Mature: Desert Moon

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled at him. "I am glad," she sighed. "I think any normal man would have gotten frustrated with me and given up. Thank you for being patient, when I suspect patients is not really your virtue."

"If I see him again I will not break his nose," she smiled. "I will let you do that."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad grinned. He made an inner vow to spend more time with her and avoid making her uncomfortable about his relationship with Atul. He wanted her to know there was nothing to be jealous of, but how could she? "It may be an odd thing to suggest... but if you ever need to be sure of something....about me," Vlad said, "Just say it. I can join with you. Sex is not needed to do it. I'll answer anything you want, and you can feel the answer for yourself. I can bleed out afterwards if you don't like the connection."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele nodded, biting her bottom lip. "There isn't any need this time. I believe you..." She glanced at the magnificently large bathtub. "I won't be so apt to believe what someone says next time. Its just, he knew so much, and in a world where I know so little, I felt compelled to think it was true. I'm glad to know I'm not that sort of woman. Thank you for the offer. If I have need of it, I will take you up on that."

There was a long quiet pause. "Do you plan on staying with the King again tonight? You've been in his bed the last two nights... Not that I have a problem with it, of course."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad shook his head. "When he uses his magic, it makes him weak. He's completely vulnerable until it wears off. Knowing that someone had attacked you, I wasn't sure if he was safe alone...and I didn't think you would want to watch over him with me. I assigned Talon to keep watch in here with you." He looked at the floor. "I'd prefer to be here tonight, if you'll allow me."

[Emora Deen]

"I want you to," she whispered. "Sleep in my bed - our bed." Tenele reached out for his hand gently. "Please."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad stepped forward and hugged her very lightly, not wanting to overwhelm her. Truthfully, he was at his limit of rejection for the day. He caution was as much for his sanity as for her comfort. "Do you want to help me with my homework?" he muttered drably into her hair. The offer of her bed made him wish he hadn't volunteered for the ledgers.

[Emora Deen]

"Sure," Tenele replied pleasantly. "I'm not sure if I'll be much help, but I will do my best." She enjoyed his embrace after having spent such a long time that day thinking that she'd ruined everything. To know that he had such faith in her, to not even question what that man had said, made her very happy. She only wish she had as much faith in him...

Maybe it was time to start?

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad sighed. "Thanks." He opened the door for her. "It won't take too long." He glanced at his sleeping daughter as he walked to the desk and took a seat. He handed Tenele a heavy-bound ledger and showed her how the numbers were laid out. Then he sat down with the huge pile of inventory and invoice notes. "Your handwriting's better than mine," he justified as he began double checking the numbers on each invoice and reading her the information she needed to record, line by line.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smirked. She started writing, and everything she wrote was in Hajaran without even trying. "Funny," she mused. "How things like writing, speaking, and walking aren't forgotten."

She enjoyed the work with him, even if it wasn't remotely interesting, the banter between them made it a little nice. Eventually Tenara woke up and crawled into Vlad's lap while he read the ledger to Tenele and played with her doll.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad adopted the opportunity to annoy his 3 year old daughter by trying to teach her math while finishing up the accounts. Tenara was a very bright child, but the math he tried to teach was too advanced for her. That didn't stop him from encouraging her time after time to tell him where she would start in order to find the right answer.

It took about two hours, but the work got done much faster thanks to Tenele's assistance. Vlad leaned back in the wooden chair and stretched backward.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara leaned back with her father, stretching her arms over her head to mimic him. Tenele laughed at them. Tenara set her doll on the table, playing with her on the ledgers her father had been annoying her with.

"Well, those are done," the mother mused, standing up and closing the books before stacking them together on the table.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad relaxed, combing his fingers through his daughter's hair while she played on the desk. He leaned back and looked at the ceiling. He considered saying nothing. He was hesitant to talk about himself too much, with her memory the way it was. She had more important things to think about. But it had been a trying day, and after working on the ledgers together, he felt this was among the most casual moments they'd managed since her amnesia.

"I like it here," he said. "The people, the customs. Maybe not all of them. But most. It is so different from Ighten. It took a trip back home to make it obvious to me."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled, settling back in her chair. "The people here are very interesting and kind. I wish I could be able to notice the differences that you see, but I don't know much about either place. But, everything here seems... nice. Its weird... it feels... more familiar than Ighten. I don't know why. Ighten made me feel nervous and wary, but I don't feel that here. I don't worry about exploring and I don't seem to fret when new people approach me. Maybe my subconscious knows something I don't."

"I know!" Tenara piped in with a smile. "Its because you love Papa. Home is where Papa is. I'm glad Papa is back."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled for Tenara, his eyes dimming. "Me too, Snack," he said. He looked at Tenele. "Your experience with Ighten may be largely my doing. To say I'm not well loved in Sinead's court would be an understatement. Any other role in the courts would be easier than being attached to my reputation."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smirked. "Well, I don't know what sort of reputation you had. But, I did have people try to convince me that I was free to seek affections elsewhere. Get out while I could. I had no desire to. I fully believe that if I love you as strongly as you love me, then I love you because you are my match. My other side." The Queen's Maiden shook her head. "Maybe that sounds silly."