[ P ] Freedom Rings

gwydion

It had been days, maybe even weeks since he'd last seen his sister. She'd been there when he'd gone to sleep one moment then gone when he'd woken up the next. He had no idea where she went and none of the guards seemed interested in talking to him; they just scoffed and told him to shut up. He'd even tried yelling into the darkness for her... but no reply came. His stomach twisted with nausea as he sat in his cell alone thinking where she might be and wonder if she was okay. He didn't realize it but night had fallen over Rionnach and the guards were switching shifts. He was about to lie down when one stopped at his cell and looked in. He looked up, curiously.

"Gwydion?" he said in gruff voice. The boy swallowed and nodded his head. "Y-Yes?" He heard something jangling and then the cell door swung open. The voice urged him to follow and he reluctantly got up to do so. "Where's my sister?" he half-heartedly demanded. The man said nothing as he ushered him up the stairs and out into the night. There was a chill in the air but all was quiet. His eyes adjusted to the moonlight quickly and he followed the figure onward. He didn't know what else to do and eventually after many hours he found himself on the edge of a vineyard in Edinburgh.

"This is where we part ways. Head in the back, through that door. Good luck and remember... this never happened and you never saw me." the guard growled. Gwydion swallowed, taking that as more of a threat than anything else. he watched the guard go and then he looked towards the door, confusion coloring his youthful features. He drew a breath and stepped inside. There, he saw someone he hadn't been expecting at all. "Aurora?"

Dumfounded, he bounded up to the girl and drew her into a hug, hopefully not startling her in the process. "W-What's going on? Where are we?" he asked, having no clue this was his great escape.

code © gemini

AURORA HELVIG
Kiss Me Softly

Anxiety consumed her as she paced back and forth, had she been heavier she may have put a dent into the floor as she waited and panicked far more than she ever had before. She was an accomplice, oh heavens she felt like she was going to be smited at any second but she also didn’t feel like she was doing anything truly wrong. She believed them, after so much horrid contemplation she believed them. They weren’t sinners, they weren’t criminals, they were individuals that had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and part of it was her fault. If she hadn’t made Elias and Orlaith come here, Orlaith never would have gotten tangled up in this mess, she would have never been caught. She would have been free. Gwydion was another story; she didn’t know why he was here, but it had made her heart weep to see him cry.

What if she was wrong to think them innocent, what if she had been fooled in letting out wolves that were about to hurt everyone she loved? Highlanders were always said to be primal schemers, they could be no different. No. No. That sounded so racist. Surely, she knew by now that was just propaganda and things the Mainlanders said but it was so easy to fall into the mindset of which she was raised. Putting others into boxes went against everything she believed in but-

What if they hurt her mom in the process?

What if anyone got hurt in the process?

What if they got caught?

What if-?

She felt like she couldn’t breath as she closed her eyes tight, teeth clenching as she brought a paw to her chest, trying to still the racing heart within. It almost hurt how tense her chest was, she felt so close to passing out. This wasn’t good, maybe she should call one of the servants into the room before that could happen, afraid of what might become of her if she fell unconscious without proper care after the fact.

Just as she was about to lay down, if she did, she wouldn’t smack her head on anything; footsteps would come toward the entrance. She barely heard it as her heart strummed loudly in her ears, fear gripping her to go to speak but before her eyes could bring the scene into focus her name would be cast into the air before suddenly something enveloped her form.

Not something. Someone.

“Gwydion?” she said softly, her body loosening against his form before tears would well up into her eyes only making it harder to see him. The reds would flood her blurry vision, gaze like an unpolished crystal as she batted away the fog that made it hard for the teller to see. “You m-m-made it! Th-thank goodn-ness,” she chimed, burying her face into his fur as some tears streamed down. She told herself she wasn’t going to cry if it all worked out and yet here she was doing what she did best, looking like a damsel instead of the one at the forefront of the plan. She would remain there for a minute or two, hardly registering what was going on as her breath was quick and shallow but would slowly regain some balance. The lightheadedness would lessen, and embarrassment would slowly swell in its place as she pulled her face away from his body, feeling heat swell.

