Everlight Family/Isana/Closest
Closest Combatant
Everlight
"Touch!" Isana's ringing tenor calls the halt in a room crowded only by shushing footwork and staccato contact.
She falters backward to lean one-handed against the warm-toned wood wall, chest heaving. Standing firm in the middle of the floor Alyssa is similarly winded but seeks no support. Moments pass with pulse rushing in their ears covering the stillness of the training room. Isana feels heavy, more than the exhaustion of her twitching muscles that ache to rest. The floor fills her vision with paused history, years recorded in tree rings, oblivious to the feelings of the woman whose weight rests upon it.
When the spring floods of rhythmic sound have abated, Isana pushes the wall away and faces her love. A hint of sadness, of loss, flickers behind her eyes like darting fish in a green-blue river.
"You went easy on me."
The soft words are a blade, rushing again toward Aly, accusing and begging to be parried. You are still afraid, the echo of the words rings more clearly. Will you ever trust me, trust yourself, as you once did?
Kingsley
Alyssa was slightly startled by the accusation, but recovered quickly, standing tall at ease with the sword in her hands behind her.
"I... did indeed. We are training, Isana. I am not actually trying to hurt you." Like I did last time, went unsaid. The corner of her mouth twitched, but she said nothing else, instead returning the beautifully forged training blade Isana had given her upon her proposal to a fighting stance. Alyssa motioned to her partner who took her hand off the wall and took up her sword again as she approached, their eyes meeting again, as both readied themselves for another round. Alyssa stood calm and perfectly still, though her feet ready to spring in any direction. Their swords kissed once and Alyssa took a quick step back, her sword in a stance ready to parry any blow that might come. Isana's mouth fell into a line and her eyes focused on Alyssa's as she carefully stepped forward, a move which Alyssa mirrored as they worked around one another, neither taking the opportunity to take a strike.
Eventually, Isana made the first blow, which Alyssa parried instinctively. They each felt out the other some more, Isana carefully stepping forward, seeing what she could get away with. None of Isana's motions escaped Alyssa's notice, though she capitalized on few of them. A gentle shove or a modest deflection were her tools, and Isana led their dance without a strike while Alyssa reacted in ease step, foot for foot, until a sudden burst of speed burst forth from the dark-haired knight interrupted the easy flow between them. The sidestep came easy, automatic, but it was the extension of her arm that froze up as every muscle in Alyssa's body reached out to hit her target, while her heart demanded they cease. Her heart was victorious as she passed and pirouetted around to face Alyssa once more. Touch, love. She declared to herself.
Isana lowered her shoulders and her blade, sighing softly as Alyssa lowered her own.
"I was wide open."
"Yes. You... shouldn't do that."
"You didn't strike."
"No, I didn't."
"Aly..."
The Queen sighed and squeezed the pommel of her sword reflexively.
"I'm sorry..." Alyssa said deflating. "I do want this to be fun as well as instructive." She met those sweet blue-green eyes again which looked at her with concern and a hint of sadness. "I just... I am trying. I want to dance with you like we did before. I just still need to work up to it." She hesitated for a moment, her eyes longing for some understanding. "You looked so scared, and confused... That image, that nightmare does not leave my dreams easily. I am trying, Isana... Please believe that I am. It is just... not an easy thing to forget."
Everlight
"You looked so scared, and confused... That image, that nightmare does not leave my dreams easily. I am trying, Isana... Please believe that I am. It is just... not an easy thing to forget."
“Nearly leaving this life is also not easy to forget.” Isana said flatly, the words leaving her mouth harsh as falling rocks to her own ears. Her brows collapsed inward, shuttering her eyes beneath them. The pain of her love across the floor ricocheted in her own heart. She stood wilted in the training floor, scraps of breath coming ragged to her lungs as her shining blade sagged against the silent wood.
Aly would not attack until she was ready, she knew well. Beyond the reason of training. She was to be protected, always. Especially from Alyssa’s own demons. Why did that rankle now? Isana had sought all her years to find a place to be loved, kept safe, cherished… here it was. In the sphere of her betrothed was all of that and more. Aly would still not let herself play for fear she may hurt Isana, even after years of repairing that wound. She peered out from the dark bluff of her fallen brows to seek that precious visage and found it crestfallen, all the excitement and anticipation of the match blown out into shards on an echo of remembered tragedy, brilliant eyes clouded. They were both trapped by the memory, by the fear of losing each other. How could they ever get past it..?
