taros//words are made to bend

[LAYLA SHADOWBLADE .]

why promises are snapped in two, and words are made to bend .

On the list of things she should not be doing, packing to head out after a witch was top of the list. But the steward of Solitude had stopped her while she was getting in some archery practice amongst the imperial legion. Apparently the guards were having difficulty with a witch that had moved in to so ruins just outside of Solitude. He seemed to believe that the pregnant witch hunter stood a better chance than a well armed city guard. He was right of course, she knew exactly how to deal with a witch. From the sounds of things it was a lone witch. It was just one witch. She could handle one witch blindfolded with one hand tied behind her back. Her husband was not due back home for a few days by her best guess. She would have plenty of time to run out to a watch tower, kill a witch and be back, well before he got home. She would be leaving first thing in the morning tomorrow. She had returned to the house after dropping off her leather armor at the black smith to have it adjusted for her pregnancy. She'd made sure he would add in extra belts for more room to grow, just incase. She couldn't imagine she would be hunting witches the entirety of her pregnancy, but the leather armor was already getting too tight and this might not be their only child. He would not be finished until the morning, so she had no option to head out over night. It was a little disappointing. She much preferred facing witches in the dark, but if she waited for the following evening and her husband returned early, that would be difficult to explain. She did not like lying to Taros, but he had this perfect vision of her, and she could not… no, she would not ruin that for him. He worked too hard every day traveling so often to provide for her. He deserved to have his perfect version of her intact. Knowing that she hunted and killed witches, who were almost still man or mer would be too much for him. From the bedroom she gathered her knapsack from the wardrobe floor, her bow and her arrows from their place hidden under the bed, and her circlet of archery. The circlet and the arrows went in to the knapsack. Leaving the bow on the bed, she and the knapsack headed down to their little store room. From behind several of her cooking ingredients, she pulled out a three well sealed, unmarked flasks of poison and two scrolls. Taros was rarely interested in the food she purchased. It was a decent place to hide the poisons she used while witch hunting. She supposed she could have told him adventurers liked to buy poisons incase of bandits, but she doubted he would approve of her selling something so dangerous. She had some concerns about the various alchemy reagents she used coupled with her pregnant state, but she had never heard anything from the female mages at the college. True most of them were far too busy with research to stop and have a child. Once the scrolls and potions were safely in her pack, she added a few apples and a small loaf of bread. She headed back upstairs to pull a few septims out of the safe just incase, when she heard the front door opening. She had not expected Taros to be home yet. Her golden features drew in to a frown. She moved quickly up the last few stairs, tossing the knapsack back under the bed, and returning her bow to its normal place. Jumping to her feet, she felt a little dizzy. After a moment to steady herself, she straightened her skirt and headed back down the stairs , one had cautiously on her dagger incase it was not her husband who had entered. Thankfully at the bottom of the stairs she was greeted by her husband. She relaxed a little, smiling. "Hello, my love. You're home early." Not that she was complaining. She missed him terribly when his trade forced them apart. It would just be impossible for her to get out to Widow's watch, unless he rushed back off again. She would have to consider getting a message to the steward. Balancing a marriage, a child, and a secret career was hardly an easy task.

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word count - 740 . tag - taros . outfit .

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[TAROS SHADOWBLADE .]

we are all comfortable killers

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, background: #2e3233; width:250px; height:450px; padding:10px;padding-top:25px;] [/style]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, background: #2e3233; width:300px; height:450px; padding:0px;] [style=width:250px; height:40px; font-family: times; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing:3px; background-color:#transparent;]OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND MAKE EVERYTHING ALRIGHT. SO LET THE SEA AND SKY COLLIDE.

