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Laramie Royce · Adventurer Joined: 11 Oct 2010 Posts: 28

She'd willingly gone to tavern that night. Letter complete with braid tucked inside her pocket and well worn from the 5 years it had been there. The establishment was lovely with its dark walls and lighting. But what caught her attention was the forge across the room. She lovingly ran her hand across the edge of it. A personal tradition whenever she saw one.

One conversation later with a stranger in regards to poison and she decided to take up residence at the bar on one of the stools. The figure next to her, face hidden, lit up what seemed to be an odd kind of pipe. It wasn't so much the pipe but the fact that you could see so little of him, that had her changing positions. The edge of the bar on it's rounded corner. It was quiet, out of the way, and thus far had kept her out of Korin's line of sight.

He'd walked in the door sometime ago, and within seconds was surrounded by what could only deem to be his friends. What was worse, he'd had a girl on his arm. She wondered if he had recognized her when they dropped her off in Luna. That question was going to be quickly answered because there he was, with his soul wrenching blue eyes and tender hands, striding towards her end of the bar.

Korin d'Rue · Journeyman Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 166

With the exception of the Meadhall in Stonegate, taverns were now Korins least favorite place to be. They reminded him of a time in his not so distant past, in which he was bent on self destruction.
Korin knew most of the taverns in all of the major cities, and they knew him. He had been thrown out of most of them more than once. So it was with a great reluctance that he agreed, taking Starla's arm and headed off to the tavern called the drunken monkey.

It was like most, it smelled of stale ale and food that had been out too long. But atleast this one was clean. The drunken Monkey was crowded and after a few minutes of pushing and shoving their way through the crowd they found friends. Making small talk with members of Stonegate Korin remembered his manners. Getting Starla's order he headed to the bar. The bar was crowded and Korin waited to place his order. Not having any luck he moved to the end of the bar in the corner.

Korin reached over a woman sitting at the bar, to grab the bartenders shirt sleeve. That is when the woman turned and looked up at him. As her brown eyes met his blue the fire that had once been was rekindled. In the space of an instant Korin was back in time to a time in his life where he was truly happy. She sat looking into his eyes and he stood looking into hers. His jaw hung open and he was speechless.

Laramie Royce · Adventurer Joined: 11 Oct 2010 Posts: 28

Soft and incredulous as if she were a mirage instead of actually there the word came out of his mouth.

"You!"

Laramie couldn't help but smile. If there were any question about his memory it was squashed with that word.

"Yes me. I...I.. I.. t..t...thought you might n..n..n..not remember."

"How could I forget?" A smile crept across his face then sending sparks along her spine. His affect on her was immediate, as if they had never been apart. And though small talk slipped into the space between them, just as his hand had casually slipped onto hers, she knew this ease wasn't going to last.

"Korin. I... I.. came for a reason." Her heart planted itself firmly in her throat as she muttered the words. Her dark brown eyes leveled on him as he settled on to a stool.

"What is it?"

"I..I.. w...w...was going to tell you someday.. just..n..n..not this soon."

"Brown eyes," his voice was a little more forceful then. "What is it?"

"I have a little girl, she's five."

That was all it took. His face seemed to pale as he did the math. Silence ensued and she knew what the question was going to be.

"She's yours, Korin."

Korin d'Rue · Journeyman Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 166

Korin sat on the stool beside her, his eyes locked with hers. With in a few seconds it felt as if they had never been apart at all. Korin fought with ever ounce of his being, not to take her in his arms and kiss her right there in the tavern. He settled to lay his hand across hers as they rested in her lap. Everything else going on around him seemed to have vanished. The only thing in the whole world at that moment was the brown eyed woman sitting in front of him. With his hand on hers and their eyes locked, Korin felt everything he had ever felt for this woman come rushing back into him.

Korin had left this woman because he was falling in love with her. No because he was in love with her. Now she sat in front of him once more. Just as beautiful as ever.

When she spoke again her words seemed forced. “Korin I came for a reason!” Her eyes locked with his as she spoke. She tried to say what she had come to say but her nerves got the best of her. Korin squeezed her hand.
“Brown eyes what is it?” he asked with what he thought was a little reassurance in his voice.

When she finally spoke there was no stutter and the words came out clear and with the force of a hammer. “I have a little girl, she's five.” Her eyes remained locked on his face.

