[His silence, she knows, is not necessarily a bad thing. As anxious as she is to hear his opinion, Rinea waits patiently. When he draws close to bring their foreheads together, she releases the breath she'd been holding and smiles. With one hand, she cups his cheek; with the other, she grasps his over her belly.]
To hear you say that means more to me than you can imagine.
[A small vacation for just the two—three?—of them certainly sounds enticing. After all this time, court life still has a way of exhausting her. But they both have obligations to such a life.]
Will it be a good time for the king? You are one of his advisers, after all.
Do not worry, I will leave one of my trusted retainers to act in my stead. I trust them and Alm enough at this point to not leave the kingdom in shambles while I’m away for a week.
[He sighs, thinking this would be the last time they would get to enjoy themselves alone for a long time.]
Where do you suppose we take this trip? The mountains? Or perhaps a quaint cottage by the sea where uninvited guests won’t bother us?
[Sometimes Berkut goes overboard, but such is his nature as one who was raised to never settle for any less. With a quiet laugh, Rinea concurs.
The day of the vacation arrives. They've settled into the cottage, and Rinea doesn't fear that it's just the two of them this far out in the continent: Berkut is here, after all. When the opportunity presents itself, she sets out with a shawl around her shoulders to walk on the sand by the ebbing and flowing tide.
The breeze is cool, lightly tossing her hair behind her. It's a refreshing change from the controlled climate of the castle interior, and serves to invigorate Rinea in spite of the additional weight she must carry in her swollen belly. Her feet will tire before long, but until then she'll enjoy this with her lord husband by her side.]
[Berkut only wished for the best for his beloved, and used his family’s cottage for the week. A breather and perhaps the last time they’d have extended free time for many moons. Just the two of them, with only a small handful of esteemed knights who stayed off in the distance to watch the royal couple. While peace ruled One Kingdom, even Berkut isn’t foolish enough to not cover his bases.
He wears a thin white shirt and shorts, enjoying the sea breeze and clutching Rinea’s hand and keeping her steady. He’s noted that her movements have been getting awkward lately as their baby continues to grow. He watches over the sea, letting the cool water splash up against his feet, and notes something shimmering in the sand.]
Oh? What’s this?
[He reaches to pick up the oyster shell off the moist sand.]
[Waddling around the castle like a pregnant feline had been an awkward affair, especially with so many gazes trained on her. But when she walks beside Berkut, even with the sands exaggerating her swaying, she feels at home.
Without so much as batting an eyelash when he stoops down to pick something off of the ground, she bends at the knees to help him along. There's a glint in her eyes as she smiles.]
My, how pretty. What will you do with it, my lord?
[Berkut chuckles as he notices his wife’s curiosity. He takes both hands and pries open the oyster, revealing a small pearl buried inside. With a look of triumph, he offers it to her, even though its unpolished and needed to be cleaned.]
For you my love. I promise to fashion it into some jewelry when we get back home.
[Tales of how pearls are collected don't elude Rinea, but to see it in person is something else. She receives of the unpolished pearl with both hands.]
Just this alone is already enough. Why, I've never seen anything like it until now.
[Berkut feels his heart swell with pride at making Rinea pleased as she could be. In truth he took hadn’t seen it before, his mind usually on other things when visiting a beach.]
It is lovely isn’t it? But please, tell me what you would like for it to be crafted into, be it a necklace or perhaps a ring to compliment your rings of matrimony?
[She pauses. Silly though her reason might be, she's come to a decision. A ring would serve as a reminder to herself and those who can see her hand of her lord husband's love. But a necklace . . . ]
How about a necklace, then?
[Even tucked under her collar, she would be able to keep his love close to her heart.]
You needn't worry, my lord. My body may be weary from carrying this child, but the breeze and tides here have been most refreshing. More than ever, I feel well with you by my side.
[Though she would feel most guilty if she were the only one enjoying these sights!]
About what may I ask, the sea? It is not a place I’m most familiar with, since the army usually travels by land. But I have heard Zofian waters are more pleasant and gather more tourists and visitors around. I’ve even heard the sea there is warm enough to partake swimming in. Still, I prefer the colder temperatures up north. And since this is a place less traveled, it means we can have peace and quiet. And I must say watching the waves is almost as memorizing as you.
.. or is there something else you were asking me about?
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fallenscion) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
lunchbreak2019-09-01 03:49 pm
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To hear you say that means more to me than you can imagine.
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[Berkut gently covers her hand on his cheek with his own, a quiet precious moment between the couple.]
Rinea, what do you think of taking a small private vacation, just the two of us, before the child is born?
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Will it be a good time for the king? You are one of his advisers, after all.
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[He sighs, thinking this would be the last time they would get to enjoy themselves alone for a long time.]
Where do you suppose we take this trip? The mountains? Or perhaps a quaint cottage by the sea where uninvited guests won’t bother us?
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It has been some time since we were at sea. Why don't we go there and enjoy the breeze?
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The day of the vacation arrives. They've settled into the cottage, and Rinea doesn't fear that it's just the two of them this far out in the continent: Berkut is here, after all. When the opportunity presents itself, she sets out with a shawl around her shoulders to walk on the sand by the ebbing and flowing tide.
The breeze is cool, lightly tossing her hair behind her. It's a refreshing change from the controlled climate of the castle interior, and serves to invigorate Rinea in spite of the additional weight she must carry in her swollen belly. Her feet will tire before long, but until then she'll enjoy this with her lord husband by her side.]
no subject
He wears a thin white shirt and shorts, enjoying the sea breeze and clutching Rinea’s hand and keeping her steady. He’s noted that her movements have been getting awkward lately as their baby continues to grow. He watches over the sea, letting the cool water splash up against his feet, and notes something shimmering in the sand.]
Oh? What’s this?
[He reaches to pick up the oyster shell off the moist sand.]
no subject
Without so much as batting an eyelash when he stoops down to pick something off of the ground, she bends at the knees to help him along. There's a glint in her eyes as she smiles.]
My, how pretty. What will you do with it, my lord?
no subject
For you my love. I promise to fashion it into some jewelry when we get back home.
no subject
[Tales of how pearls are collected don't elude Rinea, but to see it in person is something else. She receives of the unpolished pearl with both hands.]
Just this alone is already enough. Why, I've never seen anything like it until now.
no subject
It is lovely isn’t it? But please, tell me what you would like for it to be crafted into, be it a necklace or perhaps a ring to compliment your rings of matrimony?
no subject
[She pauses. Silly though her reason might be, she's come to a decision. A ring would serve as a reminder to herself and those who can see her hand of her lord husband's love. But a necklace . . . ]
How about a necklace, then?
[Even tucked under her collar, she would be able to keep his love close to her heart.]
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[He smiles, gazing at the stretch of beach before them.]
But enough about that, how are you feeling Rinea? I know your body grows tired more easily these days.
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[Though she would feel most guilty if she were the only one enjoying these sights!]
May I ask for your thoughts?
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.. or is there something else you were asking me about?