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tagged: layla/ pond words:

[/color] 778[/color][/div]

he had been gone for longer periods of time over the last few months, which was why he rushed the kill he was making this time around. he didn't want to leave his wife alone for that long anymore, especially with a baby on the way. he knew that it would be difficult, not because of money by any means, but my his own craving to kill. he loved seeing the blood pour over his hands and onto the ground; he loved seeing the body drop to the floor after ingesting poison, convulsing and twitching, trying to keep itself alive even though death was inevitable. all of it fascinated him and excited him, he needed it to keep himself sane, if you could call him that, really. either way, he was going to have to take fewer jobs and ones that were closer to home, so that he could support himself and his small family.

there was also the worry of missing his own child's birth; if he was out on a job, only to come back and see his child already born, he wouldn't be able to live with himself. there was also the big moments, like hearing them say their first word or seeing them take their first step. this was his first child and it was crucial for him to be there for all of the tender and gentle moments. plus, he wasn't going to leave layla alone to tend to their child, he knew that she would need help and he was more than willing to give it to her if she asked for it. in fact, he was willing to give her all of tamriel, if it were possible. his love for her was something he had never experienced and it just made him want to give her everything he had. he would cut out his own heart just so she could see that it only beat for her. it was corny and cliche, but it was true. she was everything he had ever wanted and needed, even though before he met her he didn't know either.

so, as he rode up to the solitude stables, he couldn't deny that he was excited to surprise his wife with coming home early. he knew he never did, in fact most of the time he would come home a day or two late, and it broke his heart. he hated letting layla down.

walking towards his home, he felt somewhat relieved to be wearing a simple white shirt with brown pants and a pair of fur boots, rather than his dark brotherhood uniform. he didn't feel like he needed to sneak or have that pressure of having eyes on him at all times. when he was in solitude, he could just be plain old taros, a traveling merchant. nothing more.

opening the door to his house that his wife and himself shared, he didn't call out nor did he want to make much noise. he would much rather surprise her, rather than just burst in. he always hoped that she was taking a small nap, like she had started doing due to the pregnancy. he was glad that she seemed to be slowing down a bit, at least in his eyes. maybe he was just seeing what he wanted?

however, layla wasn't sleeping and instead he was greeted by her at the top of the stairs. swiftly, he walked up the steps before he was two below where she was. craning his neck back, he looked up at her and smiled, "don't get too excited now..." he teased, being completely sarcastic before he flashed her a cheeky smile and placed a soft kiss to her belly, "i bet the bairn missed me." he joked before he chuckled and walked up one more step so that his face was right level with layla's. his expression softened before he lifted a hand and cupped her cheek, stroking the arch of it with his thumb before he leaned forward and placed a soft, slow kiss to her lips, showing just how much he had missed her over the past week or so.

when he had finally pulled away, he looked at her face and took in her features before speaking once more, "and yes, i am home early...i didn't want to stay away for too long, what with the child and leaving you alone...it's not fair to you." he explained before he ran his one hand to her hip before the other landed on the opposite side, before long he had his arms loosely wrapped around her middle, "i think i'll be staying home more often."

notes: i'm excited for these two!

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[LAYLA SHADOWBLADE .]

why promises are snapped in two, and words are made to bend .

