Ears twitch slightly at the low rustle of the leaves that seem to dance at his feet. The cool breeze has him pausing to enjoy it's slight caress at it ruffles his fur, breathing in the wild of the peaks. He can almost taste the grasp of winter that seems to chase so quickly at autumn's heels. Perhaps it all seem intensified in the cover of night, the lack of warmth and light leaving the world around him to appear almost surreal. Yet not even this could keep him from something his eyes sought more. As once more his feet begin to move, up the ascent that would bring him closer to the one that had been there since the beginning. Each step bringing his once steady heart beat to flutter and pause as if trying to escape the confines of his chest. This was something that seemed to occur each time he made his way back, the feeling of lightness and bliss. For a time he had been confused, if not terrified by these feelings he had never experienced before. Now he finds a comfort in it unlike anything he has ever known.
Never before had he imagined having this, so content with a violent life that he had submerged himself in. Surrounded by fangs and flesh, greed and glory, on a throne he had built from the fallen. No one to question him, no one to reject him. Alone. Utterly alone in a mad world. For years he had enjoyed that life, pushing out his hatred on all that he knew over someone he cared for until it no longer was about revenge but about something so much more sinister. He lost himself, gave in and fell from that pedestal that his mother put him on. Looking back he does not even recognize his memories, the guilt of his sins worn upon his body. Forever scarred by a life he had once lived, to remember all those he had harmed. He is not proud of his past, yet it is a part of him. A dark chapter in his life that now no longer exists. For that all changed, following his sister had saved him but it was another that made him feel again. He desired the change but she allowed it to flourish and grow, grow into something so much more.
Daenerys. Just the thought of her name has his skin tingling in anticipation, a craving he could never tire of. Meeting her had paved the way to a future he desired and it all started with the rain. So sheltered by his violence he had not known how to interact with her, stuttering and tripping his way to her. It was the first time he had just stood beside another. No intent to harm but just enjoy the comfort of another. Her warmth in the forefront of his mind as they stood against the storm. Fearing for her, it was different. He had never feared for another before aside from his mother. He remembers how close they had come, it is a memory he cherishes. And despite knowing he did not deserve such a connection to another, he could not stop the attachment he formed with her that day. After all it was what paved it's way into what it has become now.
A friend. Even after learning she was a queen of the peaks, he could not fault her on her title. She was unlike any queen he had met, kind, generous, loyal, and caring. It was all so new to him, drawing him in. It was when he had reunited with Everlyse, facing her wrath as she took it from his flesh that he retreated to the only place he knew seemed safe. Bleeding at her borders, tainting her snow in red. He just wanted her presence, wanted to be comforted by another in his state and he was not prepared for the rage he faced when she met him at her borders. Yet for once it was not directed towards him but to the one who harmed him. It was the first time he witnessed another who cared about him, for him. It was odd, he remembers his mother caring for him yet seeing it from another had his heart skipping a beat. When she had brought him into Spirane, he could never have been prepared for everything that had followed after. That was just the beginning and there was still no end in sight.
He had witnessed the birth of her children, never questioning who had fathered them; it did not matter, he was there for her when he was not. Days coming and going, watching them grow. Staying close should she need something, it felt amazing that she trusted him enough to rely on him in such a state. He had never been responsible for another before, there were times were he doubted his presence among them. For he was truly nothing more than an outsider, yet she never dismissed him; allowing him to stay despite it all. That is when things started to change, somewhere along the way lines became blurred and his need for her begin to grow. The nightmare that had taken him, making him think his past had come back and taken her from him. It was a fear that left him paralyzed, to think he lost her by the same teeth that he lost his mother to. The rage that followed was a burning hot force that made his skin feel as if it was boiling. As if his some beast would rip through his flesh and leave nothing but a monster in the aftermath. It was then he knew that the attachment that had formed from him to her was so much more than what he had ever thought it could be. After she has soothed him, held him and chased his demons away he all but spilled his sins at her feet. How could he not? He owed her a reason to what had just happened, needed her to know and yet fearful what she would do with him after. In her embrace he told her everything. Yet despite it all she had not lashed out at him, rejected him. If anything she seemed to pull him closer and the invisible tether that pulled him to her seemed to get just that much stronger.
