She closed her eyes, nodded and inhaled " I remember but with each day that passes seems further away. I still hope that one day it will happen." she opened her eyes and looked at him. Her tears had stopped, but the shine in her eyes was still there and wavered between surrender and control.
He frowned and, with a light touch, wiped the tears off her cheeks " I know it does!" he admitted " Sword or no sword, I'm here! I love you! I want you to know that even if you don't believe me and I understand why you don't. My mind is clear, and even if the sword has corrupted me, that little fact remains. I had fallen for you long before I touched the sword. Now that I look back at all the petty things that I said and did," he chuckled, "was because I'm selfish, and I didn't want to share you or your attention with anyone else!" he sounded candid. His voice was calm, and he didn't look away.
His hand settled on her neck, his thumb traced her cheek as if trying to soothe her " I'll admit that I desire you. You are a beautiful woman ", he cleared his throat "A wonderful woman, but you are also kind, sweet and strong. You don't need me, you don't need anyone else than yourself. I'm just here to cause trouble." he smiled " I love you for all those things not because you're beautiful." he finished his speech, with a crooked smile.
Iris, listening, frowned. She still didn't look convinced, but he knew it would take time to go back to how things were, but he had doubts about that. " I hope that once we return the sword and the bond is broken, you'll still feel the same." she smiled " If things are still the same, then we will put all of this behind us and rebuild, hopefully, better than last time," she said looking into his eyes. She leaned in and kissed his forehead. Her kiss was warm and loving.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tight, his face rested in the crook of her neck, and sighed. He let himself fall on the bed with her on top and turned to the side with her in tow. He pressed his lips to hers. It was a sweet kiss, loving and tender.
" How about we sit in bed for as long as we can? I'm sure that any moment now, someone will come and knock on the door," he suggested as he pulled away from the kiss.
Iris nodded and smiled " Sounds good!" She curled up in his arms.
He placed his hand on her back and rubbed the spot with his thumb. His chin rested on the crown of her head, and his breathing was steady, a soothing rhythm, to which she slowly drifted to sleep
Ian's lips pulled up in a satisfied smile when he felt her body slacken in his arms and kissed the crown of her head again.
He had made many mistakes, not by his fault entirely, but it changed things between them. He hoped that they would come out the other side stronger. He closed his eyes and drifted to sleep with her in his arms, smiling.
A knock on the echoed through the room. He opened his eyes and let out a guttural growl. He was displeased with the disruption. Iris's eyes fluttered open, and she frowned. She was still curled up in his arms. He didn't know how much had passed, but the sun wasn't at its zenith anymore. It couldn't have been that long.
" Come in!" he said and pulled himself off the bed.
Athan peaked his head inside and searched the room with his eyes, and nodded.
" We have finished the preparations for our departure. The load is considerable. I was wondering how will carry all that?" Athan asked while approaching the bed with slow steps.
" Find Dak! If i'm not mistaken. He kept the horses from that day. I never bothered to ask where but he will tell you. Make sure that they are well-fed before we leave! We will go along the border. We won't travel the main roads!" he said pensively." If all goes well, we will leave the day after tomorrow." leaning against the headboard.
Athan hummed. "When do you plan to return the sword?" he questioned, leaning against the bedpost, frowning.
" If the Ettrick accepts my offer, then before we leave. We won't need the sword if he stands down. If not, then never, I guess!"
" We will need it. I'm sure it will come in handy when dealing with them and Azra."
" You plan on wielding the sword?" she asked, a little shocked at the news.
" If I have no choice, I will have to use it. I guess that will complete the ritual Ettrick was speaking of, and that will be the end for me. I will try and persuade him, but I doubt that he will easily bend. It's not long now, and we will have our answer." he finished speaking, raking his hands through his hair that, now, was much longer. He hadn't even realised.
Iris stared at him. Her expression changed from shocked to sad and settled on a sorrowful look. He knew his decision would hurt her, but he had no choice.
" You should've talked to me about it. This is not something that you can come back from. Once you complete the ritual, you won't be able to walk in the land of the living." her lips set in a thin line " What about us?" her voice faltered, pleading.
Ian smiled, but it wasn't his smile " As you said, I've changed, and I might never be the same again..." he inhaled " I will never be the same again, and I don't think that is something you're willing to accept. Tell me that isn't true, and I will return the sword even If Ettrick doesn't agree." he said sullenly.
" Leave us!" she snapped, turning her attention to Athan, who was spectating, leaning against the bedpost.
" Did I stammer?" she spat again, and Athan took his leave, looking over his shoulder.
" Pettiness, it's not a good colour on you!" she noted, her expressions hardened" I never said that I'm not willing to accept the fact that you've changed. I'm doubtful of your feelings for me. Now, you're turning this into something else, and I don't think that if you keep going like this, we will fare well!" she replied, a little annoyed at his attitude.
Ian hummed and pulled himself off the bed " Then I guess that you won't miss me very much once I'm gone!" he smirked over his shoulder.
She followed and grabbed his hand, halting his steps " Look at me, you stubborn ass.." snapped angrily " You are making a mistake touching the sword. If you want to touch the sword so bad, I tell you now that you'll have to go through me first." she sounded angry, hurt as she turned him to look at her.
The temperature in the room suddenly dropped. Ian heard a faint crackling sound in the silence, and the window began to freeze. Stray snowflakes floated in space out of nowhere.