In her opinion, their arrangement was perfect. True, she missed him terribly when he was away, but his long trips being so early in her pregnancy was better for their little family. When she got further along, she would undoubtably want him home more. Every day if possible when the baby was due to come. Layla seriously doubted that she could continue her trade much longer anyway. She wanted to. Someone had to do her job, and she was the best. But hiding her witchhunting from her husband had been difficult before she'd gotten pregnant. None of the mothers that she knew had adventuring careers. Her own mother kept to the college. There were a few mothers who ran the shops in Solitude. But she did not know one mother who kept an adventurous life style. Layla had been trying her hardest to slow down. The child growing inside her drained much of her energy. But she was not the fair, weaker being that her husband envisioned her as. She had a purpose and behind her Altmer exterior was the heart of an adventurous Nord. Solitude was a nice town, and more importantly a safe town, the kind that she might want to raise her child in, but she preferred the open roads, the mountains, and the caves. Sitting in the marketplace and watching as other adventurer's came through was almost painful. She could only pretend to love enchanting weapons for so long before she needed to be out on a hunt. And it had already been to long. She longed for the woods or the fields. She'd even have settled for a chance to sneak in to a giant's camp. The steward's insistence that she take the job had given her a small sliver of hope that she could still manage. But Taros's early arrival dashed that hope. She refused to let herself be disappointed in his early arrival. It was good that he was home. She had missed him while he'd been away as she always did. She may have had her secrets, but she did him. Loved him more than anyone had ever loved another, she was certain. They were having a child together, and he made her immeasurably happy as she tried to do for him. That was why she could not tell him what she did while he was away. She could not hurt him like that. He worked so hard to make her happy, he would have given her anything she asked for and she knew it. She would do no less for him. And what he wanted was Layla Shadowblade, enchanter and alchemist, wife and mother. So that is what she would be. Of course he did." She laughed a little as he kissed her middle. The little mer growing inside her had no conscious idea of what was going on yet she knew, but her husband was far to adorable when he talked about their child to correct him. He kissed her, a perfect homecoming kiss. "You know that I missed you too." She said softly. She was glad to see him. "It is fair, love. You work hard for our family. You're not away so often for your own pleasure. I knew what I was getting in to marrying a traveling merchant." She smiled and kissed him softly as he wrapped his arms around her. After a pause she asked, "Are you hungry? We could have something to eat, and you can tell me all about your trip." She would say very little of her time with out him. He was traveling across Skryim. She had spent the entire time in Solitude. The most exciting thing to happen to her was her work on a new type of health enchantment had half the effect that he'd hoped it would. That was hardly news worthy, when she perfected it, that would be worth sharing, but before then her input to the conversation would be about how tired she had been because of their child. She was certain that any stories he would have would be better than the epic tale of how she took many naps, enchanted a few things, and made a handful of healing potions.

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word count - 713 . tag - taros . outfit .

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[TAROS SHADOWBLADE .]

we are all comfortable killers

[/color][/div]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, background: #2e3233; width:250px; height:450px; padding:10px;padding-top:25px;] [/style]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, background: #2e3233; width:300px; height:450px; padding:0px;] [style=width:250px; height:40px; font-family: times; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing:3px; background-color:#transparent;]OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND MAKE EVERYTHING ALRIGHT. SO LET THE SEA AND SKY COLLIDE.

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tagged: layla/ pond words:

[/color] 500[/color][/div]

being away before he had found out that layla was pregnant had been hard enough, sure it was always nice to just get away from his life for a while, but at times he truly did miss her. it was crippling yearning sometimes that he could never really explain, something that he never expected him to feel for someone else. so, when he found out he would be leaving both his wife and his child alone, he knew that he wouldn't be able to concentrate on his jobs properly if he knew that he would be all the way on the other side of the country. it would take him weeks to get to the job let alone actually finish the job itself. in total he could easily be gone for a month, maybe a month and a half; that was far too long to be leaving his wife alone. so he stuck to the neighboring towns and cities. even went into a few caves and tombs to get some extra cash. he felt a bit better about himself but he knew, eventually, he would need to stop completely for a while and it pained him to think of that.

when she told him that she missed him just as much, she smiled at her and kept his arms around her waist. he knew that in a while he wouldn't be able to do so, so he tried to touch her and hold her as much as he could before everything as such became difficult. her words f encouragement and understanding made him fall in love with her all over again and he was reminded as to why he married her. she was smart and understanding, not to mention a goddess in every sense when it came to beauty. dibella herself must be envious of a mere mortal's beauty. keeping that smile on his face, he shook his head, looking her in the eyes before he leaned down and places soft, slow kisses to her jawline and neck, "i'm not sure why the divines blessed me with such a wonderful woman, but i'm entirely grateful that they have..." he breathed before placing another kiss to her lips, unable to help himself. he got like this every time he went away and came back to her actually home.

when she asked if he was hungry, he actually wasn't. he had stopped off at an inn on the way back home and had got a quick bite to eat. but, instead of saying that he wasn't. another answer came from his lips, "mmm, yes..." he started before he kissed her again, deepening it, "but not for food..." he murmured against her lips as he pulled her closer to him so that they were tight up against one another. there was a lot more that taros missed when he was away other than his own bed and his own home. a man has needs and he was more than prepared to fulfill them.

notes: gahh! so short. sorry! on another note, horny taros is horny...

