there was no reason to believe he'd come to harm her, to wish or will misdeeds upon her. there was nothing rooted in her heart that would cause concern, or doubt he'd be unhappy at her arrival. and in his approach, she found the welcome in all that emanated from him. the subtle lift of his features, the warm sound of his voice, the desert rasp unfurled from his tongue with anything but trepidation. was he pleased to see her? she'd everything to believe so. and as he helped in closing the distance between them, his smile was warmly met with a small one of her own. she was unused to such ease in emoting; it had been so habitual to hang the frowns and fit her face with dour expressions. yet, in standing on his dunes before him, it seemed the easiest thing: to smile.

her heart thumped with apprehension. what would he think of this favour? what would he think of her? she'd never had the mind to worry about the concerns or views of others. she never once would have spent a second considering what others thought of her. no, this was a strange and frightening thing that stirred at her breast. she allowed herself a kindness, allowing herself to reach and touch him. her lips lifted to brush against his chin, tracing a small touch against his cheek in a far-too-friendly manner of greeting. yes, it frightened her to think: she was becoming attached.

"a war is coming, and the peak has been asked to stand with the mares of luthien." she pulled away from bahadir, so that her eyes could find his. "should our foal come into this world before then, i would like to see him or her be here with you. safe." she had not considered how motherhood would affect her. she had not considered what being a parent changed in ones' heart. but, since the war had been announced and the invitation to stand with the queen of luthien and her allies, her thoughts were filled with the safety of what lay in her womb. and of course, bahadir and his safety. other times, she'd been selfish with these tribulations of the heart. she'd been fixed on only two beings on this world, and the only one left standing was herself it had seemed. herself, and this would-be family she'd begun to erect.

"i intend on helping the queen of the forest, and her allies. but i would not like to see our child be involved or harmed." hide them. a secreted treasure--to be stowed away beneath the desert-sky with the flame that helped hewn such a precious bairn.