Mixed Feelings

Balgair helps Heather come to terms with her past.

From her vantage point, she could see the whole common room, from the kitchen door to the front door. She traced the multi-colored orbs of glass that threw prismatic patterns against the inner walls. She followed one such rainbow as it angled down and bathed the two men at the bar in muted reds, greens, and blues.

Brandyn was on the far side of the bar, eating his breakfast off of a plate, while her Maighstir, Balgair, was sitting on the near side, on one of the tall bar stools. Like Brandyn, he was taking bites of his breakfast.

As Heather started down the stairs, she heard Brandyn speak but couldn't hear what he said. It must have been humorous because Balgair chuckled and patted the Inn Keeper on his right shoulder.

The older man flashed the younger soldier a smile and took a drink from his mug.

Heather watched as Balgair picked up his own mug and lifted it in salud. “To new beginnings,” she heard her maighstir say as she got closer to the bar.

She paused her approach and took a good long look at her maighstir. Balgair was almost six feet tall, and his jet-black hair looked like he had combed it before leaving the room. She smiled tenderly, aching to run her fingers through that hair.

Before moving up behind Balgair, she took a minute to look at herself in the ceiling-to-floor mirror behind the bar. Heather raised her right hand to adjust her long blonde hair, then brushed her hands down her outfit. It still smells like that basement, she thought, then shrugged. It's not as if she had anything else to wear, at least not until Balgair took her shopping.

With quiet steps, she approached him, shaking her head as she felt his prana. She closed her eyes, feeling the intense need to kneel at Balgair's side. She fought it for about three seconds, then, with a soft moan, sank to her knees and put her hands on her thighs.

“I am here, Maigshstir.” She whispered, leaning toward him. She felt this intense desire to wrap herself around him and beg him to use her as he desired.

Upon hearing her voice, Balgair half-turned on the stool and glanced down, “Good morrow, mo te Alainn. How did you sleep?”

Heather scooted closer to him and looked up into his eyes. “I slept very well, Maighstir, much better than I have in a while.”

“I don't doubt it, mo te Alainn.” Balgair commented, reaching down to rest his hand on her head. “You looked like you hadn't slept in weeks.”

If she had been a cat, she would have purred at his touch; instead, she softly moaned. "Before last night, I couldn't have told you how long it had been since I last slept." When he gave her the small comfort she wanted by brushing his fingers through her hair, she tried to purr like a kitten, drawing a chuckle from Balgair.

“I think the last time I slept that deeply, was before Brutus tried to force me.”

The mercenary nodded in understanding. "Well, you made up for some of it. You slept deeply last night." His fingers slid down the right side of her face, softly cupping her cheek. "You didn't even move when I got out of bed."

Heather shifted slightly in her position, just enough to nuzzle against his hand. "I'm sorry that I didn't have faith in you," she whispered, looking down.

Understanding flooded his face, and he bent down and slid an arm around her before pulling her up into a hug. "It's okay, you've had a hard time, and trust doesn't come easy."

Faced with such an understanding man, Heather broke down and started crying on his shoulder. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. She babbled through the bond.

What have I done? Balgair wondered as he comforted his bond. "There, there." He crooned, caressing her back. He waited for her to get her emotions under control.

Finally, her tears stopped. "How did I get lucky to get a man like you?" She whispered as she wrapped her arms around him and simply held him close. Raising her head, she looked over his shoulder and sniffed. "Was that my breakfast you were eating, you brute?"

"I wouldn't dare," Balgair teased her. "Your food is still on the stove. If you want it, you can go get it."

He glanced over at Brandyn. “It seems as if the Lieutenant's bond is as lazy as you are. She's still asleep.”

“No she's not,” Lucy called from the kitchen as she carried out two plates. “Good morrow Sister,” she greeted Heather as she handed her one of the plates.

"I stand corrected," the mercenary chuckled as Heather untangled herself from him and took the plate with thanks.

While the two women were eating, Brandyn asked, “What are your plans for today?”

“I need to go use a communication crystal, and then go buy Heather some clothes, and then go look at the Reeve's saor-shelb.” Balgair ticked off on his fingers.

Brandyn nodded as he took another drink. "The communication crystal is at the mayor's office. Lucy can show you how to get there." He said, then looked at Heather. "Actually, Heather can show you."

Heather looked up from her plate and nodded before digging back into her breakfast. "I can also show Maighstir Balgair where to buy clothes as well." Then she blushed. "But I don't know where the Reeve's saor-shelb is."

The Inn Keeper smiled at Heather, “It's okay. When you are ready, come and see if Methak's awake. He can guide you there.”

The bean-cheangail nodded as she finished her breakfast. “Thank you for breakfast, Maighstir Balgair.” She reached out and snagged Lucy's empty plate and disappeared into the kitchen.

When she returned, she was drying her hands. “I'm ready when you are, mo maighstir.” Without thinking, she knelt at his side and patiently waited for Balgair to finish his plate. When he was finished, she started to pick up his plate.

"I'll get that for you, sister," Lucy commented as she grabbed the plate. "Why don't you take Maighstir Balgair to that little store on the corner."

Heather blushed, nodding. “Are you sure?”

The other woman nodded emphatically, “Yes, you'll look great in whatever he buys you.”

“If you say so,” the bean-cheangail stammered as she looked up at Balgair. “When you are ready, Maighstir.”