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[LAYLA SHADOWBLADE .]

why promises are snapped in two, and words are made to bend .

Men were physical creatures. It was not a surprise to her when he replied that he was hungry for something other than food. The part of her that was a young wife who terribly missed her husband while he was gone wanted to agree to whatever he was hungry for. But, the part of her that was trying to grow a child disagreed with the plan. "Taros." She protested softly between kisses. It was a few moments before she was allowed to breathe again. She wanted exactly what he wanted. She may have wanted a few more words, a few more compliments, and a little more time before jumping right in to bed, but she did desire the same outcome. Her job as a wife was to do whatever she could to make her husband happy. Keep his home, carry his children, cook his meals, provide companionship and attend to his other needs. Sadly the second expectation was preventing her from seeing to the last one. She pushed her husband back, turning away from him, one hand pressed to her mouth. She struggled a moment focusing on her breathing. "It's not you. It's not you I promise. It's just your son." She'd been having trouble keeping down most food since she'd gotten pregnant. She had always tried to keep it under control when he'd been home, but their child had other plans. One of her hands found its place on her stomach. She slid her free hand in to one of his. "I'm going to need a minute, my love. Come sit with me." She said leading him in to the bedroom. Sitting on the edge of their bed, she tucked her feet up underneath her, tugging him to sit with her. She would need a few minutes rest before progressing in their physical relations. In the time that they'd lived in the house she'd tried to make it seem more like a home. Her first night there with him they had no furniture. Some blankets on the floor, a chest in one corner, and the two of them. Things had changed a lot since then. Their house had become a home. She had done her best to make sure it was a comfortable place to live. The furniture may not have matched and the green blankets on the bed may have been warn, but it was not the cold scholarly environment she'd grown up with at the College. They would have to add some things for the child before he came. This was a perfect little home for them. And Solitude was a safe city. She wondered for a moment if she would teach their child to hunt, or if her husband would teach them his trade, or if he would chose his own path. She pulled her husband father in to the bed, settling next to him, her head against his shoulder. "How long are you home for my love?" She asked, planting tiny kisses on his neck, slowly and gently as so not to upset their son. She would love to have him home for weeks upon end, but there were witches that needed taken care of. She could handle them now, while she was still in the early months of her pregnancy, but soon she would find herself confined to Solitude. Witches did not frequent the streets of large cities. Not often anyway. She had hunted a necromancer down in Dawnstar once, but they were few and far between. "I only ask," she paused to kiss her husband once more, "because I was considering visiting my mother once more before the child comes." It was not entirely a lie. She did want to visit her mother. There would just be stops on the way. Really the stops were more important. She knew how the visit with her mother would go already, and she dreaded the conversation. Her mother insist on convincing Layla to come and take a position at the college. Not that it was an unappealing offer, but she could not surround Taros with the frozen nothing that was Winterhold. Their child was going to grow up in a warm cozy house in a safe city where he could master any trade he wanted. She would not force him in to the cold studious halls filled with mages with limited options for a future. Magic had always been Layla's only option. She sighed. "I still have to tell her we're expecting. I know what she's going to say, and it is not an option I am going to consider. Don't worry."

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word count - 780 . tag - taros . outfit .

[/style][/style]

[TAROS SHADOWBLADE .]

we are all comfortable killers

[/color][/div]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, background: #2e3233; width:250px; height:450px; padding:10px;padding-top:25px;] [/style]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, background: #2e3233; width:300px; height:450px; padding:0px;] [style=width:250px; height:40px; font-family: times; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing:3px; background-color:#transparent;]OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND MAKE EVERYTHING ALRIGHT. SO LET THE SEA AND SKY COLLIDE.