“Oh ummm. Sor-ry,” she said, drawing a paw up to her cheeks, pawing away the tears bashfully. “We are at my family’s v-v-vineyard manor, you’re safe here. You should be, at least. I h-hope. It was the only place I could think of t-t-t-to hide you. Plenty of space, rooms and there are so many sh-shady wolves that come here- well,” she didn’t want to call him a criminal but that would be the quicker approach. “You won’t stick out m-much. The clientele is so diverse from all walks of life and it’s far from the castle. The K-King called most of the army to the Mainlands, so hopefully they won’t bother you away from i-i-it, h-h-....h-here,” she smiled a little, for the moment forgetting about all the worries that had her almost collapsing, so happy to have him out of that jail cell.

code by claerie
@Gwydion

gwydion

"Oh, don't cry Aurora. It's okay!" he said as she buried her face in his fur. He drew an arm around her shoulder and tucked her away from the world as best he could. He didn't know why she was so upset but he was happy to be here now; happy to try and help her through whatever it was. He had no idea of the anxieties that plagued her prior to his arrival and if he had perhaps he would have offered they take a step outside into the cool night air. Instead, he simply held her until she pulled away and apologized. "Don't be, it's nothin'" he said with a small smile as she wiped away her tears.

She continued to tell him he was at her family's vineyard manor and that he was safe here. His ears began to burn as a worried look cast a shadow across his face. "H-Hide?" he fumbled the word, blinking a little as realization dawned on him. "You... got me out of there?" he asked, squinting a little in confusion. Why would she go out on a limb like that for the likes of him? He just couldn't understand it, but he trusted her when she said he was safe here. "How long do you think I'll have to stay? I have to tell my parents, they'll be worried... and Orliath, she's disappeared. I have to find her--" he started to spiral, feeling his own anxieties well up as his breath hitched in his throat. Oh, what was he going to do?

code © gemini

AURORA HELVIG
Kiss Me Softly

“I’m n-n-n-not trying to, it just won't stop,” she countered back between sniffles, though it was rather muffled against his fur and hardly sounded snippy at all. If anything, it was the softest her voice had ever been as her tail gave a few very meek wags as he held her there. It wasn’t like she expected him to push her away but at the same time she felt like she deserved it, that it would only be right after how she behaved in the jail. Maybe she was the one being too hard on herself but if she wasn’t perfect then she wasn’t worth anything, and she always fell so far from perfect no matter how much she tried. Now isn't the time to think about being a failure in every aspect of her life.

She was tempted to try to wipe the tears off his chest but didn’t want to possibly get any mud on him should her paws not be pristine, not that it would be that noticeable even if he did have some dirt on him. It would probably just look like one of his brown markings so long as it didn’t stay the shape of a paw print. Taking in a breath, she tried to ignore the bits of dampness, hoping it really didn’t bother him like he claimed. The more she spoke, the less she would focus on it till the point it left her thoughts entirely.

Her ears would flick forward and then fall back as she gave him a small nod to both questions, finding her voice not wanting to work at first, looking away from him guiltily. The whole process had been unbearably uncomfortable, but his reaction made it tenfold, and she was near going into a panic attack all over again but trying to remain strong for as long as she was in his presence. “Y-yes. I couldn’t stand to see you cry in a place that you didn't b-belong,” she said softly, gently brushing her nose against his cheek if he allowed, gently trying to coax him into a hug of her own as he fell further and further from the present. She had to be the strong one when the other was weak, about the only time she could be.