Isana drew a long breath. The air felt thick. She wanted to pant aloud and gamely take guard again and smile as always, to dispel the gloom with the cheer she supplied from an endless wellspring in her heart. The light would not come. She shook her head. Loose downy filaments of dark hair fell in her eyes.
It was different because Aly did not trust herself with Isana. Not with a blade in her hand. Not yet… Bleak helplessness pulled at the knight. As dark as she felt, she knew her love plummeted faster and deeper into that well with guilt to drag her down, even now. There was nothing she could do to dispel it, could not turn back time, fervently as she wished to.
A taut feeling of yearning for their long-ago play and discovery sirened into Isana’s thoughts and twisted her throat. She swallowed hard against it. Yearn for the new joys you can find.
“Aly. Love.”
She looked up, found the pleading blue eyes looking her way, seeking understanding, as though Alyssa were about to speak. Isana squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, and dove into the vivid azure with her own unblinking gaze, swimming through the emotions with a lifeline of trust. Steadily, slowly, she closed the distance that yawned between them, her training blade trailing along the floor behind. Alyssa stood transfixed, waiting.
When her breath curled softly onto Alyssa’s cheek Isana stopped, and broke the spell with a soft blink. Her head tilted slightly to one side. It felt odd not to smile. But a smile would colour her words in jarring relief, and she wanted them to wash over her in earnest.
“I’m sorry." Soft and low, tight with sadness and sincerity. "I believe you, and I'm sorry. Sorry for pushing.”
Kingsley
“Aly. Love.”
Alyssa glanced up at the beloved woman she knew she had hurt. This time, not with her carelessness, but with her guard. Can you not trust the her that trusts in you? Isana walked towards her with determined, sturdy gait. A castle in the storm that brewed up between them. Her castle. Without trust and bravery, there would be no kiss, no incredible dances, no sweet and perfect proposal. Why can you not do so now? She gulped as Isana stopped very close, their eyes lost in each others. Alyssa felt the gentle warmth of Isana's breath upon her cheek. Everything felt right in that little moment between them. All the concern and guilt and frustration fell away, and all that remained was the radiating purity of the love they had built together.
“I’m sorry." Soft and low, tight with sadness and sincerity. "I believe you, and I'm sorry. Sorry for pushing.”
And then the guilt returned in a wave, first manifested with a single step into the space of the woman before her, then wrapping her arms gently around her, burying her face into her beloved's strong sturdy shoulder. Many tears had been shed upon that shoulder, from countless nights awoken in horror as the sights and sound of hellish warscapes raced through her unconscious mind. Tears wiped away as Isana held her closely comforting her with affection and gently spoken words. As she did now. Alyssa eased into her, the her sword arm relaxing as her dearest lady returned the embrace.
"No, Isana. You are right," Alyssa murmured into her shoulder. "You have since we met, been my strength at my weakest, and here you stand again." Still held close, feeling Isana's breath first in her chest and upon her cheek, Alyssa leaned back slightly to meet her partner's eyes. "I need your push. To move forward. Just... maybe a lighter one to start."
Alyssa tilted her head forward in a familiar gesture Isana mirrored without hesitation, as they touched their foreheads together, each accepting a nuzzle from the other. "Do you remember what I promised you when you woke?" Alyssa asked
Though her eyes were closed she thought she felt the smile that had kept her standing through war. "We will keep the darkness at bay." The gentle voice said quietly for the two of them only.
"Together." Alyssa said feeling confidence return. They parted, though without a word both of their free hands trailed down the other's arm to clasp together. Alyssa gave a gentle appreciative squeeze and sighed. "Though perhaps that should be enough for today. And we will... go again. Very soon." she finished nodding with determination as they walked together hand in hand towards the training equipment racks.
"Though..." she trailed off as Isana set her training blade down. "Perhaps a gentler push would do well in the meantime?" Alyssa stood straightly. "I have trained you in arms, Isana. Between our next bout of swordplay, maybe you could teach me to loose your bow." A little shift was the only indication of uncertainty Alyssa allowed herself. Perhaps a silly suggestion... It is still... war. But I would not be shooting at you, and perhaps a more cooperative experience would be a better first step than straight to lunging at one another. I think that would help make me more at ease going forward." She finished with her most confident nod.
"I believe. If you are willing."
Everlight
(in progress)
