[Astedia] Hands on

[Celeste Andaris]

18th Ymiden, 717
Following this

There was a certain decorum to being a Baroness which Celeste managed well. She was already skilled in etiquette and had a lifetime of preparation to fall back on. Which meant that, as the young woman ran through the corridor from her study, it was an unusual sight. The Baroness of Astedia was growing fitter and more healthy by the trial, but she had kicked off the shoes which she had worn and she dodged out of the way of one of the servants who was walking down the corridor with a hastily spoken, "I'm sorry, do excuse me!"

By the time she'd finished the five words, she'd already run down the rest of the corridor and was already turning. Her stockinged feet slipped on the marble floor and Celeste grabbed the banister of the stairs, skidding and slipping before running up the stairs, two at a time. Lin, her personal assistant was running behind her but fear was pushing Celeste and Lin had to admit that she hadn't expected this reaction, so the young Andaris was ahead and not slowing down.

Up the stairs and the muscles in her calves cried as she took the stairs two, then three at a time so that she got to the landing and could run into the room just off there. The nearest bedroom was where they had taken him and finally, it seemed to her, although not even two bits after she had heard the news from Phillipe, Celeste ran in through the door to the room where the doctor was tending to Xander.

"What..... what...?" Breathing was something of an issue, but she ignored that and moved over to him, at least having the thought to not get in the doctors way. Her brown eyes showed the fear, panic and concern she felt overwhelming her and she looked at Xander, taking his hand and kneeling next to him. "What happened? Xander, tell me." Worry overwhelmed her as she saw that there was blood and she looked up at him with genuine fear in her eyes.

[Xander Andaris]

Xander had made it home and immediately been met with the doctor, unable to even see Celeste before being hustled to a bedroom. He didn't know what all the fuss was about, he was feeling fine. The guards in Drakengard had done a good enough job at stopping his bleeding and it was no worse than the night with Rafael. Still, to complain would have been pointless and instead he saved his breath, sitting on the edge of the bed and allowing the doctor to examine him. He undid the bandages already there and cleaned out the wounds, pouring alcohol over it causing Xander to let out a sharp hiss.

Perhaps it was better he get checked out though, there was still a sharp pain in his side if he turned too fast and an ache when he was not moving. So after his wounds were cleaned and sterilised, something Xander made note of for the future, he told the doc about his side. To which he proceeded to do some prodding and poking, feeling aorund for what it would be. "Ahh, a broken rib, not much I can do about that one I am afraid besides recommend you get rest and don't work it too hard." Xander nodded compliantly as he allowed the doctor to continue to check his work with the bandages as he heard footsteps.

They were heavy and moving fast, clearly someone was rushing their way. Much to his surprise he found the source of them to be Celeste as she rounded the corner and entered the room. He could see the fear in her eyes as she came to him, kneeling and taking his hand. Her eyes became even more terrified as she saw the blood on his shirt and in the water which had been used during the cleaning. "Don't worry, most of it isn't mine." Xander could tell she was out of control having heard the news.

"Did they not tell you Celeste? I am a bona fide hero now." His eyes portrayed his good health, besides the cuts and rib that was. He forced a smile as he really felt fine, perhaps a little woozy from some blood loss but mostly without true harm. "I shut down an illegal brothel with the help of Lian and Bron, we found it by accident but it was a good thing we did, they had women chained up in there. They were beaten black and blue and their was even a little girl." His eyes showed the horror of that, it had been shock to him and at the time it had not registered but right now he was realising just how terrible it really was.

He looked down at his hand that she held in his. "She was looking out for me, I could feel it, don't worry." The silvery mark of a shield on his hand would be new to Celeste, having never seen it before and him not mention it. He smiled and looked to the doctor as he took his opportunity to bid them good trial having finished his work. He left Xander with one parting message. "You need to rest okay? No more acts of heroism until you're better. Xander nodded and then the doc quickly packed his things into a bag and took his leave.

[Celeste Andaris]

Had they told her? Celeste looked at him as he asked that and she realised something. "Well, Phillipe was still talking when I started running," she admitted and looked at him with unashamed relief as she listened to him speak, hearing his words but also seeing that he was alright, he was hurt but he wasn't on death's door. He had shut down an illegal brothel? Celeste's eyes widened and she felt a surge of pride and then, anger.