Korin only heard I have a little girl..... the last part lost to him for those five words hit him in the chest like a blow from a lance. In a split second Korin had gone from being the happiest man in the world to being devastated again. How could she, why would she come all this way to tell me she is with another and they have a child. Then the last part of what she had said hit him “she's five.” Korin did the math. It felt as she had just twisted the lance she had ran through him. She did not waste any time after I left. Why would she come to rub this in.

It took Korin a few seconds to register her next words. “She's yours, Korin.” Her eyes never left his as she spoke.

Korin felt Happy, nervous, relief, Every emotion that could run through a man did in the space of about two seconds.

It was not a question more as a statement so that he could hear the words out loud. “I am a father!” What follow was a torrent of questions shot out so fast that Laramie actually recoiled a bit on her stool.

Laramie Royce · Adventurer Joined: 11 Oct 2010 Posts: 28

One after the other the questions poured from him. What did she look like? Where was she? Was she normal? That last one took Laramie by surprise and her brows drew together. She needed to ask him what he meant by normal but for now she informed him that Kestryl was in Luna, with a trusted friend. She hadn't expected him to want to see her so soon given that it was just sprung on him. But the fact that he did made her smile.

The trip to Luna was a quick one, much more so than it had been the other night. And as they entered the room with the adjoining dining table she paused and took in a deep breath. Anxiousness and curiosity was written all over his face. He shut the door quietly behind them and followed her into the bedroom. Quietly she motioned to the bed on the far side of the room. Slowly and silently he walked to the bunched up grey blanket. Tiny pale blue pointed ears peaked out through a torrent of auburn hair.

Laramie watched as Father met Daughter for the first time. A single tear slipped down his cheek and Kestryl stirred slightly, pulling the covers up tighter around her. Laramie knew full good and well that under those blankets was a body as cool to touch as Korin's was. They were so much alike it was scary.

Please don't break her heart, she pleaded silently.

Before her stood the only man she had ever loved and the creation of two weeks of bliss. The problem was that so many things could go wrong now. So many loop holes that could hang all three of them. She hoped she had done the right thing.

"I want her to meet my Mother."

Korin d'Rue · Journeyman Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 166

Korin entered the room in luna, gently closing the door behind him. He waited for Laramie to give him the ok before entering farther. She Motioned towards the bed. Korins eye took in every detail of the bed as he approached.

The old and worn grey blanket so carefully tucked in at the foot of the bed. to the tiny figure laid on its side snuggled up under those blankets. Korin stood beside the bed now looking down at a mass of alburn hair. One tiny light blue ear poked out of the mass of alburn. Korin reached down and gently slipped alburn hair away from the tiny girls face. One glance at the little girls face and any doubt that he had vanished.

There was no way any one could doubt that this was Korin's child. Her mouth and chin was his her skin tone was a perfect match to his. She had her mothers nose and. Korin wanted to pick her up and hold her in his arms. But he resisted, decieding it best to let her sleep. As he stood there a single tear of joy rolled down his cheek.

Korin had always wanted a family, and with Ciara departure he had felt his dreams would never come true. Korin turned to Laramie "I want her to meet my mother."

Korin d'Rue · Journeyman Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 166

They left Kestryl in the care of a trusted friend of Laramie's. Nervously Laramie followed Korin's instructions and with in seconds she had vanished on her way to Stonegate Valley. Korin followed right behind her.

Korin noticed her shiver at the cold as soon as he was beside her. Taking her hand in his he started to slowly pull the cold out of her body as they walked towards the meadhall. Korin did not want Laramie to know what he was doing, atleast not just yet.

As the two entered the meadhall of Stonegate. There was Korins mother. Korin was well aware of the policies of Stonegate reguarding public displays of affection. But he did not think he could get his hand loose from Laramies grip even if he tried.

Korin introduce Laramie to his mother. Then he informed his mother that he needed to talk to her in private. Korin could see in his mother's eyes the questioning of him with this woman who was not from stonegate.

As the three entered the meeting room on the second floor of the guild hall Korin was still trying to figure out how to word what he had to say to his mother. Korin loved shocking his mother or trying too, and he felt this would be a great time.

As they all were seated Korin blurted out. "Mother this is the mother of my daughter!"

It did not have the effect that he had hoped for. The shock and awe that he was hoping for was non-exsistant. None of the questions that Korin had prepaired himself for from his mother came. Instead she wanted to meet the child and was more worried about the childs safety being that she was not in Stonegate territory.

