Respectful (Route C)

Chapter 1 – Arrival (continued)

Kaylen made a determined attempt to put Aranni’s words from his mind, and not let them sour his mood as he washed his hands in his guest room, pouring the waste water into the vanishing vase next to the wash basin. After that he wrote in a small journal, and made a sketch of Aranni from memory. He was startled, and nearly dropped the leather bound notebook when Neiah returned, knocking on the door, only to open it before he could respond, ready to escort him to dinner.

At the table, Kaylen **** a smile and made polite conversation with Aranni and her three apprentices, trying to spread his attention evenly between them. He laughed when Neiah feigned surprise at the revelation that he was a trained battle mage, since in her words she was certain he was an enchanter. A clever compliment she was no doubt rather proud of.

He enjoyed every time the youngest apprentice, Adalan, would laugh at one of his jokes, and he found her exuberance quite infectious once he got her going. But he paid special attention to Marcel, trying to get her to come out from behind the curtain of her brown hair for more than just another bite of food. He glanced occasionally at Aranni to make sure he wasn’t overstepping when he tried to engage the girl in conversation, but she didn’t seem upset, so he figured she appreciated his efforts, even if it was a struggle to break through the young woman’s shyness. She looked easily as old as Neiah, probably 17, maybe even Kaylen’s age, but her manner made her seem younger. Not that he was an experienced judge of such things.

When dinner was over he stood and gave a slight bow to each girl in turn, lingering just a second longer toward Marcel, then departed to explore the guild hall for a short time, eventually making his way back toward his room after pausing for maybe half a minute to look out of a balcony window toward the setting sun. He was still riding a good mood from dinner, but felt himself deflating gradually now that he was alone. He didn’t want to dwell on Aranni’s words from before dinner.

Eventually, he reached the guest room, and moved immediately to the desk, unfastening his belt with his wand case and knife sheath and setting it next to some of his other things. He’d just pulled his tunic over his head when there came a knock at the door. “One moment!” He called, though it was muffled by the tunic he struggled to bring back down over his torso.

An embarrassed squeak from the doorway told him his visitor had entered the room, one of Aranni’s apprentices for sure, since he could not envision the guild master making such a noise. When he could see again he found Marcel facing away from him, “I’m decent now.” He assured her, though it wasn’t as if she had seen anything _in_decent, considering he wore a linen aketon beneath his tunic, though he’d left the accompanying chainmail shirt off for dinner.

She turned back, and smiled at him, her blush highlighting the freckles on her cheeks. “I did not know you were dressing.” She mumbled at the ground, once more draping that curtain of hair in front of her face.

Kaylen sighed. “It’s fine, you can look up.” He informed her.

She cautiously raised her gaze, and she met Kaylen’s eyes he offered a smile. “There’re those pretty eyes.”

She blushed, and giggled, but kept her gaze steady.

“How may I be of service, Apprentice Marcel?” He asked after a moment.

She seemed momentary at a loss for words, but she made a clear effort to keep her eyes on his, “There aren’t a lot of mages our age.” He nodded, having been thinking the same thing himself. “And I… I really like you.” She continued.

“You’ve only just met me.”

“Exactly!” She seemed suddenly embarrassed by how impassioned that one word had come out.

“I mean. I’ve never felt such an instant connection with someone ever before. And Master Aranni likes to tell us…” She trailed off, but he had an idea what she meant.

“Mages should stick to other mages when it comes to relationships.” He offered, and she nodded.

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, you seem very nice but…”

“I know we’d need more time for a full relationship.” She interjected, before he could voice his objections, “But I’m sick of waiting. I can’t just let such a perfect opportunity pass me by. I have to at least…”

He forestalled her words with one raised hand. “I’m sorry.” He said, “It’s not that I’m not interested…”

“Then why not at least give it a chance?!”

“What chance? I’m leaving tomorrow. I might not be back for a long time.” He waited. He saw the conflict in her face as she fought to find an argument against him.

Suddenly, she lunged forward, coming up on her toes as she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss. Only to immediately pull away when the unexpected impact blossomed into pain for both of them. “Sorry!” She said, holding her lip as he did much the same, turning away from her. Fortunately there seemed to be no blood, though it did throb where their teeth had knocked together.

“I’m so sorry.” She repeated, tears in her eyes. She started for the door, and though he knew it was probably best to just let her go, he reflexively reached out and grabbed her arm.

