Sunset Meadows

Her smile dimmed as she walked toward the water's edge. “I'm from Verri. It... was destroyed when I was younger.... I am not sure if you were told anything about the quest that was declared on the scroll that your name went onto... But... That is where those adventurers are headed... The place where I came from. I haven't been back there in many years. My father was King Ivor.” Camilla knelt, and despite the pain in her wrist, she cupped her hands around a tulip after releasing the reins, and she took several breaths of the scent. She sighed afterwords and looked down into the cup it formed, before glancing back toward him with a saddened smile.

“Do you think so?” She decided to take a rest, suddenly feeling like it was needed. She hadn't stopped since she had left the town! She lay back in a bed of flowers, and her fingers moved in a small dance. It was as if the flowers responded, for they seemed to lean closer to her. Her fingers then stroked idly over some velvety soft petals, and her eyes closed. Then she said, “Sit down with me, Evrand, and I will tell you all about Verri.”

First, she told him the same story as she told his father... Which took less time than the last time because it seemed easier to speak of after getting the burden off her chest the first time. Then she went on to some good memories... “I remember how beautiful the summer was.... I'd climb my way to the highest spot I could find... On top of this cliff where a very beautiful waterfall was... And I remember looking toward the west and seeing the turrets of my castle in the distance, surrounded by bright greens and the reds from the roses. One day, I thought it would be all mine and I would be the fairest monarch in all the world...” She opened her eyes to realize the sun had finished setting and there were thousands of stars, blanketing the sky.

“Aye... The last two kingdoms...” she said softly. “And one of them was mine. What's left still rightfully belongs to me, but even if it was all gone? It would be mine forever. In here.” She touched the place where her heart was. And then he pulled out her ring. “Oh! You've found it!” She gasped, and then gently took it and held it to her. “I thought it was gone forever... Thank you.” And with that, she moved in to do something uncharacteristic... She embraced him, if he did not stop her. After all, he had just given Verri back to her in the form of a ring.

Somehow, time was suspended for awhile. Camilla had forgotten all about the fact that they were supposed to be going back to meet with the king. Instead, they stayed where they were at. She would watch the night sky with him, and somehow her head would end up on his shoulder. Her smile had never been so present on her face. Then she would catch herself, and her cheeks would pinken, and she would straighten her head up and rub the back of her neck... Only for it to repeat a few times. She didn't know how long their silence went on, but she finally said, very softly, “Do you think they are wondering where we're at? I don't want to go yet.” No, not when her eyes started to move to his lips and she was imagining what it would feel like to have her first kiss ever. But she never voiced that thought aloud, nor did she act upon the impulse! He'd have to make that move if it would ever happen.

She blinked at the direction of her thoughts and cleared her throat. Good grief! She was supposed to be stoic and...somehow she wasn't around him. 

The next morning, after plenty of sleep....

Camilla was awake before Evrand, and she moved to rub the horses down until their coats were shiny and pretty again. After this, she moved over to the ocean, and laughed softly as she plunged her bare feet into the cool waters. She was feeling... Strange. Camilla, the stoic? Had smiled for a man? A Prince? Yes, yes she had. She leaned down to cup her hands into the water, ignoring the pain of her sprained wrist, and began to splash like a playful young miss. It had been such a long time since she had played in the sea... Why, it was like being a child again!

When she was through dancing with the waves, she moved to pick some flowers, flipping back into them as she hummed with her ruined voice, and weaving blooms dreamily into a crown. Now, if he saw any of this and tried to tell anyone? She would probably deny it ever happened!

She was quietly waiting for the darkness to come. As the sun dipped below the horizon and the birds ceased their noise for the night, she stalked her prey. She eased from the shadows like a whisper on the wind, fixated on that lone bandit whilst her tongue licked at one of her sharp canines.

Pilar was hungry. She needed to taste the coppery vitae that ran through the veins of that filthy mortal. The corners of her lips did lift into the smile of seduction as she neared Warden, who looked as if he was up to no good. Rounded hips swayed with every slow step she took, as if she walked the walk for his eyes alone. It was a walk meant to entice, perhaps even entrance the man, for her beauty was remarkable. Look at me, she willed without a word spoken.

The scent of something sweet and cloying would drift in his direction, and if he had not yet noticed that not five yards from him, she stood? Well, then he was going to make it that much easier for her to sink her teeth into the tender flesh of his neck and drain him of every last drop of blood.

So... hungry.

Oh, she had wanted him to see her... It was more fun to play first with one's prey before going in for the kill. "Why are you out here all by yourself? Isn't that dangerous?" But then again, he could counter with the same thing to her. I mean, here was a beautiful woman, circling round him... alone but for him. And she seemed not to care! She reached out to tap his chin very gently with the tip of her long, tapered index finger. If he didn't stop her. And if he let her touch her, she would gently drag that finger down to the wall of his chest, "You're so brave..." she went on, playing on a man's vanity,.. Her voice was a soft, low and silky purr toward him, "So rugged and strong."

"I am just lonely..." she pouted. "Will you keep me company? I got lost in the woods." It was a lie, of course, but he need not know that. She sighed softly, "You would hurt an unarmed woman who simply wants your company?" Another lie, her own blades were out of sight for the moment.

"Aye... I will walk with you... If you promise not to use that blade on me." She let her long lashes sweep down over the ice blue of her eyes, and lift fingers gently to finger the jewels at her throat. If he was a theif like she thought, she had a feeling his interest would be on that and procuring it for himself. But for now, she would play his little game. In fact, she admired his tenacity enough to not kill him. Drink of his blood, perhaps, but he would make a very... useful minion. Loving this little game of cat and mouse, she let him think he was the cat for now.