"You idiot, what did you do that for?" She sounded furious but her face told a different story and Celeste realised that she was crying, tears running down her face. "You've been hurt, oh, I'm so proud of you but you... why didn't you just get the guard?!" In that moment she really didn't know whether she wanted to punch him or kiss him and, perhaps thankfully for him, she chose the latter. Lifting herself up, she wrapped her arms around the back of his head, burying her hands in his hair and she kissed him like they were alone, which of course they were not but she did not care.

"She? Who she?" Celeste asked, glanced at the mark on his hand as she finally pulled herself away from him. But then, the doctor said something and Celeste looked at him in surprise. "No, he's... what should we do? Are you sure?" The doctor smiled and nodded.

"I assure you, Baroness, your young hero is fine. He has a broken rib and should rest. I trust you will enforce that? I will come by tomorrow and make sure that all is well." At those words, there was no doubt in Celeste's mind; Xander would be resting and she would make absolutely sure of it too. She made sure to thank the doctor, squeezed Xander's hand and just walked the doctor out of the room, as was polite.

Within moments, though, she was back and she sat back next to him. "He said you saved them. A child? Oh, Xander, are they being looked after? What can we do?" Her hand moved to his cheek and she kissed him again, as though afraid he might disappear in front of her. "I'm so proud of you but I could kill you too. I think I'll be proud for now." She smiled at him, unsure of how to express the depths of her own emotions.

Then, though, she took his hand and looked at the strange mark. A frown of curiosity creased her brow and she wondered. "Xander, what's this?"

[Xander Andaris]

She was exasperated and she seemed extremely conflicted as her face showed pride but her words anger. Maybe it was not anger and in fact concern, either way her face was not getting the same message as her voice. She asked him a question but before he could answer she spoke again and again he went to answer but was too slow. "Well, I cou..." She kissed him and for a fraction of a trill his eyes were wide in surprise but it quickly dissipated as she kissed him.

As she did he reach his own arm out to hold her but was met with a sharp pain as his bandaged wound brushed against her. "Ooh, ow, sorry." He gritted his teeth and then smiled against her lips before she retreated. This time she asked who she was and again he was unable to reply before the doctor spoke and interrupted the flow. He watched her talk with him and then walk him out of the room, as was the polite thing for a lady to do. He watched her return back from the door and could tell there was about to be another barrage of questions.

"I left them with the guard, they will take good care of them I am sure. If you wish it I am sure we can pay them a visit and make sure they are taken care of." Xander smiled at her, the caring woman she was having already begun to consider those he had rescued. He was not surprised as she said she could kill him, in fact he had not expected two kisses but instead a slap and the silent treatment. He had, after all, risked his life when in her opinion it was probably not necessary.

Then her attention was back to the mark, silver shield that graced the back of his hand. The greatest gift he had ever received in his life, that was what it was. "You asked who she was, well she is Ethelynda, immortal of nobility, protection, honour and serpents." He smiled and looked at the shield that signified his connection to her and remembered the night he was granted it.

He looked at Celeste with a warm and soft smile, his eyes showing the happiness it gave him to tell her. "The night the Warrick Bastard attacked she came to me. She tested and questioned me, as I had asked for the ability to protect those I cared for and she granted me her mark, Taithir." He placed his hand on Celeste's cheek and leaned forward, ignoring the pain in his side from the rib, and kissing her.

[Celeste Andaris]

Celeste winced as he exclaimed in pain and she put her hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry, love," she whispered against him, trying to be as gentle with him as she could be. Her eyes showed her concern as she looked at him and her thumb gently traced his cheek before she got back up and went out. She spoke to the doctor in a low voice, he and she exchanging more than a few sentences and then she turned back and came in.

The guards were looking after the people he had rescued and Celeste nodded her head. "Good, that's good. Yes, I think that we should see them, check on them. But not until after you are well. Fully well." Kneeling on the ground next to him she lifted herself up to kiss him again. "I love you, you lumbering oaf. I am proud of you, too. As Lord Krome I am proud of you, but as my Xander, I was afraid." She was tipping over from angry to emotional and she could feel it.