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tagged: layla/ pond words:

[/color] 705[/color][/div]

through their kisses, taros could feel himself becoming more and wanting; he was madly in love with the woman in front of him and he couldn't deny himself of her essence any longer. he figured that she felt the same way, but when she had pushed him away from her, concern shrouded his face completely. she had never done such a thing to him before. but when she explained to him, he understood completely. morning sickness was unpredictable and relentless, which was why, when she apologized, he simply took her hand and turned her to him once more, "i'm sorry, my love..." he murmured before she ran his free hand up her arm to cup her cheek, "i just missed you so..." he breathed and pressed his lips to her temple. it was the truth. if there was one thing that taros never lied to her about was the amount of love he held for her. her perfection was expressed through him as often as he could, almost as if to make up for the lies he had been telling her.

when she explained to him that she was going to need a minute, he followed her into their bedroom and sat himself beside her. it was all to tempting to just lie down and fall asleep. he would be lying if he said the journey home wasn't a tiring one. instead, he stayed awake and allowed his wife to press kiss after kiss to his neck. chills ran up his spine as he closed his eyes and smiled to himself; his life had come so far and now he felt as if he was almost in a dream. it took him a while for his register her question and, after a few moments, he let out a soft groan before answering, "mmm, i don't know exactly. but longer than a fortnight." he explained before he turned his head towards her. their faces were only an inch apart before he spoke again, "i won't be needing to leave for another sale for a while. this time around brought in plenty." he admitted before he placed a soft kiss to her lips. he almost dove in deeper but kept her words in mind, knowing that she was probably still not feeling quite well.

he pulled away at the mention of her mother; he hated that woman. ever since himself and layla confessed their love, taros had been shunned and almost reprimanded by that woman. he understood why she was so adamant to try and seperate taros from layla; where else would you find a dunmer married to an altmer? it was completely unheard of and, honestly, poor layla was getting the short end of the stick. it was an accomplishment for taros to have managed to marry an altmer, but degrading for layla, a high elf settling for a grey skin. taros didn't exactly like to think about it, so he kept those thoughts at the back of his mind, hidden until the woman was mentioned, "do you really have to go see her?" he asked, though it was in a teasing voice. as much as he wanted layla's mother out of their life, he knew he couldn't do that, "i would offer to go with you, but i don't feel like have my throat slit." he teased before he chuckled and kissed her forehead, "though, i would prefer you not going alone..." he explained before he rested his hand on her thigh, "i already feel wary about leaving you here, behind city walls. but leaving you alone on the road? i wouldn't be able to sleep..."

her next words made his blood boil, but it wasn't aimed at her; once again it was aimed at the mother of his wife, "why can't she just accept it?" he asked her before sighing and resting his elbows on his knees, "i love you, i care for you, i provide for you. i give you everything you want and need. what else does she want from me?" he already knew the answer, but it still frustrated him to no end, "i just..." he paused before looking at her, "i want everyone to realize how much i love you."

notes: finally got it up! sorry it took so long.

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[LAYLA SHADOWBLADE .]

why promises are snapped in two, and words are made to bend .

