sinbound. [Akira & Earinor] [ENG]

"Teach us? Do they teach you? Aside from your Thrian teacher?", Caelan asked teasingly. Ronan knew a whole lot about those wolves, their habits and their lifestyles and Caelan would lie if he claimed it was useless knowledge. Why wouldn' they learn about their neighbours? But overall the wolves weren't of much interest to Adrestians, much like their land which had some woods, but otherwise was mostly icy tundra. What would farmers do there? Even hunters had it easier in Adrestias woods. Caelan didn't know much about the wolves besides what childrens stories told him, about them being savages, almost like wild animals, but even he knew that those stories were very much over emphasizing on their way of life. They might not have houses and walls, but that didn't mean they were wild. Either way, Caelan couldn't claim to know much about them. "You're amazing, you know that?", Caelan asked Ronan with another soft smile. He was glad to be able to look at Ronans face, without him looking back, fixating on that fresh scar of his, feeling guilty about it. "You're working so hard for Alster and you're learning about our neighbours." Meanwhile Caelan was a troublemaker or at the very least lazy, rather prancing about Fhaergus mountains than reading a book.

Caelan chuckled and acted defeated for Ronans sake. "Alright alright, there was no moan, just some red flushed skin and goosebumps.", Caelan purred, continuing treating Ronan with utmost care and loving gestures. This hut was perfect, no one would find them here and Caelan thought about just staying here for a week, instead of going to Fhaergus and meeting with his father. Why would they go there? Ronan was only sent here to apologize to Caelans family, but Caelan knew that nobody truly cared about that. His farher never was on Caelans side and would probably tell Ronan, that he earned that new scar of his due to his own stupidy - it had to happen at some point. Ronan wouldn't be blamed by him, oh no and that was good in Caelans book. He didn't need another old duke to be a dick towards him and Caelan was very much able to take the heat from his own father. "Why?", Caelan asked. "Well because it means I can continue I suppose." Caelan chuckled again and proceeded showering Ronan with love while he marbled at the young man who wore nothing more than a shirt at this point, his cheeks flushed red, his mouth slightly open to gasp for air and his hand grasping for a pillow.

"Well, no! But ... you're just teasing me now, aren't you!? Are you jealous or something?", he asked, not annoyed but rather intrigued by the simple thought that maybe, just maybe, Caelan was thinking about this the wrong way. The guy that taught him was nothing but a vagabond, a man that wandered through the world without aim, without any goals to fulfill and the worst he ever did was indulge a woman that was way, way too interested in the world that he offered her a glimpse into; and now, well, Ronan was here for a reason, wasn't he? It was almost comical, but he only snorted as he thought about Caelan maybe getting the wrong idea here. Would he accept the truth for the fact it was, or would he deny it? Would he rat him out? Ronan couldn't say, even if he knew that he trusted him quite a lot, all of this seemed not only excessive, hell, it seemed a bit much. "Amazing? Why that?", Ronan puffed his cheeks, annoyed at the connotation that this brought with it. My, what a gentleman Caelan could be; he was good at making him feel good, but sometimes he was just a bit too hard-headed, a slight bit too obsessed with him - hell, he was too into him, and Ronan had never expected that. Shouldn't he be the one panting and begging for the love he received, unconditionally, somewhere in these mountains? It seemed like hell would freeze over instead. "W-well!", Ronan suddenly stammered, his cheeks dusted red. "Someone has to!"

His father was not good at any of this, he wasn't nice or a good sport with any of this, and Ronan felt responsible, felt like he owed it to his mother who deserved so much more than what she got, but alas ... "See! Now you get me!", he happily agreed. Well, did he now? There was little separating them at this point and the fact that he pulled down his shirt even further now was quite telling of the fact that he didn't want to be seen ... theoretically. In a way, Ronan was introverted and shy instead of moody and loudmouthed, and Caelan was the best at wringing that right out of him, without force but a few simple touches. One trembling hand raised, he reached for Caelans face, for the still-healing wound he'd gifted him as he carefully ran his thumb over it and looked at the future duke of Fhaergus and grinned an awful lot about it. "It suits you, but that's a crude thing to say ...", he murmured. Ronan was happy about all of this, he truly was, because he liked it here, even if it didn't offer the usual comforts of a mansion like this one. A giggle, then he choked on it as it turned into another stiffled noise. "Come here and kiss me instead, you fool.", Ronan eventually demanded, his hand sliding from Caelans cheek to his throat and then his collarbone. Indeed, he was lonely.