The mark on his hand, though, that took her right to the edge and then straight over. As he explained what it was and, then, when it had happened, Celeste looked at him and tears fell from her eyes. "I'm so sorry that you've been so desperately worried and afraid." Lifting his hand she kissed the knuckles gently. "I thought I understood, Xander, but I didn't. Not until Phillipe told me that there'd been an incident and Lord Krome was being seen by the doctor upstairs."

Until she had met him, until he had slowly and gently broken through every barrier she had, Celeste had thought that she would never feel emotion again and yet here she was with tears running down her face. "I can't lose you. That's all I could think as I ran. My blood went cold in my veins and all I could think was that I can't lose you." She wasn't, though, he was fine or he would be fine, she knew. So, Celeste sat back on her heels and looked at him with a serious gaze.

"Tathir. Tell me about it?" Celeste asked and moved so that she was as close to him as she could be, keeping hold of his hand almost as though she was afraid he was going to fly off. "And when I stop being so emotional, I reserve the right to beat you over the head. Carefully, though." She tried her best to smile, but her heart was pounding in her ears and she was too emotionally wrung for anything else. Still, hearing about the blessing he had received would allow her to hear about his experience with an Immortal.

[Xander Andaris]

He could tell she was emotional, maybe even overwhelmed at that moment as he could see tears threaten to breach her eyelids. "I love you too my sweet Baroness, I am sorry I scared you but I was doing my duty and I know you understand that better than anyone else." He used his left hand to stroke her cheek and smiled at her, his eyes comforting and loving. The blue hues that would normally pierce the outer defences of those they looked at were instead warm and caring.

The tears forced their way out and Xander looked at her with a sad expression, he hated to see her so afraid and fearful for his life. Yet she said she now understood what it was he felt, when he had saved her and protected her from the attacks. She understood now the worry he had everyday thinking about her safety. That was a good thing, that they shared those feelings but it was bad as he knew this would not be the first time he would return bloodied and bruised from an outing. He did not know how he would deal with her being this distraught every time.

"Don't worry, I am not going anywhere. I promise you that, it will take more than some thugs to steal me away from you. That I am sure of." Xander brushed the tears from her face gently with his thumb. Looking down at her he pulled lightly to get her to rise up onto the bed and sit beside him. "Of course, you may beat me when I am well." He teased and poked her rib before moving onto the blessing she had asked about.

He shrugged somewhat and considered what to tell her. "Honestly, I know very little about the blessing itself. I just know that Ethelynda granted it me to help with my aims and dreams." He smiled at the memory of their fight and the instruction she had given to help him improve. Then the memory of the warm and tingling energy that had flowed through him as the mark was formed.

"I prayed to her in the garden when I was desperate and she appeared, we talked and fought so she could test me. She was truly amazing, she looked like and Ithecal, you remember Rita, except she was magnificent. She wore this glistening golden armour and had a spear and a shield. I think Taithir is the name of the shield too. I passed and so she left me with this as a parting gift, giving me the power to defend those I love. I felt it working this trial I am sure of it." He looked at it and gave a short silent prayer to her for protecting him and giving him the power to protect those in need.

[Celeste Andaris]

She heard his voice, looked in his eyes and knew he was well, but still Celeste couldn't quite bring herself to calm down fully. He was right, though, she understood doing his duty, she understood that he was doing the right thing but Celeste wanted to be selfish. To put her foot down and insist that he stay at home with her, where he was safe and no one could hurt him. If he did that, of course, then he would not be the man she knew and Celeste sighed as he pulled her up to sit next to him on the bed.

"I don't want to hurt you. What if I hurt you?" She let out a giggle of surprise, relief and all sorts of mixed emotions when he poked her in the rib, though, and she shook her head. "You are incorrigible, Xander Krome."

Celeste listened to his explanation of what happened and she looked at him with pride shining in her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me before now? You have been blessed by an Immortal, Xander. That is a massive honour." He was too humble, there was no doubting it and she shook her head. "I am going to have to remember this and beat you about the head for it, also, when you are well."