Korin had not really given the fact that his daughter was in luna with a friend, when Stonegate was in a state of war. Korin and Laramie rushed to luna korin scooping the little girl into his arm blankets and all. She stirred only long enough to snuggle into his arms. Korin stood there holding his daughter while Laramie half scared out of her mind packed what few belonging she and kestyrl had.

It was only about half an hour and Korin and Laramie, with Kestyrl still asleep in his arms stood on the front steps of korins tower. Korin could tell Laramie had so many questions for him. He would answer them all but first he wanted to get Kestryl put to bed.

Tucking Kestyrl into the thick warm blankets of the bed on the upper level Korin turned to Laramie. "You both will be safe here, that i promise you."

A faint smile crossed Laramie's lips, but her brown eyes were full of questions. Korin told her that he had somethings to work on in his study. He gave her a quick tour of his tower and then she headed off to bed.

Korin sat at his desk. The night had been a full one for him. He read over the training papers he had been working on for the defense of Stonegate valley proper. Korin looked to the Ceiling of his study. Now the defense of his home had just taken on a new meaning to him. He worked most of the night on the details of his plans.

Laramie Royce · Adventurer Joined: 11 Oct 2010 Posts: 28

She'd expected changes when he found out about her. She'd expected him to question her motives and though her innocence had been well proven, she expected that too. The latter of which, he didn't ask and didn't need to once he had seen the pale blue ears. Beyond that the night was a whirlwind.

Corbey, a craftswoman and friend, had agreed to watch Kestryl, as she had a few times prior while Laramie went with Korin to meet his family. Specifically to meet his Mother. She should have expected that as well, but she hadn't. She stood there shaking, his hand grapsed tightly to hers, as he introduced her. His choice of words had her wanting to shrink as far back into herself as she could. It was clear, however, that she wasn't going anywhere. As if to keep her from passing out, Korin put a hand to the small of her back and led her up a flight of stairs.

Slowly, every question Laramie had expected to pour forth save one, was listed.

"Why now? Why come here after 5 years?" His Mother's tone was even but probing.

"Because I.... I... f... f.. felt he had a r...r...r.. right to know."

"And you are willing to let him, to let her family, get to know her? You are willing to stay long enough for that?"

Laramie sat in silence, taking a pause before she answered. "Y...y.. yes."

Behind them the door swung open and a woman that could only be described as otherwordly entered. She took a seat at the left side of Korin's Mother, whom Laramie had found out was named Merci. And the one question that Korin and his Mother had failed to ask, the woman named Willow coughed up.

"Are you sure it's yours Korin?"

She could have sworn his cheeks turned a deeper shade of blue but she bucked up and answered on her own. "Y...yes... Kestryl... is h...h...his. He has been my o...o...only." At that she felt her own cheeks flush with heat. Her love life details were really not up for public consumption but the question was valid considering it -had- been five years.

"Are you cold girl, or are you scared?"

"I...I... st....stu...stutter when I'm nervous." The reply was soft and edged with a mixture of shame and pride. Willow let the matter drop.

Details, this was going to be all about details. Like where she and Kestryl would be residing. Korin had made it clear they were welcome to stay with him. She wasn't sure though if that was because he truly wanted them there or if it was because they were an obligation he felt he had to uphold. The next few days would mean many things hashed out. She knew that much.

When the Stonegate inquisition was over, she agreed they would stay at his tower for now. Kestryl would need to be close to him, to get to know him. And if all else failed she could change her mind in the morning.

Laramie Royce · Adventurer Joined: 11 Oct 2010 Posts: 28

She watched as he tucked in their little girl. "Theirs". For so many years now, she hadn't had to share Kestryl. It had been the two them surviving alone. And now, here he was. Blue eyes pleading with her for his rightful piece of their daughters life.

Laramie knew he deserved it. She also knew that it wasn't just her heart at stake this time around. It was Kestryl's too. Additionally both he and his Mother had been adamant about the danger of being part of this community. Stonegate, their valley, was in a state of war. That had been the first reason for bringing the two of them back.

So many things needed to be discussed. It was longer her dealing with things, it was them. And that changed the the playing field. Quietly she watched him kiss Kestryl on the cheek, her little form stirring only slightly. Turning to go he stopped and blue met brown, as it had now several times and would again. "I'm glad you found me. I only wish you had done it sooner." Taking her warm hands in his he planted small kisses on her knuckles before exiting for the night.

Come tomorrow, all cards would have to be on the table....