Longer than a fortnight. Her heart both rose and sank with those words. A fortnight was a long stretch for her husband to be home with her. They could make up for lost time. There would be someone at the table with her at supper. She could get his help in turning the store room next to their bedroom into a nursery for their son or daughter. For the next fourteen nights he would join her in the bed. That was all wonderful, perfect even. But would make it impossible for her to get the bounty finished. The steward would give it to some green adventurer ready to make their name in Skryim, who would get themselves killed. It would be her fault. They did not need the coin per say. Her husband did more than enough to provide for him, and she was making some money selling her potions, but she wanted that hunt. Just one. This would be her last one till their child was delivered, she swore. Unless someone really desperately needed her, she had never been one to turn down a person in need. It was one of the things that her husband loved about her, she was certain. “I am so glad. We’ll have plenty of time together, this time.” She did her best to make sure that only her happy emotions were reflected in her tone. Layla knew that her mother could be difficult. It was hardly Taros’s fault that he was so disliked by her. She had been raised in a different setting than her daughter. Dark elves were not acceptable mates for high elves. Bosmer were preferable to the Dunmer but only by a hair’s width. Layla knew that the entire situation would be much worse for a brief time after her mother learned of her pregnancy, but once their child was born they would reconcile and her mother might even accept Taros as a person, instead of doing her best to pretend he did not exist. “I have to see her. I cannot write to tell her that she’s going to be a grandmother. Thats the sort of news you tell in person not by courier.” She would not dream of asking Taros to accompany her. Her mother would sooner destroy him with fire than feign any pleasantness even for her daughter’s sake. Taros and her mother were as likely to be friends as the Queen and Ulfric Stormcloak were to begin a sordid affair. The thought was an entertaining one. She was amused that he worried about her on the road. She could more than handle herself. She may have been with child but she was not so far along to make travel impossible, nor was she as much of a damsel as her husband believed. “My husband,” She clicked her tongue at him. “I will be fine on the roads.They are well patrolled for the most part, and the few parts that are not, well. I did train in the College of Winterhold. My destructive magic may be a bit rusty but I’m certain that it is like riding a horse. If you insist I can take the carriages." Traveling along the roads in Skryim, one was never really alone. Merchants like her husband, guards, adventurers, the Khajiit caravans, and numerous other citizens of Skyrim frequented the roads. They were far busier and much less dangerous than her husband made them seem. Bandits burned like wood. “She wants you to be a respectable Atlmer. She would love for you to have a position secured at the College of Winterhold. She wants you to be everything that I would positively hate in a man.” She ran her hand along the edge of his hair, pausing to kiss him twice. “You are nothing that my mother wants me to be with. It’s part of your charm really.” It was most of what had first attracted Layla to him. She had grown to love everything about him, but the initial attraction had stemmed mostly from rebellion. But that was in the past. In the present she was completely in love with him and could not find one thing about her life that she would change. “All that matters is that you and I and our child,” she took his hand and placed it on her middle, “know how much we love each other.”

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word count - 740 . tag - taros . outfit .

[/style][/style]

[TAROS SHADOWBLADE .]

we are all comfortable killers

[/color][/div]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, background: #2e3233; width:250px; height:450px; padding:10px;padding-top:25px;] [/style]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, background: #2e3233; width:300px; height:450px; padding:0px;] [style=width:250px; height:40px; font-family: times; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing:3px; background-color:#transparent;]OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND MAKE EVERYTHING ALRIGHT. SO LET THE SEA AND SKY COLLIDE.

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tagged: layla/ pond words:

[/color] 744[/color][/div]

it was nice to be home and be able to stay for more than just a couple of days. this time, they had a whole fortnight to be with one another and taros wasn't going to waste any of that precious time with his beloved. he could sleep in and just laze about all day, tending to his wife and making sure that she was as comfortable as she could possibly be. he had heard that if a woman put too much stress on her body, the baby could go into stress itself and die. the last thing he wanted was to lose his child and possibly his wife. they were everything to him and he now needed them in his life, even though he knew he was risking it all whenever h took on a job with the dark brotherhood. still, he knew that he wouldn't be where he was if it weren't for layla baring him a child. her words brought a smile to hi lips as he reach an arm around to gently rub her back, "i am your live-in slave for the next fourteen days." he explained with a beaming smile. it was obvious that taros was madly in love with the woman, what kind of man who do what he did for her, otherwise?

her reasoning was sound and for that reason alone taros cursed it; he wished for her to stay with him and not worry about her mother, not even have her mentioned in a breath. but, he knew that layla got what she wanted and who was taros to deny her of it? the woman was her mother, afterall, "mmm, you should just stay here and go when i have to set out again..." he mused as he kissed her neck, "we have so much time, i don't want to waste it." he explained before he placed another kiss behind her ear, "please?" he pleaded, wanting to be alone with her for as long as possible. it was rare for him to completely take time off; even when he was home, he was figuring out contracts and keeping in touch with astrid. this time, he cut all ties for a fortnight just so he could completely concentrate on his wife. obviously the boss lady wasn't completely okay with him doing this, but she didn't fight him on it, so he didn't mind.

