Mint and Honey

[heartofcourage]

Yasmine chuckled and grinned at him, pressing against his side as he wrapped his arm tightly around her waist. When she had grown wrinkled in the water, she pulled herself out and wrapped one of the large sheet towels around her now naked body. Then she rested in one of the lounges, yawning in the heat of the afternoon until she had drifted off to sleep.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex joined her shortly, laying in the lounge chair beside hers and drifting off in just his wet shorts with a towel draped over his lower body.

By the time Yasmine woke from her nap, she was in her room, tucked under a very light blanket. Alex wasn't there but it was clear he'd carried her in as her discarded clothes lay nearby and there was evidence he'd stayed a while before going off to his own business.

 

[heartofcourage]

When Yasmine woke fully, she looked around her room with a small smile. She had never had a man like Alex in her life before, taking care of her in the way that he had. It was nice she thought to herself as she stood and stretched, dressing in a light linen dress and recovering her hair before she went to find her uncle to have a talk.

 

[KieranSoares]

Haroun was half-working, relaxing in an armchair with a cool drink and a now-empty snack plate as he read over reports from Damascus. Seeing Yasmine step in, he set the papers aside. "Qamar." With a smile, almost a smirk, he muttered, "I trust you and Aida enjoyed your afternoons." He seemed to know they'd both been with a lover.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I most certainly did." Yasmine said, kissing his cheek before she took a seat beside him. "Be nice to Alex. That's all that I ask of you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Why wouldn't I be? That boy treats you like an equal if not better, and he takes care of this family without expecting anything in return. He's got a permanent place with us at this point."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know how you and Aida can be." Yasmine said as she gave him a serious glance. "I never had the chance to apologize to you for running away. I hope that you can forgive a young and foolish girl."

 

[KieranSoares]

"There's nothing to forgive, Yasmine. You escaped a situation you weren't ready for. I've never blamed you. I wish you would've said something, though. I would've given you some money to help you on your way, one of my horses as well."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know you would have and that's why I didn't. Jiddo would have known that you helped me and things would have been worse for you. I just feel bad that I left without a goodbye. You above all other people deserved at least a good bye." Yasmine said softly as she reached up to touch his cheek.

 

[KieranSoares]

Haroun rose and met Yasmine's gaze. "Don't worry about it anymore. It's in the past, and you're back with the family again. That's all that matters."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ammo." Yasmine said, making him stop to look at her. "That's not what I really mean. I've never been good about telling you what you meant to me. You spent your own money to free me from my mother. You loved me like your own when no one asked you to do so. Without you, I don't think my life would be half as good."

 

[KieranSoares]

Taking her by the hand, Haroun leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Yasmine... I didn't have to think about any of those things. When my mother sent me to find you, I was willing to pay any price to bring you home. And when I first saw you, I knew without a doubt that you were my girl, my qamar, no matter how we were related. And you made my life so much better. I had someone to look after and love... Someone to survive war and travel for."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I love baba with all of my heart but you were the one that raised me. You were my baba. You punished me when I was bad and praised me when I was good. I've never had the chance to really tell you how grateful I am for all of that." Yasmine said softly as he kissed her forehead and told her that he would do it all over again for her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"What's brought all this on, qamar?" He asked softly, hugging her close. He was a bit concerned as it wasn't like her to be so sentimental.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I almost died, ammo. I guess it just made me think about everything that has happened in my life. I realized that I've probably taken you for granted." Yasmine said softly, hugging him tightly. "And in case something happens in this war, I want you to know how I feel."

 

[KieranSoares]

Haroun laid his head against her own, hugging her tightly as he could manage with his one good arm. "You're a good woman, Yasmine... And I'm so proud of you. We all are."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you for bringing me home, ammo." Yasmine whispered softly as he hugged her tightly. "And I hope that one day, if you have your own child or adopt one, you give them the same beautiful childhood that you gave to me."

 

[KieranSoares]

Haroun could only smile, soon sending her off with a final kiss to her forehead. Through the rest of the palace, it seemed to be business as usual with the background stress of the war, but everyone seemed focused.

 

[heartofcourage]

Yasmine worked hard on her recruits in the coming days, exhausted each evening when she finally came home. It was common for Alex to find her already in bed before dinner, sound asleep before she awoke the next morning to plan more. She burned her candle at both ends to make sure that the drake riders were ready for whatever might come their way in the future. She would not allow her grandfather's troops to fail him in the heat of battle.

 

[KieranSoares]

Seeing her exhaust herself, Alex made sure to help fortify Yasmine. In the evenings she would find restorative blends of tea and other drinks to keep her healthy, and the kitchen seemed to actively serve healthy and robust meals. Alex himself would come by to check in every so often in between his own work, and he wasn't afraid to force Yasmine to take a break. Some evenings when she managed to stay awake long enough, he'd meet her with a massage and prove his skills went so much h further than just medicine.

 

[heartofcourage]

One evening she was particularly sore and exhausted, staying awake long enough to eat the meal that Alex had sent for her and the herbal tea that he insisted she drink. She wanted to see Alex as well, but he had a habit of appearing when she least expected it.

 

[KieranSoares]

Just as Yasmine was about to nod off, Alex stepped in quietly and set aside his satchel and boots. Seeing her still awake, he stepped over to kiss her. *Evening, love."

 

[heartofcourage]

"YOi work just about as hard as I do." Yasmine commented as she returned his kiss and relaxed against the pillows with a tired sigh. "I hardly get to see you anymore."

 

[KieranSoares]

"There's a lot to do," Alex said simply, laying aside his shirt and belt before joining her in bed.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know. I've been telling you that for days now." Yasmine said with a small smile towards him as he joined her in bed. "And every time you've sent me to bed like a petulant child, even using Ammo against me when I've refused."