Caelan chuckled. "I'm not jealous. I'm just saying that most others don't even care about mentioning the wolves." Ronan was like a hedgehog. Prickly and easily triggered - then he puffed up. But under all those stingers he was cute and soft. It was funny how he took every compliment as an insult, but maybe Caelan should start and try to get rid of that behavior. Ronan was amazing, but he himself was the last person to want to admit or see that. He constantly put himself down and although he had no reason for it. Caelan was sure his own father would like him. Ronan was humble, smart and hard working. He rather read a book than playing in the dirt too and he was the son of their neighbours duchess and that meant Allard of Fhaergus would be nice to him even if he didn't like him. Despite his own problems with his father, Caelan thought maybe having a grown up, another duke tell Ronan how smart he was, he'd be more inclined to believe it.

Caelan chuckled again. He didn't exactly compliment Ronan this time around, but his little hedgehog jumped on it anyway. Besides that he snuck the blindfold off eventually. The blonde stopped in his tracks when Ronan reached out for his face, running his finger over the fresh scar. The bone was all healed up and the stitches were out. It was red, the skin still irritated, but otherwise, the only thing Caelan noticed, was a bump on the inside of his cheek. "Hmm... well if you like it, I won't argue. I would come up with a heroic story for it, but it seems all of Adrestia saw you beat me, so that's that. If you like it though, I guess there is no reason trying to grow a beard over it." Beards were something for old people anyway. Ronans demand was heard by Caelan and he soon leaned downward towards him. He kissed him like he wished it. Eventually he lay down next to him, without letting go of his lips. He put his arms around him, softly pressing the small body against his own

"Oh, and that's so funny? You're a dork.", Ronan expressed - Caelan was like a dog, with nothing but good intentions, but sometimes he yowled about things that didn't even hurt; he was confused by and scared of the silliest things. Did he think that Ronan was going to run off to another country? Definitely not with a war brewing. "Tell you what, I won't run away if that's what you're worried about. How about I take you there at some point?" Caelan didn't seem like he was of a studious nature and he probably wasn't someone that took those studies seriously, either, but Ronan wanted to use their outing as an excuse. Political nature or not, they couldn't stick together like that if they grew up and became dukes, but if they had to go places together? Nobody would stop them. "What are you chuckling about, hm? What's so funny?" Ronan didn't even know about Caelan thinking him to be a prickly pear yet, and worse, he also didn't know that he was going to be faced with just a teensy bit more than his own doings. Maybe his head would explode from embarrassment, finally at that, and he'd make do. Caelan was so mean sometimes.

With the blindfold gone, he could look at the blonde again and actually think about what they were doing and even see what was going on, too. That thing would heal, better than it already had, but it would stay a scar regardless, wouldn't it? "If you grow a beard, by the gods, I'll never kiss you again until you shave it off. I don't need some prickly hair in my face." Ronan wasn't even sure if he could grow a beard - there wasn't a lot of thrians who could and even with some adrestian genes, that didn't mean anything, to anyone, either. "Everyone saw me cutting up your handsome face, that's about it, I don't think anyone will fault you for making up a st-" Caelan shut him up with a kiss, Ronan took it, gladly at that, his hands following the blondes body as best the could, even as they now lay with each other, bunched up together in Caelans arms. There was nothing about this man he couldn't love, even if his kisses were endless, it seemed; he pulled himself away eventually, to catch his breath, and put his own arms around Caelan, too. "You'd look odd with a beard, please don't grow one.", he chuckled, but honestly, Ronan meant it.

"You're the dork for not taking my compliment.", Caelan grinned. He wouldn't lose this argument, Ronan should finally accept that he was smart, knowledgable, hard working and so many more things. "I never said that and I didn't even think of it. You belong here, don't you? Asshole dad aside, we just can't choose them, can we? You can have mine, if you want. He sucks, but he probably will like you. You're smarter than me and less... wild I suppose. How about I just give Fhaergus to you? It's just a tiny place added to Alster, won't be too much work." Caelan was joking, sure, but he didn't want to be duke someday, he didn't even know how to. Ronan was better suited for the task, he wouldn't lead his countrymen to doom, unlike someone as stupid as Caelan. "You're funny.", Caelan answered his little hedgehog with another grin. "You're like a hedgehog. Prickly and full of thorns but also very cute. They sometimes sleep in our garden during the winter." Did Ronan ever touch one? Probably not.

Caelan couldn't help but laugh about Ronan very much disliking the idea of a beard on Caelans face. It made him somehow want to try it, but also kind of not. If he truly wanted to see how it looked, he could just try one during the winter when he was locked away from Ronan anyway. Caelan quickly shut down any more ramblings about how Ronan hurt his beautiful face or something like that and kissed him instead. He held him close and tight while he played with his tongue. He wanted to stay in this hut instead of going home. He felt Ronans fingers on his back and arms, they were cold, was Ronan cold? Maybe they should move closer to the fire, or maybe he just needed to squeeze him more. When their kiss ended he smiled at him. "Why? I think my uncle looks good with one and I'm told we look very much alike... wait on second thought he kind of looks like a lumberjack." Caelan chuckled.