The mention of each member of his family would cause her to freeze up, not liking the idea of him running off and risking being caught all over again, that would make all of this fruitless. “I don’t know, until everything settles. There's a d-d-draft, soldiers are everywhere, Mister Gwydion,” she answered the first question before going silent for a moment, using a paw to try to lift his face. “I’m not sure wh-where she is exactly but sh-shhould be safe with Elias. He wanted to get her out the second I t-told him where she was…giving me the idea to s-save you too,” she finally would say, assuming he knew who she was talking of. She did hope so, not wanting to have to explain something even more complicated.

code by claerie
@Gwydion

gwydion

“I’m n-n-n-not trying to, it just won't stop,” she protested, and he only offered a small but hopefully comforting smile as he continued to hold her through her crying. He felt on the verge of tears himself but somehow managed to refrain as she told him that she was indeed the one who had gotten him out. That man who'd led him here... she must've bribed him and for that he was both grateful and resentful. He didn't want her to waste her money on him but to finally be out of that cell was almost worth it despite being essentially thrown into another one. At least this new 'prison' of his wasn't so damp and dark. "Thank you," he said humbly. He didn't know what else to say.

The next thing she told him had him more in shock than anything else. A draft? The soldiers would be everywhere looking for wolves to throw into the Army and that was something he definitely wasn't interested in. He couldn't stand what they had done to his brother, Arran, what if the same thing happened to him?! His dark brown ears flicked as she told him that Orlaith was at least safe, with someone named Elias. "Who is Elias? Are you sure he'll keep her safe?" If she told him she trusted him than Gwydion felt he could trust him as well, he just hoped she was right. His sister meant the world to him and he didn't want to see her hurt. "I'll be careful until things settle... okay?" he murmured, brushing his nose against her cheek.

code © gemini

AURORA HELVIG
Kiss Me Softly

Her eyes closed in wait to be chastised for doing as she had. It was exactly what she thought she should get and yet his voice would reach her ears giving her something completely opposite. Dual toned orbs would look up and meet his sky blues, finding herself in a trance for a few moments before gently letting out a timid hum as if to say you’re welcome but the words would never touch her lips. She didn’t think she should be thanked for doing such a deed, therefore she couldn’t truly accept it unless there came a day when she stopped feeling so guilty. “I just hope mama hadn’t taken a s-sh-shift without telling me, that he didn’t hurt her at all? Aside from l-letting you out, had he touched anyone else? He pr-promised he wouldn’t but…” she asked anxiously, had she hands they might have gripped his shirt collar but all she could do was gently rest her paw against his chest. Ears drawn back, expectantly, worried for the safety of others.

She only hoped Sir Victorian hadn’t followed her here, the last thing she wanted was for him to find out a she remembered her guard she had dodged to make it here.

Carefully, she would remove herself from his hug, realizing having his scent on her could spell much disaster for both of them. It could already be too late but maybe no one would notice. She could only hope. Maybe they might grow curious, wanting an answer or two of where she had been or who she was with, but surely other wolves didn’t just know Gwydion’s scent by a single whiff. That paranoia would be put on pause as he asked the question, she hoped he wouldn’t. Taking in a breath as she tried to find an answer that was to the point enough. “Elias… was one of my suitors, Uncle wants me to marry. He’s a cold, pp-posh, distant snob but your sister seems close to him, he s-seemed concerned for her too. I don’t think he’d hurt her,” she replied reluctantly, instantly regretting saying such mean things but she was honest. “And he’s also…I’d like t-t-to think, my friend but he probably doesn’t.”

He already forgot who I was once, I was never important to him from the start.

Swallowing as he touched her cheek, she didn’t stop him, but she didn’t return it either as her prior thoughts entered her head. She'd go to take a step back after a few moments passed after accepting it, turning her back to him as she tried to get the rest of the moisture from her face. It was unsightly for a man to see her grooming herself. The best she could do was this to keep him from watching her lick her limb to brush against her face. “You can go a-anywhere around the vineyard; I’ll ensure the tenants treat you well. They are a boisterous, welcoming s-sort. S-s-so I’m sure you’ll quickly f-f-feel at home here by the night’s end,” she turned her head to smile at him warmly.

