"Shall we?" Maximus held out his hand.
"Yes," she held his hand after neatly placing his robe on the chair and followed him to bed.
The lights of the candle flickered inside the room, warming them at the same time. During this commingling process, he preferred candles to magic lamps.
Lying on the bed, she couldn't stop staring at his face. His warmth was surrounding her through his hands holding hers and his body that was inches above hers. Resting on his elbows, his face was above hers and his misty breath calmed her down better than a calming incense.
"Close your eyes," he said, his voice soft as a feather landing on a silk sheet.
She wanted to look at him more. She tried, she tries to think of him as Luke's descendant and someone she should be wary of. But all her resolve would melt in those molten gold eyes of his.
She didn't know if it was her reminiscent affection towards Luke as Max shared his appearance or was it his name? He shares the name of the one person who loved her all his life. Or it could be the effect of the magic binding them.
"Does it hurt you?" she asked trailing her finger on his eyebrow.
She should admit. She didn't remember ever feeling this way. This overwhelming urge to touch someone. She knew of the concept of modesty. Men and women cannot touch each other as they please – it was something she was told very long ago by some old woman in her village.
[Well, I am not stopping unless he asks me to stop!]
"This?" he raised his eyebrows. "No," he leaned closer. "It helps me release some of my stagnant…" his eyes lingered over her lips. "Do you feel the warmth, Lexa? My warmth?" he asked, his lips brushing against hers.
Felixa took a gasp of air to cool down her burning lips. "Will it help?" she asked, trying hard to keep her eyes open amidst the pounding of her heart. "If you kiss on the lips?"
She asked not knowing that he had made him suffer by triggering his desires. He by no means has much self-control. Each day he lies near her, all he feels is a burning desire that rusts his self-control. But he must do this. The faster she gets better, the closer they can become.
Kissing her… holding her…
«When will I ever can?»
"Ah," he slumped on her. Resting his head on her shoulder, he breathed on her neck. "Tell me when you cannot carry me anymore. I shall get up," he let out a sigh.
Felixa could only see the top of his head. His fingers were playing with the tie on her nightgown. After he got bored with that he started playing with her hair.
[He's… weird…]
He wasn't heavy probably because he was not resting his entire weight on her. Not knowing what to do, she started caressing his hair. It was soft and fluffy, lulling her to sleep.
When she woke up in the morning, Maximus was not in the room as usual. Stretching herself, she got down from the bed. The rays of the sun fell on the table by the window and she saw the glistening brightness that scattered rainbows on the walls.
She walked to the table. It was Maximus' sword. A familiar feeling rose in her heart and her fingers gently traced over the scabbard. The scabbard was affixed with a lot of gems that she didn't care about.
The hilt was long and the golden pommel looked heavy with a big shiny white jewel in the center. She knew the pommel usually counteract the weight of the sword and judging by the size of the pommel, she could only imagine the weight of the sword.
[Well, why imagine when I can look?]
Her curiosity got the better of her and she lifted the sword. It was heavy and she almost dropped it but her lips curved to a smile. When her fingers wrapped around the hilt, she felt like everything had come together.
The blade made a "shing" sound as she pulled it from the scabbard. Placing the scabbard on the table, she held the blade with her other hand. She couldn't hold the sword in her one hand.
[What a fine sword..!]
She couldn't contain her grin as she lifted the sword to her eye level and took a careful glance. The sword was very sharp and well-maintained. And there were many runes marked on the sword. Runes that are very familiar to her.
Flashes of images popped in her head. One where she was in the center of a magic circle. She was casting a spell and it opened a portal to another world. Before she could figure anything out, the image changed.
She was on a battlefield on a horse, holding a sword to the sky as the place was filled with shouts of desolation. The sky was dark with no moonlight and even starlight didn't favor them. Everyone's heart was filled with despair and fear of losing, as their enemy was closing in on them from all directions.
Everyone was panicking that they had no way out. But she remembered being calm. There is still a way… Up!
She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. When she opened her eyes, a dragon, white as snow with eyes blue as ice appeared. It was glowing brighter than the moon and was swift as lightning. It breathed out mist and its scales shimmered like silver.
At that moment, the shouts of desolation turned to a roar of victory.
"Are you interested in swords, Felixa?"
That familiar voice snapped her out of her memory. Her heart started to pound out of fear. With a jerk, she dropped the sword.
*Clang*
The sword fell on the table as she was pulled into his warm embrace. She started to hyperventilate and she knew it won't end well if she acted like this.
"I'm not!" she said panicked.
Taking a sword caused a lot of misfortunes in her previous life. She wouldn't let that happen in this life too. She held her breath for some time to calm her nervousness. Then she brought out a smile on her face and turned to face him.
"I was curious if this is the sword you take to war. I was wrong to touch-"
"He's Silverlight."
Not letting her continue, Maximus interjected her.
"And he is my trusted accomplice," he picked up the sword and placed it in the scabbard. Felixa closed her eyes as the blade glided in and locked with the scabbard.
"With his aid, I've slain many a foeman," he cleared his throat.
Felixa observed as he stared at the sword for some time without even blinking. His lips were pressed to a line. Holding the hilt tightly, he turned at her. Out of reflex, Felixa took a step back.
"You want to come to the training ground tomorrow?" he questioned, his tone casual.
Felixa's heart was ramming against her ribs.
[What should I say?]