“Pah!” Ronan pouted; Caelan was being himself at that very moment and he couldn’t help but find that as endearing as he sometimes found it irritating. Not in a million years would he want to share Caelan with anyone, keep him all to himself, no matter how difficult either of them could be. “Your dad and your country? You’re being too generous. I don’t think I want either, I just want you, nothing else.” Ronan looked at Caelan, wringing out a wry smile to show him that he meant it - there was absolutely nothing wrong with that, with giving Fhaergus to him, but he doubted that he’d enjoy it. There were only so many things he could do with that block of ice, weren’t there? At least he could keep his lover closer. “I’m like what now?”, he retorted, his cheeks dusked pink. That was ridiculous, but at the same time, he loved to hear any and all compliments Caelan offered him. Why was he so irresistible? “You don’t want me to move into your garden, do you now?”, the half-wolf teased back.

Ronan was planning his escape - perhaps much like a hedgehog would - though getting through Caelan wasn’t easy and not even something that he necessarily wanted. Why already give up what he’d never get his fill of anyway? Out here, everything was peachy - nobody cared to disrupt them, they could be with one another and Ronan loved to be aware of that, the silence that nobody could break, the respite that both of them had out here. They could be fools with one another and they didn’t need to care about anything but themselves; their worries would be washed away in a sultry kiss like this one. Did he love Caelan or his kisses? Sometimes, even that was hard to say - Ronan wanted to argue he enjoyed both, for their own reasons. Too bad they needed to breathe, though. “I’ll be the one that gets a beard burn and you’ll be the one that needs to maintain it. What if it doesn’t grow over your scar? It’ll look ridiculous. Besides, you love me more than you’d love a beard, don’t you?”, Ronan tried to reason, still pouting about the eventual possibility. “How about I give you fifty kisses instead?”

"Well I come with Fhaergus I suppose.", Caelan smiled, still trying to bargain his country away. He wouldn't, but it would have been easier if he had siblings, or cousins at the very least, but no, he was the only heir and it scared him. His old man would live for plenty more years and yet he couldn't imagine eventually taking up the task of being duke himself. Maybe all those stupid things he did with Cameron and now Ronan were just a means to try and not get any older, to try and be a stupid young man instead of someone with actual responsibility. He envied Cameron for having so many siblings, older ones too. "A hedgehog.", Caelan reiterated. "Why not? You'd be close by all the time." If they had no responsibilities could they just live like this? Was there even anyone in this world who had enough time to relax? They both probably shouldn't complain. They had time to take some days away from everyone, even if they had to continue on to Fhaergus tomorrow. Did they have to? Maybe they could just stay here.

"Fine, no beard. I didn't think you'd be so against it, but I guess it's not very stylish at the moment. I could have set a new trend!" Caelan chuckled again. Ronan found so many reasons against it. Well it was fine, Caelan wouldn't grow a beard then and he'd probably look way too old anyway. "I'd get those kisses anyway.", Caelan teased while he let his hand run along Ronans spine. "How does it feel to be the strongest fighter in Adrestia. Not even a scar to show for, you're invincible!", he laughed and it was true. Ronan didn't have any scars on his body, he had perfectly smooth skin unlike Caelan. That's what he got from being dumb though. The only scars Ronan held where the ones on his wrists. Caelan didn't enjoy thinking about it, so he leaned forward to kiss Ronans neck as if he could think of harming himself again if Caelan didn't shower him in love constantly.

With Fhaergus? By the gods, right, this idiot came with an entire nation. "As if anyone would ever give me Fhaergus, well, unless they are called Caelan of Fhaergus, I suppose." And smitten by the likes of Ronan of Alster, who was nothing more than a blushing mess, harboring secrets from a man that would lay down his life for him, it seemed. This was stupid, much like Caelan was, and Ronan would be happy to shove him off, and yet, he could hardly do that, knowing what Caelan was on about a bit too well. "Oh come on.", Ronan responded with an unamused - or maybe amused? - snort of his own. A hedgehog? It fit, prickly like he was at times, but surely, there had to be something better than that. "Personally, I think the distance is just about right. If I lived in your garden, you'd spoil me for no reason and I'd not be doing anything but spoil you in turn, mister. Don't even think about it!", Ronan reprimanded him after the thought had already occured, quite a ways aware that even if he became a hermit in Fhaergus' courtyard, the literal one at the back or front of the estate, he would never hear the end of it from any of the sides involved. Some would be appalled by his willingness to throw it all to the wolves, literally and figuratively, while others would likely mess with him for being so smitten with Caelan, even in thirty years.

