide open and guards were posted with hardened leather armor, shields and spears. They watched those who left and welcomed those who passed into the village. Men and women in the same armor walked along the walls too with bows in their hands. “Quite well armed for a village,” Calaren remarked as they passed through the gates. Conleth believed in a well trained militia. Gehenna was known for dealing with its own problems and due to its recent changes, the town was no longer an easy mark for raiders and bandits.

The morning sun was shining brightly in the sky over the village of Gehenna. Already the entire village was bustling with life as people tended to their livestock and fields. It was Sunday and that also meant that the market was open with people selling their goods. Some were locals from Gehenna and others traveled there. Serethiel's eyes scanned the many stalls as she walked with Conleth through the market. Some new spices from the east caught her eye and she stopped to smell them as the hawker explained to her what they each could be used for. Serethiel held them for Conleth to smell but suddenly something else caught her eye...no someone. Looking up she spotted the distinct form of her grand-daughter Narisa. It had been close to four years since Narisa had last come to Gehenna and since that time she had matured into the absolutely beautiful woman who walked towards her. Serethiel was shocked at how much she looked like her mother, Lindariel. It was as if time had reversed and it was truly her youngest daughter who smiled as she wrapped her arms around her. Serethiel smiled and hugged her back. She pulled back and looked at her (and took note of the man, who was clearly a soldier, standing a few feet back). Narisa then smiled and hugged her grandfather tightly and kissed his cheek, greeting him in Elvish.

"My dear Narisa. We weren't expecting you," Serethiel said, though happy to see her.

Narisa smiled and nodded. "I know. I would have written first, but everything happened rather quickly..."

A new thread