Mint and Honey

[KieranSoares]

"I wouldn't want to take him from you. Once we get north of the Empire, Fatin will find the world can be much friendlier than he's used to." Alex reached up to scratch Fatin's bearded chin fondly. "If possible, I'll start him near Roman and Kennah. I trust them as much as I do Bahir."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You have a good soul, Alex. Perhaps too good sometimes." Yasmine said with a smile as she stood and kissed him, reaching out to pat Fatin's neck to show him the support that he needed.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex couldn't help a smile to himself at her kiss, and Fatin gladly pressed into Yasmine's touch with a long, content sigh before turning to follow Bahir as the larger drake snuffled around the beach. Alex watched them go before turning to return Yasmine's kiss and take her hand to walk with her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I hope that we're not parted for long, but I will send a letter before I return to Scotland." Yasmine said softly as they walked hand in hand behind the drakes.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll look forward to it," Alex murmured, glancing over to her. "So will my family. But it shouldn't be long... Things are going well here. Barbarossa is learning that the north is more of a strain than he expected and the Rus won't put up with him. Three fronts is not something he can support. Even if it just ends with a non-aggression pact, it will end here first."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll personally go and throttle him into submission if I have to. However, once this battle ends, I know that I'll be leaving my family behind. That makes me sad." Yasmine said softly as the drakes suddenly veered and ran into the water, fish and sea creatures scattering as they barreled through the salty waves.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Never for good. There will be times we leave our families... But never permanently." Alex wrapped his arm about her waist. "I promise you we'll figure out how to get back here reasonably often."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's half a world away, Alex. I know that once I do leave here, it will be a very long time before I come back." Yasmine said softly as he tried to comfort her and wrapped his arm around her waist.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I said reasonably often. And we'll manage it," Alex insisted calmly as if it was simple fact.

 

[heartofcourage]

Yasmine looked at him with an eyebrow raised as he seemed so confident that she would see her home as often as they could manage. "And if I decided I wanted to marry you one day, we would do it here."

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex was a bit surprised by the suggestion, but he nodded in response. "Of course. Though my family might ask for another small celebration back home. Seems to be tradition for us."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, it would only happen if and when we decide we're ready." Yasmine commented, glancing over at Alex. "And not a moment sooner. I won't marry until I reach some of my goals."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You take all the time you need. I may need some too," Alex nodded, his calm visage completely serene. "We've fallen quickly. Very quickly. Best to work out all the rough edges before we dive in further, hm?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Are you saying that I'm rough around the edges?" Yasmine asked with a small smile, her head resting against his shoulder. "And I will give you all the space and time that you think you need. There's no rush here."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We're both rough around the edges, in a different way each. We're still learning and growing as people." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, continuing on their way and letting the drakes catch up.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do you even want to ever get married? I suppose I should ask you that." Yasmine murmured, not even knowing if Alex was the kind of person that saw himself with a wife. "I know Aida never wants to take that step again. Jiddo married a woman that he barely knew that learned to love her dearly. I guess I've always been sort of ambivalent about it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know," Alex answered honestly. "Through most of the world, marriage is for title, money, alliance, or convenience. And among common folk, it seems to be often for partnership rather than love. But where I come from, I've seen nothing but marriages for love, save a few that started as convenience and quickly became love. But I suppose I never saw the reason to bind someone to oneself permanently. I had always thought that if you loved someone, you didn't hold them down. They stay as long as they're happy. Which is why I certainly don't believe in all that 'holy matrimony' nonsense. I wouldn't marry to appease a god. Religion has never played a part in my life."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, we'll see where this journey takes us, I suppose. I do warn you that my uncle might get tired of waiting for you to decide and take matters into his own hands eventually." Yasmine teased him, chuckling at the thought of anyone in her family forcing her into something. She knew now that it would never happen.

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's welcome to try. I may be quiet and reclusive most times, but I'm afraid I was raised with the Ghis. I'm terribly headstrong."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We'll see who can be the most stubborn then." Yasmine said with a chuckle as he mentioned that he was raised by the Ghis. "Your Ma will be so happy to see you. Just you wait and see, she will be the most eager among them."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've no doubt. We've never been apart this long in my life. Even if I lived apart from her, I'd still join my family for dinner all the time." Alex was nearly lost in thought there. "And I've never traveled further than England without them..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It'll take you days before they are ready to let you out of the house. You'll tell them all about your adventures and us if you wish." Yasmine said as he talked about not being away from home like this before. "And we can get them some gifts from the market before you leave in the morning."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd like at least my parents to know about you. But I might avoid the teasing from the little ones a while," he chuckled, turning with her toward the market on their way at her suggestion.

 

[heartofcourage]

In the market, Yasmine helped Alex to shop and haggle on prices. It helped that she spoke perfect Arabic and she was from Palmyra. Some of the vendors would sometimes take advantage of foreigners simply because they could.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex was picking up the language quickly, holding his own in basic exchanges. He came away with a number of small gifts, including spices and trinkets and a few books. Each was chosen carefully for one who would enjoy it.