"A new trend? Did you want to look like fifty while being twenty? Absolutely not. Eugh. And it stings, too." Ronan would never grow one of his own, and he was fine with that - taking care of his appearance wasn't something he necessarily was too attached to, and with a beard to trim, he'd likely be very willing to throw himself to the flames, like the idiot he was. Why did it all come down to a beard, then? Ugh. Caelan and his stupid ideas. "Fine, you would." Just for that, he showed Caelan his tongue, seeming to be somewhat of a sourpuss about it, even when he knew that the tall, dreamy blonde was anything but appalled by his general personality. What was so endearing to him about a prickly asshole of a hedgehog, anyway? Before he could even think further than that, the brute was kissing him again, no, slobbering at him like a dog and Ronan couldn't help but giggle - this tickled for no reason, even after the dumb question that he'd just been asked, he couldn't bite back his giggles and his overall love for this man. Not once had he been able to do any of that. "The strongest? That was luck, because you were needlessly distracted by my own ailment, and now look where that got you. Your poor face, destined to be beardless forever because a beard would look stupid with that scar ... well, maybe it wasn't so bad, then.", he waxed on, stroking the blonde, strawy hair Caelan called his own in comforting ways, as best he could. What an idiot this man was - couldn't he be selfish just once so Ronan would feel better about wanting to leave him all alone in this world someday?

"I don't want it and my father doesn't want me to have it either. He should have just gotten another son. I'll happily step down, it's not even too late I guess." But Caelan had no simblings, not even a sister, whyever that was. Caelan wouldn't complain if he wasn't to inherit Fhaergus and instead a little brother would. He admired Cameron for his freedom, with all his siblings before him in line for the throne of Stenz, there was no way he'd ever rule. He was free to do whatever he wanted while Caelan was not really but he abandoned his duties anyway. Not that his father gave up any responsibilities anyway. "What's wrong with spoiling you?", he asked grinning. Ronan would be spoiled to no end in Fhaergus, not just by Caelan. His father would make sure he had a pleasant stay, no work, just fancy dinners and a fancy room and the occasional tour Caelan would give while his father prayed that he didn't do or say anything stupid. He'd kill Caelan himself if he knew of anything that was going on.

"If it gets long enough it won't sting and maybe it would cover up the scar." Caelan kept kissing Ronans neck, he seemed to enjoy it after all. "it might even draw more attention to it, to my battle scar. Maybe that's a good thing." Caelan himself didn't mind too much, at least for now he felt like there was no real reason to be upset about it. Nobody could yet say how it would look when it was fully healed, right now his body wasn't even done recovering and maybe it looked cool rather than ugly and unsightly. He already knew his father would never let him hear the end of it though, but at least Ronan seemed to have gotten used to it by now. "Do you want to go to sleep by the way? We gotta get down the mountain tomorrow, should be fine though. After though we'll pass some meadows. They're beautiful around this time of year. If we're lucky we find some wild berries along the way. Once we arrive at home my father will probably not let us go again for the day. 'Let him rest', or something like that, but the day after I'll show you the town and maybe some more. You better think of telling my father your favorite food as well, he'll want to make it happen."

"You know you can't wind your way out of that.", Ronan reminded him, even when it was obvious he needn't. What other solution was there to a problem that was entirely in their heads? An obvious solution was nowhere to be found and frustration seeped into his very being at the mere consideration that why, yes, there was nothing to be gained from toiling about in this relationship in the first place. It needed but one mistake, one fuck-up so to speak and they were both disgraced, if not executed immediately - Ronan had no idea what Caelan's father would do, but Darragh? Surely he would use every excuse in the book he could find to rid himself of the thorn in his side, of a son that wasn't his. The duke-to-be sighed, wished it was never him that would one day rule, that Declan could take the burden that birthright had tied to his legs like heavy stone, before tossing him into a well deeper than whatever height a mountain Fhaergus could span. Fate would watch him toil, endlessly, both in body and mind, that much Ronan was convinced of. "Nothing. You're just being ridiculous.", he teased, very much willing to bury himself somewhere between beneath the covers and Caelans unyielding embrace that gifted him more comfort than he could ever ask for.