Maybe just taking a whole bath would be better than washing herself like this, knowing of the rivers and beaches not too far from here. It was the whole reason the manor was here, a perfect spot for irrigation to keep the crops healthy.

code by claerie
@Gwydion

gwydion

"I didn't see her there at all and he didn't hurt anyone. We made it out without anyone noticing... I didn't even notice that was what was happening until you just told me," he said, feeling stupid for not realizing what was happening. He hoped to sooth her worries with that and some of his own-- he didn't know what would have happened had they had to fight their way out of the dungeons. He'd probably still be down there and for even longer if that had been the case.

At the explanation of who Elias was, Gwydion blinked. "Suiter?" He would never understand the way these nobles worked, he guessed. "I hope you're right..." he said, in regards to his sister. He felt a pang of jealousy that he had not been able to get her out of there himself but to hear that she was at least likely safe was a relief. "And I'm sorry..." he murmured, nudging her gently as she mentioned she thought of him as a friend but he didn't likely feel the same. She didn't need to humor him, then, in Gwydion's eyes. As she peeled away from him, he felt a coldness where she'd left but he didn't retreat nor follow. He sat down and watched her curiously as she stated the conditions of him staying here for his own safety. He had to get word to his parents at the very least somehow... "Okay, I'll try and stay close but is there perhaps a rookery not too far from here? I could send word to my parents to tell them at the very least I'm okay," he said. "If I'm going to be here a while I have to give them something, you know? Imagine if you couldn't tell your mother you were safe."

code © gemini

AURORA HELVIG
Kiss Me Softly

“What did you think was happening, M-Mister Gwydion?” she asked with a cant of her head, curious as to what else could have possibly been the verdict within his own mind. Not being in the situation herself, she had a hard time understanding the machinations that might flourish when being taken from jail without a word beforehand. Part of her wished she could have alerted them before any of this happened but that other part of her, she sucked in a breath nervously as she felt like they would somehow out themselves like fools before any plans could be made. Each little piece of the puzzle was meticulously crafted, her thoughts always buzzing to this, that and the other thing until a full web could be connected between them all and hopefully no holes were left.

It seemed she miscalculated.

The subject being shifted to Elias would be far from the topic she wished to push any further but it seemed his questions were endless on the matter. Taking in a breath she would nod as he inquired about suitors. “Yes…I’m so-sorry I didn’t tell you before. I’m a Mainlander noble, Aurora Helvig is m-m-my full name…” she introduced with a small curtsy. “Wealth tends to be the main focus surrounding me, arranged marriages are fairly common in the Mainlands to achieve it, binding honor and wealth by marital contract. I’ve been e-e-expected to be put in one since I was a child,” she smiled meekly, though her gaze would not remain on him for very long. Hoping for that to just be glossed over and not be delved into further. It wasn’t a subject she enjoyed, even if it was one at the back of her mind more often than not.

His gentle attempt at a nudge wouldn’t go unnoticed yet she wouldn’t reciprocate the gesture she wouldn’t reject it either. Touch outside of family and servants was still so new to her, it made her bubble every time a friend would break that barrier but right now it didn’t cause them to invade as much as it might have a different day. She was too distracted by everything else.

She’d pause as he started to talk of leaving, her ears going flat on her head in an instant, but she wouldn’t interrupt him at all, listening to everything he had to say. She was so used to getting her way when she asked someone lower in hierarchy than her that it took her a moment to process this near refusal of such. “I don’t have to imagine it…I was in the same situation s-shortly after leaving your side in the Highlands. I couldn’t find m-mama then instead found Elias and Orlaith while l-lost and scared,” she confessed before taking in another breath and hesitantly nodding. “I could tell him for y-you and be your messenger birdie? He should be at the barracks if he listens to orders. All soldiers are t-t-to be in the Mainlands right now,” she offered, feeling like that would be safer than a bird that may relay it to the wrong wolf or blurt it out too loud.

code by claerie
@Gwydion

gwydion

"I honestly had no idea what was going on, I... don't even know why I followed him," he admitted. The trust he'd put into the guard had been implicit and he did not know why. He had family in the Army but he only still trusted one thanks to the others actions during the protest. Family meant more to him than politics, that much he had learned, and despite never feeling like it fit in well with his he would never turn on them given the chance.