From there everything seemed to shift, his time spent more and more in her company and the doubt of being there was easing. It was when Everlyse had arrived among the mountains had things taken a step further. She had offered him the title of bloodrider; someone she kept close, to protect her with his life. Even without her offering he would have done it all on his own, but knowing that she had seen that within him warmed him further. Accepting that had been a change all itself. Yet perhaps in someway him accepting that somehow made her his as well. For when they had come upon Everlyse and recognition of just who she was hit her, the tension in the air was so thick one could hardly breathe. His sister had thankfully directed her anger towards him, spit her rage in his face at how he had chosen Daenerys over her. He could do nothing but remain silent, his attempts at trying to mend their broken relationship would fall upon deaf ears in her anger. They had parted ways, and even though the silver queen knew just who she was she still offered her shelter in her keep. Whether it was for him or for the male at his sisters side he couldn't have been more thankful for her decree.
Every day that passed was a blessing. From the gentle caresses in passing or idly. He had come to crave her warmth and touch, so much more. It had been building since they met, for there was something in her touch that provoked the heart in his chest. Every word spoken between them was a gift. All the confusion of his feelings soon were beginning to come to light and understanding yet still he was silent, content to just have her. Forever settling with what he had now than to want more. All the greed from his past could not compete with her presence. She was a light his darkness could not contain, so he hoped that for now and always she would keep him and he would watch her from afar. Desiring nothing more than her happiness.
And then one day, she brought him to the peak. The same peak her ancestors once held. It was her special place, to think she had shared that with him done nothing but increase his hope of more. Yet he still said nothing. Listening to her story of a life before him. Revealing her past much like he had done with her. Even though hers was not filled with gore and malice, there was still pain. A pain that made his fury ignite, the fuel named Leonidas. He had hung on her every words from her grandparents to her parents, it was not until her came into the story had he felt such anger towards another. For here was another that once held her in his ungrateful hands, abused what she offered and abandoned her over and over again. He had tried to contain his anger at this, yet he could not stop the hair along his spine from bristling nor the growl that rolled that thunder from his lips. It was then the truth of who had fathered her children had come to light. To think even after all that she had held onto to him, even saving him that he would give her children only to leave again. Though he is thankful for her children, adores them - he cannot help but want to harm the very creature that helped create them. A sliver of doubt wedging itself into his desires, for what if she was waiting for him to return? Could he step aside? Did his title give him right to protect her from him?
He had been confused after that, doubt halting whatever was flourishing within him yet even with that knowledge he could not stop feeling it. He seen her in no different light, he was no fool to think no one had not cared for her before. After all there was Meryl, as he had discovered was something of an imprint; the other half of her soul. Envy of the male was there, though he felt guilty over it. After meeting the male he had grown to like him, he made Daenerys happy and that was something he could not find fault in. But to know that her soul was taken and her heart once belonged to another, did that leave any chance for him? Meryl may own her soul but it did not make her heart any less obtainable, even if another had so easily discarded it. Would she even give it to him? Even when she already held his unknowingly?
Love. After all that had happened between them, it seemed to hit him with a swift precision in his chest. Leaving a lingering ache. He loved her, that was what all those feelings were growing into. Every touch, breath, word shared was bringing him to love her. He had never truly loved another, never thought it possible. Yet here he was, head over heels in love with his best friend, his queen. It was not a shock, perhaps more like a light bulb going off. The ease of her presence and their time together had paved the way to now. Every moment together, leading to this conclusion. His heart belonged to her, beat for her. No longer would he be silent, this night he would reveal it. Even if she choose not to return it; she would at least know of his feelings. No matter what may come after, he would always be here for her.
The shaky breath that escapes him as his body and feet tremble in nervousness. Orange eyes that seem to burn beneath the moonlight seek the entrance to her den as he moves with a purpose. To think it had all come to this, a day shared with a stranger in a storm. As he stands before the mouth of the den, his lungs absorbing her scent as it envelops his lungs in a soothing caress. Ears twisting and turning at the noise within knowing she had yet to turn in for the night. His heart roaring in his chest, trying it's best to escape and run to her as he sighs deeply before taking that step that brings him within. Immediately does his eyes seek her, a warm smile pulling at his lips as the scars covering his face seem to tighten. As he pauses not far within, yet wanting nothing more than to be at her side. He needed this without the protection of her warmth, this was his bravery now.
"Daenerys.." He breathes her name out, the affection within it is not lost to him. As he takes a breath,
"I need to tell you something..." There is a light in his eyes that has not dimmed since finding her nor would it ever. As he watches her with a devotion he had not openly done before. Waiting for those dark and warm eyes to meet him head on, only then would he bring his secret to life.
jericho
THE BLOODRIDER OF SPIRANE