"You just want an excuse to grow a beard, don't you?", he huffed in vain. Whatever this man put his mind to, he seemingly got when he wanted it and Ronan was in no mood to have a fight with him, especially not over trivial things. "Fine, but you'll have to take care of it, and if it stings me just once, I will shave it off myself." In Caelans sleep, perhaps, that seemed to be the easiest time for something like that, didn't it? Without him having much of a chance to protest - Ronan envisioned the beard itself, thinking of it as a fairly ridiculous, still. Caelan, for better or worse, would look quite ridiculous and Ronan, who had done so little in such a long time, wrapped his arms around the blonde instead. "Knowing you'll run me ragged tomorrow, I would like some rest, yes. But I'd like a kiss first." Another, then - one of several, of two many, but out here, stuck in the middle of nowhere, not even the most watchful of eyes would ever take note of this liaison that neither of them was to engage in, but what was it to them anyhow? Tossing all worries to the wind was just about the dumbest move he could pull, and yet, Ronan cared about nothing but Caelan in this moment. "Beautiful, huh? I'll be the judge of that ... not that I don't believe you, though. Still, we'll see ... and do I really have to? I don't mind eating whatever you want, I'm really not that picky." Who even had time to come up with a favorite food? Ronan liked sweet things, he was ridiculous for it, but he could never say that to someone elses face, as if it were some embarrassing fact that needed to be hidden, much like the intimacy of this relationship was. "Your father sounds like he'll be more work than you are sometimes."

"I know... I'd like to just jump on a ship with Cameron and sail away sometimes. It's not like I'm made for being a duke." But he was well aware that he was to protect his people that his family protected for generations now. It wasn't for anyone else really and it didn't help that he knew a lot of the people living in Fhaergus. Their country wasn't big, he sometimes joined the hunters, especially in winter, he sometimes got his own bread from a local baker instead of sending someone too and maybe, just maybe he had a fling with a girl or two. When there were bigger festivities the lords and the folk camw together, celebrating, even someone as stuck up as his father attended and inquired about any troubles his people might have faced recently. When his father died and Caelan wasn't there, what would become of them then? "Stop being so against me loving you", Caelan let out with a light chuckle. "I know you hate it at home, I'll just have to keep you here then."

Caelan looked at Ronan and shrugged his shoulders. "I just want to keep all my options open." He wasn't sure yet if the scar would look okay on him or if it was better to try and at least cover parts of it. Maybe he was a bit vein after all. "I will do no such thing. My home isn't far anymore, we won't need to rush." But they couldn't waste away until lunchtime either. Caelan gave Ronan the kiss he asked for and then some. "My father wants to be a good host and probably also wants to apologize for having to take me in for so long. He's going to do his best to make you feel welcome. Just come up with qny dish you'd like he won't deny you." Judge him quietly maybe, but when didn't he?" He has his own standards and he also thinks the world is working in a certain way. Don't worry, he doesn't mean any pleasentries, he just wants to be polite... "Caelan sighed a little and adjusted his pillow. His father was good at pretending and acting incredibly nice if he wanted to. He knew Ronan would some day rule Alster and that was reason enough to have good relations.

"Don't we all? Less the sailing part, and more the being away from it all part. If I were that happy about becoming duke myself, I hardly would crawl away from home and spend some alone time in a hut in some modest village." Not that anyone needed to know of him scraping by like that in the first place. Many would call it disgraceful, shameful even, for a young lord like himself to flee from both his home and duties as he pleased, to hide among the commoners who often were less lucky, in both their upbringing and lives. While Ronan toiled for but a week or two at a time, they did so all their life. "We should be happy we are as privileged, still. Even if it sucks sometimes." No one else would live up to their name, or have fun managing things as they did - it was no labor intense work, however, it only needed ones brain and a bit of daring, and that was that. Nobody needed to toil about in any field, or spend hours at a time in a mine, away from daylight and fresh air. "I'm not against it.", he disagreed. "I'm just being honest." When wasn't he? His distaste for the many things other people did was often easy to hide, and yet, at Caelans side, it didn't matter how catty he was. "Oh? And what are we going to tell my parents? That you liked me so much you had to have me for yourself, hm?", Ronan teased him on purpose now.

"You sound like you're scared it'll look bad, or not fade well enough. It'll be fine, you're just as handsome as before - I'd argue it makes you even more appealing." Hard to hide, easy to see, like a badge of honor worn among the medals on a code, each with a story and none the same, but Caelan sounded like he wasn't happy about it, not this time, and Ronan could hardly blame him. "You will do no such thing? I'll be the judge of that. Not that I expect you to.", he expressed. Ronan was well aware they were joking about just now and none of their words really carried any weight with them, or held much meaning to the naked eye. "Fine, I will come up with something. What about you? What's your favorite dish?" Sleeping sounded divine, surely, but talking to Caelan was even better, given that they didn't have all the time in the world with each other. Did they even know each other that well? Ronan still felt as if most of this was some surreal dream come to life. "I get it, it's not like my parents are any different." With a sigh, Ronan kissed Calean as well, then pulled on their blanket a tad. "I know, I know ... I'll be nice and appreciative, not that I haven't been." In the end, he buried his face against Caelans chest.