She rested her head against his shoulder, always careful of his wounds and not putting any weight on him at all. "Until you are better, I'm going to have a spare bed brought in here, where I will sleep. That way, I'll be close to you, but we won't run the risk of my hurting you whilst we sleep." She raised an eyebrow and gave him a stern gaze. "I think I am insisting on that, so save your breath to blow your soup." There was amusement in her eyes, but equally she meant what she said entirely.

"No practice or training until you are healed. The doctor says you are in no danger as long as you are sensible and we are going to be wed next season, Xander Krome. I think that we should have an agreement that we are both uninjured and able to laugh without it hurting for that trial. As a goal, that is." She had quizzed the doctor, of course, and Celeste watched Xander carefully. "You need to promise me. Please, Xander, promise me that you will rest and let me fuss?" After all, she reasoned, she had given him reason and reason again, and he had fussed. Now, it was only fair that she reciprocated.

[Xander Andaris]

"Incorrigible huh? That's a fancy word, Celeste." He smiled and kissed her softly on the cheek, appreciating her concern about hurting him. "You won't hurt me, I feel better already." He smiled against her cheek and knew this was where he belonged. He had felt it before but there was no doubt left in his mind that he was meant to be with her and even as it meant losing his old dreams to find new ones he did not care. He just knew that he wanted her to be in his life whatever happened.

He smiled as she said he had undergone a huge honour and he understood that. Yet, being the one who had received the mark and gone through it all he felt different from that. He felt it was again another part of his duty and a blessing gained for being that, a dutiful noble who truly believed in right over wrong. "Two beatings? Well I must really have surprised you today." He chuckled and took her hand in his, examining them and just smiling and being happy for a moment.

She suggested a separate bed and the look of disappointment on his face was unavoidable as he looked at her with puppy dog eyes. "Fine but I want tomato soup, none of that mushroom rubbish." He looked at her and tried to keep a straight face. Unable to do so as a laugh broke through his pursed lips and his eyes lit up.

He nodded as she requested he let her fuss, knowing arguing would be pointless. "You aren't going to make me stay in bed all the time though are you? I think I would die of boredom without you in it too!" He winked and smiled his most smug smile, knowing she would be amused too. She had become quite the wild woman since they moved here. She was less of a noble lady now than they had been when they met, at least when she was around him she had become real and human. She was driven by love and passion and he could not deny his happiness to know the woman behind her walls.

"As for our wedding day, well, I will try my very best to keep myself fit and healthy but I am a little afraid to promise. I wouldn't want to break it and you know me, I am always in, what I imagine you would call wrong and me right, place to get into some kind of dispute. I can promise you I will be alive. Is that fair?" He was sure she would be able to tell he was mostly joking but at the same time was giving her fair warning that something could happen. "I will do my best." He kissed her then again, cupping her face in his hands as he did so.

[Kali'rial]

Thread Rewards:

Celeste

Skill Knowledge
Acrobatics: Jumping whilst running
Discipline: Not giving in to fear
Discipline: Trying to contain emotions
Endurance: Running through the house
Endurance: Not slowing down for stairs
Intelligence: Gathering small details from a story
Strength: Running up stairs builds calf muscles

Loot:
N/A

Injuries/Overstepping:
N/A

Fame:
N/A

Devotion:
N/A

Magic EXP:
No

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Xander

Skill Knowledge
Endurance: Cleaning wounds can be more painful than getting them
Endurance: The pain of a broken rib
Endurance: Moving when in pain
Etiquette: Giving in to fussing
Intelligence: The importance of details in a story
Intelligence: Signs and sigils of group membership
Intelligence: How to spot someone marked by an Immortal
Medicine: Techniques for cleaning wounds
Psychology: People can say one thing, mean another.

Loot:
N/A

Injuries/Overstepping:
Already given in previous thread

Fame:
N/A

Devotion:
N/A

Magic EXP:
No

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Skill Points Awarded:
15

Comments:
I loved Celeste's very unladylike sprint through the house, absolutely captured her concern in each stockinged footstep! Xander is such a trooper. I read the previous injury attainment thread and just...Team Xander go!! Sweet little thread guys.