For a moment, neither of them said anything, just looked into each other’s eyes through unshed tears. He didn’t know why he did it, but he turned her to face him then took her face into both hands, carefully pulling her face to his. Her lips parted so her tongue could moisten them, then his lips were on hers. It wasn’t a lover’s kiss, but a soft gentle chaste kiss that lasted only a couple of seconds before he pulled back.

“Oh!” She gasped when they parted. “That was nice!”

He smiled, “I like you too.” He admitted, “If circumstances were different, I would court you in a heartbeat. But I want to be fair to you, and to promises I’ve made.”

“What promises?” She asked.

“Your master asked me not to court any of her apprentices.”

“That’s so unfair. Who I court is none of her business!” She growled, suddenly fierce.

“You are probably right, and still, I made the commitment. Perhaps if I come back again in the future I will disavow the promise. You’re what, seventeen?”

She blinked, “I was eighteen last month.

He nodded, “Then I agree it should be your choice, but I must speak to Aranni directly before I break my promise. You understand?”

She sighed. He could tell she wanted to argue, but she did understand.

“Hells!” She muttered, pulling him into a hug.

He hesitated only a moment before wrapping his arms around her. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re right. But this feels so nice…”

“It does.” He confirmed, closing his eyes and resting his cheek against her hair. He didn’t want the moment to end. “You should probably get going.”

“Do I have to?”

“Well, you can’t sleep here…”

“Can’t I?”

“Marcel.”

“I don’t mean sex.” She added quickly, “Just sleep. I… I’d like to try cuddling… Just once?”

He sighed, but smiled. He knew immediately he wasn’t going to say no. He shouldn’t be encouraging her, it could be considered a form of courtship, but he’d be damned if he had the willpower to resist further than he already had.

“Very well. But just sleeping. No exploring, no caresses, nothing else. And if one of us can’t fall asleep, you go back to your room. Deal?” He hoped he sounded stern.

She thought for only a moment before nodding. “Do you need me to step out while you change?”

He shook his head. He would sleep in his trousers and undershirt, he decided. “You can look away, if you like, but I’m already wearing what I’ll be sleeping in.” He gave her a moment, and she did turn away for a second, but then turned back to face him, her cheeks turning scarlet once more.

So he resumed pulling his tunic off then unfastened his aketon all down the front, before removing the armor padding. That left only his boots and stockings. He sat on the bed and began to unlace his shin-high leather boots, but Marcel immediately knelt in front of him, “Let me!” She said, still blushing. He was too startled to argue, as she finished loosening the laces for him, then took a firm hold of the boot and began to tug. It was a struggle, but she got it off of him. Then she started on the other foot. There was something oddly intimate about the act of removing his boots for him. And she continued to remove his stockings as well, rolling each down his calf before pulling them one by one off his feet. But then she wrinkled her nose and he chuckled, “Sorry if they smell a bit.”

“It’s fine. It’s not unexpected.” She muttered, shrugging.

He stood up, “Guess it’s my turn? I hope you brought night clothes?” He began to turn away, but she unbelted her robe before he could avert his gaze, revealing an ankle length night gown and slippers were all she wore beneath.

Then she sat down on his bed and raised one foot toward him, and he smiled as he knelt and pulled her slipper from her foot. He was careful not to raise her leg too high and invite temptation to look at what she might be wearing beneath the dress. Then he repeated the process with her other foot, all the while looking into her scarlet face. She seemed to be getting bolder, without losing a hint of her embarrassment.

He set her foot down then stood. He held her gaze as he walked around the bed, sat down across from her, and then stretched out, pulling the comforter over himself. She quickly laid down as well, tucking her legs under the comforter alongside him. The bed wasn’t really meant for two, and she scooted closer until they were touching, giving him another shy smile inches from his own, before turning to face away from him on her side.

He hesitated only a moment before wrapping one arm around her midsection, and pulling her close. He didn’t quite spoon her, but she’d said she wanted to cuddle, and so he adjusted their positions, to a few squeaks and sighs from her, but no protests, until they were both comfortable. One arm beneath her shoulders, the other at her waist. She shuffled a few times then grew still. He smiled. If nothing else, he definitely enjoyed having her laying against him. He wondered when the next time he’d be able to enjoy such a sensation again.