Gwydion simply blinked in surprise as Aurora spelled it all out for him. She seemed worried on how he would take it but really how was he supposed to react? Was he supposed to recoil in disgust? Or perhaps burst out in anger? Neither of those options seemed ideal, or how he was even feeling, so he simply settled on a noncommittal shrug of the shoulders. "I don't care where your from," he said. He didn't care that she was a highborn and that he was not and hopefully she felt the same. This Elias she was supposed to wed turning eyes onto his sister, however, was suspicious in his opinion and he decided eventually he would meet this other boy and determine if he was suitable for his sister-- if that was what was even going on, he didn't have much to go off of to deduce this other than his lack of affection or loyalty to his supposed betrothed. "And you should marry who you want," he added. She shouldn't be arranged into a marriage she did not want and he hoped that some day that would happen for her.

As he told her that during their first meeting she had gotten separated from her mother, he felt for her. Had he known this he might've offered to help her back home, as he knew his way around the Highlands well. They were his home.

Finally, she offered a better solution. She would be his messenger instead and he would not have to leave the comforts of the vineyard nor find a bird to relay his message. "Okay. My father's name is Baelfire and my mother is Sorcha. You'll probably have an easier time finding my father at the barracks like you said," he agreed. "Just tell him I'm safe and so is Orlaith... and that we'll probably not see him till things die down and it's safe for us to." It pained him to do this to his parents but they had to understand-- he would have no part of this draft and he would not participate in a war he did not agree with.

He just hoped that his father would be alive to see him after, should a war ever happen...

code © gemini

AURORA HELVIG
Kiss Me Softly

“That is… concerning for your hhhhealth,” she mused awkwardly, looking at him for a second after his confession. After a moment, she sighed and shook her head. “Than a-a-again I trusted you rather quickly and soldier a-are supposed to be safe,” she decided to draw back her initial statement, quickly realizing she also put her life at risk multiple times recently; regularly. Lorelei, Gwydion, Orlaith; the list likely didn’t stop there but she had put confidence in all of them not to harm her and none of them had thus far mere moments into meeting them. It would make her quite the hypocrite if she went on and berated him after being so careless herself.

She’d look at him in mild surprise as he protested everything she just revealed to him, not sure what to expect but for him to say none of it mattered made her suddenly greatly uncomfortable, not because he was accepting of her but because it denounced everything she had known. “Freedom to d-do as I please would be a wonderful fantasy, but i-i-it isn’t my future, Mister Gwydion,” she said, maybe a touch more curt than she should have. “Or my past.” she sighed, shaking her head just a little. Slowly she’d pull further away from him to think for a moment, trying to determine what was more appropriate to say than what actually came past her lips. “I’m sorry. It’s sw-sweet you don’t care who I am, my bloodlines, it’s just I- I don’t know much else,” she let out a guilty sigh. Yes, she had done things under the radar in means to learn things she would be reprimanded for by her father’s side but that paled in comparison to freedom like he had.

Carefully she would move back over to him, allowing her forehead to gently press into his shoulder, giving up on getting his scent off of her for now. It was too late to be worried about that, the hug moments ago already had tainted her. “But... I don’t care if you are a gremlin f-f-from the northern swamps either,” she giggled, trying to add a little bit of lightheartedness back into the situation instead of being doom and gloom the whole time.

Her head would raise back up when more in depth conversation would come to the forefront, ice glazing over him for only a moment before she’d look toward the doors with mild reluctance. He sure wanted her to remember a lot but she wasn’t a corvid, she could retain more information even if the words weren’t exact. “O-okay. He won't be h-hard to find I'm sure. Not too many all w-white wolves with a missing eye,” she smiled, not sure if this was a good idea either. Nothing sounded like a good idea, there were too many slips that could happen, too many questions that could be posed that she couldn’t answer without lying. She could lie, she was more than capable but she wasn’t always the most convincing. “Anything else?” she asked, waiting for any further instructions he wished for her to carry out.

code by claerie
@Gwydion