Finish up the Celebration.

You eventually are able to sneak back inside, wander down the hall and get back to the gathering. A lot of people have left as it started to get late in the night and royalty members were either going to sleep, fuck or drink elsewhere.

It once again did feel good to get back to this gathering and have so many people walk up to you and shake your hand, or congratulate you on your many deeds or even just wish you luck at the oncoming battle.

"Thank you m'lady!" you say as you kiss the back of the hand of a pretty brunette lady. You nod your head at her as you turn around and in the corner of your eye you catch Ashe. "Hmmm..." you think to yourself as you make your way over to the Sunrider.

"Hey Ashe!" you say as you close the distance.

Her head turns your direction and smiles bright as she sees you "Hey there! Party is pretty awesome yeah?"

As you step closer, you find a few full chalices of wine on a table, you pick two up, giving one to Ashe as you hold the chalice up to her "To us!" you two clink each others mugs and each take a swig. "So, where did you head off to?" playing coy with Ashe, just to see how she would respond.

"Oh me? Well...I found Hawk." she smiles "I just wanted to talk with him, get to know him."

"Oh yeah? Did you leave with him? Ashe...what did you do!" you smile and shake your head at her.

"Darien!" she laughs "I did not sleep with him. Who do you think I am?!"

"I've heard stories" you jest.

"Pshh!" she rolls her eyes at you "What stories? All fake I bet!"

"Okay, I heard after war you did a full round of warriors in the hot springs down in the mountain. I heard you often visit the Scorcher, the sex room in the Sicilian Spirits and enjoy the company of many. I've heard you don't care if it's a man or a woman. Hell, Ashe, I even heard you blew a man right here in the castle courtyard out back...." you let that one sink in a bit.

"Bullshit!" she yells "I never blew a man in the castle courtya..."

"Really?!" you ask "So all the others are true?" you raise an eyebrow at her.

She looks back at you, keeping a straight face before she brings her chalice up to her mouth, taking another giant swig of wine. As her chalice lowers, she grins at you briefly "No comment..." she coos out.

"Soooo, anyway...back to Hawk." you change the conversation "I hope you didn't leave him hanging."

"Nope. We talked. I said I had to get back to the party, wanted to be here for you if needed."

"I hope after you left Hawk got a hold of himself."

Ashe looks confused "Huh?"

"I'm just saying...I hope things came out well for Hawk."

"Darien, I don't get it."

"I mean, sometimes when a woman leaves your side, it's a hard situation to deal with..."

Ashe's eyes go wide "You son of a bitch." she smacks your bicep "Did you spy on me?!" her mouth opens in surprise.

You just pucker your lips and blow a kiss through the air as you smirk in her direction. You then slowly say the next words "No Comment..."

Ashe just bites her lower lip as her eyes continue to look over your body. "How about we get out of here?" she says, barely audible.

"Well, Lexie is back at my chambers, she wasn't feeling good, so I'd like to check on her."

"Come on then, let's go check on her, make sure our little Sunrider is feelin' good" she winks at you as she reaches her hand out, gripping your wrist and pulling you towards the exit.

As Ashe is pulling you towards the front door, you catch Hawk standing off in the corner, you don't make eye contact with him but you can only smile to yourself. "Fuck yeah..." you think to yourself "Darien - one, Hawk - zero."