after expressing his worry about the roads, he was slightly agitated that she was trying to reassure him. did she not want his company on the road? of course she did. he knew that. he also knew that her mother would not approve of him even setting foot on her land and would for sure have her mercenaries attack him on site. the thought alone made him clenth his teeth before he pulled his head up and looked at her, "you know how much i care about you? i'm only being protective because i want to make sure you're safe..." he explained, wanting to realize why he was always, "and i know that you'd be able to take care of yourself...but i'm just worried about our child." he added and shrugged before he placed a kiss to her lips. god, he yearned for her, but he understood as to why she couldn't. the sickness that went along with pregnancy was ruthless.

with his minute explosion of frustration over, heard listened to her words intently. her starting pointer didn't make him feel any better, but when she finished her statement, he looked at her from the corner of his eye. all he wanted as to show how worthy he was of her, even though now he still was dumbfounded as to how he managed to keep such a wonderful woman. each time she kissed him, he kissed back, unable to resist them, "is it, now? you find me charming?" he asked before he gave her a soft smile. he allowed her to take his hand and place it on her stomach, her words touching him in a way that no one else could. lifting his gaze, he looked her in the eyes before whispering those three words that he never thought he would be able to say to anyone, "i love you..." they were sincere before he leaned in and captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. it held all of the appreciation and love her held for her - not a hint of lust was shown.

notes: finally got it up! sorry it took so long.

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[LAYLA SHADOWBLADE .]

why promises are snapped in two, and words are made to bend .

She clicked her tongue, just the way her mother always had when she was about to disagree with something Layla had said. “Oh my love, you do not want to tell your pregnant wife you are her slave. I can not promise that I will not be tempted to abuse the power.” The chances that she was not going to take complete advantage of having her husband home with her for fourteen days were slim to none. “I would not dream of leaving while you were here, husband.” She smiled, as he kissed her neck, and behind her ear. She could not leave him even if she wanted to. Layla belonged right there with him. As long as he was home, she would be too. When the they had gotten married, she had made the decision to split her time between witch hunting and her husband. It had been her choice. She knew that being a housewife and keeping a little store was enough for some women. There were others who would be perfectly happy staying in and around their homes all day every day. There was more than enough for her to do. Clothes to be mended, plates to be cleaned, food to be prepared, and she was a very good enchanter and her potions always did what they were supposed to. She could have kept herself very busy around them house or as a merchant. She imagined if she expressed an interest Taros would find her space to have a real shop in the market. But a city life would be so incredibly, painfully boring. Never seeing anything beyond the walls of Solitude. Never running over the rough Skyrim landscape. Never jumping off a cliff face and hoping she was not far enough up to do any real damage. It was not always all about killing witches the whole time. Occasionally it was about more than that. She just could not imagine staying in one place for the rest of her life when all of Skyrim was waiting outside the walls. Safe and protected was more like prison than it was anything else, she thought. She understood why he thought he needed to protect her. Part of her felt guilty for not telling him why he did not need to watch out for her so closely. She was not the frail, college sheltered mage that her mother had intended for her to become. “You shouldn’t worry about our child. I will protect him as fiercely as you protect me.” She would never hurt their child. She may have had no interest in being a housewife forever, but she wanted to give Taros a child. More importantly she wanted to give Taros a son. That was what all men desired. A strong son to take after their trade. Having his mother’s atlmer blood would help their child immensely in his future as a merchant. Enchanted weapons always sold for more gold than their normal counterparts. But he stilled her thoughts with the three most perfect words that he had ever spoken to her. No matter how many times he said it, nor how passionately he kissed her after, they were always meaningful. “And I you.” She answered softly when they were forced to stop kissing for the need of air. She smiled keeping her golden forehead pressed go his dark one. They were going to be the strangest little family of mer. A merchant dunmer, his witchhunting atmer wife, and their half blooded child. They may end up being the strangest the strangest little family, but they would be the happiest little family in all of Tamriel.

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word count - 610 . tag - taros . outfit .

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