Throughout the entire meal, avoidance had become the word of the day. Every question and answer was carefully crafted in order to avoid certain topics. It was a difficult and uncomfortable dinner but Maya and Dakran had done their best to stay light-hearted and focused the conversation around the children who barged in at some point during the meal and occupied the remaining seats at the table.
Laughter and giggles quickly filled the room with a different kind of energy. Her eyes pricked at the sight, and gripped the edge of the seat to steady herself. They were beautifully dressed, all very buoyant and cheery. Except for one, who sunk in his chair and eyed Dakran every once in a while with a hard stare. Noting the unspoken question, Dakran filed her in on the details. Leigh was his name. And he was a pest. He seemed amused at the boy's temper, as his eyes slid to him meeting the hard stare.
" He isn't pleased that he has to behave," Dakran added, smirking from behind his glass of wine and winking at Maya.
Maya blushed, in the very same instant while Leigh scoffed. It seemed that there was a silent war going on between Dakran and Leigh for some strange reason.
" He said he wants to make Maya his wife when he grows up," Dakran carried on, adding to his initial thoughts as she eyed the boy in the chair. A head full of tarnished red hair, beautiful honeyed skin, and the most piercing dark brown eyes she had ever seen, shifting from Maya to Dakran, his expressions changing accordingly. Soft on Maya, and glaring at Dakran.
It was impossible to keep at bay the smile that crept on her lips at the pure adoration he showed whenever his eyes fell on Maya.
The children drowned out any possibility of having any kind of conversation, and she settled for watching them and Maya as she attempted to reign in the rambunctious bunch with little success. Corvin had made himself scarce at one point, with the excuse that he had some things to deal with in Gaerwen.
Finishing her meal, Iris said her good beyes to the children and those at the table. Maya joined her to show where she had been lodged for the next few days. Climbing up the stairs, Maya hooked her arm into hers and clasped her hand in a gentle, comforting touch.
" You can stay as long as you want," Maya began," Not just for a few days. We are very much like your family. A lot has come to pass over us and there will be more to come," She took a deep breath," Ironstone is your home as much is ours. Don't feel that you have to go through everything alone, " She paused in front of the inlaid door, and turned to face her, taking both hands into hers, gently rubbing the top with her thumbs," I don't know what you are going through but I'm here," She added in the softest tone she ever heard anyone speak, full heartedly. Sweetly smiling Maya nodded to herself when she remained silent at the offer. Not that she didn't want it, but she felt as if a lightning bolt had crested the skies and struck dead on her, rendering her unable to speak. Such kindness didn't come as shock, but it was rather unexpected.
" Thank you," Iris finally managed to mumble as Maya slowly released her hands and all of the sudden she felt lost at the lack of her soft touch.
" If you need anything at all, please come find me or anyone, for that matter and they will readily provide you with what you need," She felt the need to swallow even though her mouth was dry, and her throat was gritty. Green eyes met hers and the kindness that shined through them all of a sudden felt suffocating, taking away her ability to breathe or just simply be near Maya.
Nodding, Iris stepped back to distance herself, and said good night to her, wary or plainly too tired to deal with everything at that moment.
Closing the door behind her, Iris leaned against it and let out a heavy breath of relief.
" She can be a lot to take. I wonder sometimes, if there is a mean bone in that woman's body," Corvin's deep voice resounded in the dimly lit chamber but he was nowhere to be seen. She should have known that he would be waiting. Lurching in some dark corner, stalking his prey. Her.
The sisters rejoiced, groaning in pleasure in her ears inflicting interminable suffering with their lewd thoughts.
" She makes you afraid doesn't she?" Corvin continued, " She is perfect and everything that your sorry ass broken self is not," He added, and the creaking sound from the corner of the chamber drew her attention to it as he stepped out of the shadows into the light.
" How are you, Iris?" He asks, lips curling up in a rather sly smile, as his eyes raked over the entirety of her body. The sisters went completely mad at the ravishing look he gave and began squealing and giggling so loud that she forgot what she was feeling.
" Silence," Iris snapped at the sisters, while Corvin's brows quirked so high that they almost met with his hairline, surprised at the bark in her tone.
After a few moments of observance, he nodded," The whispers, " She felt relieved at the knowledge that he understood he wasn't the intended target of the bark.
" Yes," Iris breathed out her admission, seeking his gaze, and trying to find a notion of understanding in him.
He nodded after a few moments of ruminating, " What do they want?" He asks as he stalks over to her with long strides and stops a breath away from her, peering down at her in a way that makes her hold her breath. His gaze was piercing, demanding, searching deep within her soul. The feel of his rough knuckles scraping down her cheek felt comforting in a way that she couldn't quite explain.
A hum of whispered approval dragged her back to him. It wasn't his, one of the sisters relished his touch far more than she should have.
Another barked request for silence, had him drop his hand to his side, keenly waiting for the answer to his question.
" They wanted to see you," A mumbled, begrudged response from her made his grin widen.
" It appears that I'm coveted in all the realms, " He boasted proudly, raking a hand through his thick lush locks. A few stray draped over his forehead, as his hand reached the back of his head, raising his eyes to peer at her from behind his lashes, devastatingly handsome. The sisters had gotten into her head. She was seeing him differently. Ways she hadn't looked at him before or denied herself the right to do so.