"I just want to see and do things, I can't do that tied down in Fhaergus. Don't get me wrong, I love this country, but I'm not made to make difficult decisions and sit around all day. I want to see more of Adrestia, I want to see uh... Thria, or however you call it and the south, maybe try and cross the ocean to wherever that would lead." He would never be able to do any of that, he'd have to eagerly await all of Camerons stories and adventures he couldn't partake in. " I guess, but I think I'd be better off just being a hunter, or a farmer, or a lumberjack, even if it meant I also couldn't travel." He knew how to hunt, how to cut wood and how to tend to a farm, to his fathers disdain. It was impossible to go unnoticed in Fhaergus, but Cameron and him worked some odd jobs here and there just to try it for fun or when they actually needed some food becaue they didn't bring enough funds and wouldn't use their names alone. "Maybe we should just strengthen the relationship between our neighboring countries, you can be an ambassador of sorts, or my hostage." Whatever fancied Ronans father.

"Whoa it's weird switching roles like that.", Caelan complained because Ronan for once was the positive one in this conversation. "As long as you like it, but I feel you're just being nice, especially now. It hasn't even fully healed yet." There was no need for bandages anymore, but the skin was still thin and discolored at parts. After their kisses Ronan cuddled up and Caelan wrapped his arms around him. "My favorite food? Any roasted meat is good, I think rabbit might be my favorite. With some roasted potatoes. Not a big fan of soups to be fair, get em too often in winter, but I assume Alster is the same. It gets pretty cold for you too after all." He understood why that was, but he never was a fan of mushy carrots." I don't know, your father wasn't very welcoming towards me.", he mused. Ronans mother barely talked to him outside of dinner either. It almost felt like she was always on the other side of the estate somewhere. He only really saw much of her during the tournament when he spotted her talking to Allard. Well, his own mother was very quiet too, very uptight and always agreeing with his father.

Caelan really wasn’t wrong, his worries anything but unfounded, but Ronan couldn’t shake the feeling that those were something he couldn’t alleviate in a single conversation. What did it matter if the two of them grumbled over something so trivial, though? Other people simply had it worse than they ever would, something he didn’t need to blurt out - both of them understood it all just fine. “Noble ambitions. How do you plan on getting around without speaking a lick of the language, huh?”, Ronan bit back a chuckle - they had talked about that before, he was fairly aware of that, and yet, he couldn’t help but feel within his right when it came to teasing Caelan. Whatever ounce of self respect it was that this man ought to have, Ronan liked toying with it and making him rely on others, even when he lacked the clear ability to strongarm him into it, words hopefully sufficed. “An ambassador? Now you’ve gone mad, and besides, if you do kidnap me, wouldn’t that mean our countries would want relations with one another even less?” Darragh would abandon him if he could and an opportunity like that seemed almost enticing - no more Ronan and no more Allard, what more could a man like him ever desire?

“Didn’t think I had it in me?” Seeing the good in the world was anything but his strong suit - he couldn’t blame Caelan for being surprised, just as much as he couldn’t blame himself for being reliant on him at times. Ronan huffed against Caelans chest like an annoyed cat, about to incite violence with its claws, let nothing come of it and in the end, lay still in the other mans embrace. “If I was just being nice, I’d layer it on thick, but I’m not into you just because of your looks. Your personality, your laugh, the way you seem to infect all those around you with some degree of joy, it’s intoxicating. A scar isn’t going to change anything about that.”, Ronan tried reassuring him, making an attempt at sounding as convincing as possible. “Just roasted meat and potatoes? That’s so very easy … and yes. I don’t mind soup, though, as long as it’s not just clear broth with nothing in it. That gets boring pretty fast.” And it wasn’t filling, which seemed like the less important part in all of this. “At least he didn’t ask for your head on a platter immediately, that’s as friendly as he gets, believe me.” What kind of reassurance was that? Ronans kind, it seemed - the very same man that snuggled so very close to his boyfriend and didn’t seem interested in letting go again. “Sleep well, will you now?”

"I can communicate without words. I'm not worried and if all goes south Cameron and I can hold our own.", Caelan answered with a slight smile. He'd use his hands and feet if he needed to. Ronan seemed like the kind that planned everything before he did something, who would learn the language of the south too, before he ever even set foot in there, just in case he needed it. Caelan lived in the moment and he wasn't afraid of most things. "That's how they used to keep peace in darker times right? Before we had a king uniting us." Daughters were pawned off all the time, not that it was much different now, but it was less about leverage and more about sharing blood, noble blood at that. Caelan tired of these things, he never had the feeling he was more special than anyone else in Fhaergus, or elsewhere in Adrestia for that matter. Sometimes he didn't feel like his fathers son at all, but looking at his uncle, or portraits of his grandfather it was very apparent that he was of the same bloodline, the blonde hair and blue eyes he sported aside.

"Thanks...", Caelan mumbled. He was used to compliments to a degree, but this felt a bit too honest. Was this how Ronan felt all the time? "It will be even harder to hide who I am though.", he sighed half jokingly. He liked his freedom and the fact that not everyone just knew how all the Adrestian nobles looked like. Caelan rarely wore Fhaergus colors when he travled with Cameron and mostly just left his fancy stuff with him to get it back later. Now with this scar he was easy to describe. He wondered what people were saying anyway, about the tournament, about Ronan and about himself. Caelan pressed Ronan a bit closer, just holding him tightly. "It has to be cooked right, with the right spices. But yeah I guess it's easy, we don't have that many things in Fhaergus, especially not in winter. If he didn't eat soup to use what we have stored for the winter, we get a rabbit every now and then, which is nice, you know?" Sometimes he was amazed with the foods Orlando kept bringing along from the south or just simply Olette. Stenz wasn't much better off in winter, they mostly ate fish, they did that in summer too though. "Well I don't like him either.", Caelan replied. "Good night..."

Ronan wasn't the most enduring, nor was he the most loving at times - he was right to see things inbetween the cracks, right to fail to figure out what it meant to really be someone he wanted to be, but that didn't mean he could love Caelan any less anyhow. There were no two ways about his infatuation with that man, the one that held him so very close right now, and the one that made it downright impossible for him to ever think of a future that didn't encompass him as well, in some way, shape or form. This was stupid in the first place, wasn't it? Ronan was plagued by all those thoughts alike, even when he drifted away from all that was important - the world around him lost shape, lost form, turned into gibberish losing its purpose, serving him not a moment longer as it disappeared all into shapeless infinity. Was he wrong to call his dreams a waste of his time, even when they soothed him? Thinking of them as a darkening hinderance, an omen on the endless horizon, simply soothed his mind that already was two steps ahead of him - whenever had it been that he had been himself, his own man, someone that could care less about what others had in store for him, when in reality, he was so much less at every angle? Doubting himself wouldn't help anyone, Ronan was aware of that, and yet, he couldn't help himself anyhow.

The tiredness overtook him in droves and spat him back out someplace yesteryear, at a point that felt multiple hours too late and far too early at the same time. Ronan had a hard time stirring in the morning, none of that was any secret whatsoever, not that it hadn't ever been. When he finally could fight his own body for some semblance of control, his low blood pressure an enemy he could hardly always name, he felt as if he was peeling himself off of Caelan, their skin glued together for even just a smidge too long. A groan followed, though, it sounded much more akin to a bit of a yelp, and was quite unhappy - whoever had said the likes of Caelan himself had to be like this? "Morning...", he grumbled, unsure if he was early to wake up or if the other man he shared the night with simply had had the grace to be nice enough and wait until he was ready. Sitting up was a pain - he felt lightheaded the moment he did, and his entire body felt more like that of a corpse, limbs dangling at his side and all; being seen like this clearly wasn't what he was out for, but it seemed downright impossible to not let Caelan see. A groan followed as Ronan pivoted back down into bed on purpose, and cuddled back up. "So tired."

Caelan felt a bit down when he fell asleep, which was not totally unlike him, but definetly not common. Usually he didn't think too much about his father or his destiny as a duke, or his vanity, but tonight he did, right before bed and it felt a bit unresolved. Ronan fell asleep fairly fast while Caelan lay there awake for a while longer until he finally managed to distract his brain with something else and fell asleep as well. He didn't dream of much and when he woke up it was still dark outside the little window. He decided to let Ronan sleep a bit more and dozed back off too. He only opened his eyes again when Ronan stired in his arms and sat up. He never had a good time waking up and he told Caelan before that he shouldn't make it too comfortable for him again, or he'd never get up. Something about his mind fighting for control over his body. Ronan already fell back down, but Caelan simply sat up together with him holding him.

"You told me to wake you up in the mornings.", he whispered softly and started to gently rub Ronans chest, hoping it would help him. "And we don't wanna get moving too late, my father might get upset. Only with me and I'm used to it, but still. Don't want him to send a search party for you." Caelan actually liked getting up early at times, even though usually he didn't have anything to do. Cameron slept long usually, but Caelan just felt bad for not filling his day with as much as he could possibly fit in. They'd have time for more breaks overlooking the valley or gathering some berries on the way if they got moving early. Eventually Caelan got up and made sure Ronan didn't lay back down. "Take your time, I'll check the horses meanwhile.", he smiled fishing for his shirt and pants which he quickly put on. He stepped into the other room to wash his face with some cold water, then put on his boots to look after the horses.

Too late? Wasn't it already too late to have that kind of regrets? Ronan felt groggy, maybe partially because he really didn't want to leave Caelans side and partially because his body was fighting for something, anything, while his mind was busy chasing after ink black dots speckled throughout his mind, chasing after dreams like a predator would chase after a deer. Did he hate it? Maybe just a little. With a sigh of defeat, he let himself be manhandled - as promised - and for once, he was glad Caelan was actually listening to what he had told him, not that he didn't, but it seemed as if he really needed that. Feeling this weak and vulnerable in the mornings also made him feel somewhat stupid about it, who else needed another mans touch for something as simple as getting back up? What a crass way to think of it. "Mhm." Sure did. "I know ..." Caelan had already told him as much yesterday and what kind of behavior would it be to let a lord wait, no less the father of the man he loved? Not that Allard of Fhaergus would ever get to find out, not over his dead body, if only to protect Caelans integrity; Ronan himself, though? It wasn't like he had much to care about aside from Caelan anyway.

Warmth spread across his chest from where he was touched, gradually warming him up - the attentiveness, the caressing, the lovingness of this mans touch, it all made little sense to deny him a gentle peck, but before Ronan could muster the courage and strength to plaster Caelan in them, he had already gotten up and was out of his grasp. What a pain. With a groan, he finally forced himself out of bed, his legs a bit wobbly and the lack of blood to his head apparent; was that too fast? With another disapproving noise, he let himself fall back onto his ass on the edge of the bed, sat there for a while and then, finally, forced himself up again, this time without issue - he put on some clothes, knowing that they better got going before long, then went to wash his face before, finally, poking his head out the door. "Caelan?", he called into the white nothingness beyond, checking to see if he was still where he'd said he'd go.

Caelan gave the horses some hay stored away up here and also made sure they had something to drink. He brushed them for a bit and figured he could also check how much wood was still stored here. Maybe he'd have to get more up here eventually, or send someone. Caelan turned his head when he heard Ronan who also managed to get up. "Yeah?", he asked, walking over. It snowed a bit overnight, but only up here. The valley would be much warmer, but for now he softly stuffed Ronan back inside and followed him. "It's pretty cold out, you should put on your coat.", he told the one who was always cold anyhow, even though he himself only put on his shirt and nothing else when he went out.

Now he also got the rest of his clothes and put them out. "Are you hungry?", he asked Ronan. They did have some left from yesterday. "I dunno what we can forage on the way but it will be a bit until we're far enough down. If we keep the pace we'll arrive in the early afternoon if you can manage that long." While Ronan was a bit slow in the mornings, Caelan, usually not being the most tidy person, at least put the pillows and blankets back in order, so everything looked at least fine enough for the next time someone came here. Then he stopped for a moment for a yawn and a big stretch. He flinched when a sharp pain ran through his face. He wasn't completely healed up yet, no yawning, noted.

Ronan shivered even before Caelan put his hands on him to put him back inside but that made it even worse. Caelan was warm, was comforting and Ronan? He was anything but, which sounded odd at first glance, but it was the reality of it all - was that why he preferred being so close to him at all times? Like a cat, caught redhanded for seeking its owners warmth, he tiptoed around the subject in his head and considered his options. "You're warm enough that I don't need one. Besides, I wasn't planning on staying out, just wanted to make sure you hadn't been swallowed up by the snow." It was unlike him to worry about the now and here, yet not unlike him to worry about Caelan - his cautioness seemed like a doubledged blade in the wrong hands, forged by a man that had nothing but himself to blame for cutting down another when his words finally struck true. Ronan still regretted it, didn't he? Too much as well, like someone that would never get over how impervious some people seemed to be to any commentary regarding their looks. Was Caelan regretful as well? His brain served him few answers today.

"Not really?", he mumbled, then thought about it again. Their food going to waste was one thing, especially when Ronan was the one that complained about just how good they had it last night no less. "We should eat. I'm never hungry in the morning, maybe it'll help." The immediate switchup was likely enough for concern form anyone that wasn't Caelan - Ronan wouldn't back down now, he was enjoying himself and he looked at the piece of eyecandy, his boyfriend, a bit too long. What a horrible liar he was. "I can manage that long, you're doing me a disservice here.", Ronan grumbled, then put on his best fake scowl as he stared Caelan down, before closing the distance between them, tiptoeing to give him a kiss. Why was he so ridiculously tall? That sucked, too. "Does it hurt?" Surely it had to. "Sorry ... I'll warm up the food, okay?"