From This Day [LA3]

[Arwyn Forrester]

She did the same, following him occasionally with her eyes and a smile, it broadening when their eyes met. "Hmm... it's when a lot of the decoration for my dresses happens," she starts with a chuckle. "I spend time with the hounds and their master. Ironrath doesn't have many books, but I like to read the ones I do get my hands on."

[Kevan Dunn]

"Maera is also a bookie. I thought about asking for a favour or two to get her some good volumes from the Old Town library transcribed for her birthday." He smirked. "Asking for no reason whatsoever, would you tell me please what kind of books do you like?"

[Arwyn Forrester]

"Anything but poetry right now," she says with a long sigh, then laughs a little. "I like learning anything new, especially about other places and people. So, I suppose let that be your guide."

[Kevan Dunn]

"It's a sufficient hint." He smirked, finally getting enough to start the fire. "Any particular place you've always wanted to visit?"

[Arwyn Forrester]

"Hm... anywhere across the sea, ideally. The Seven Kingdoms I may eventually find my way to different places within it. I doubt I'll ever end going that far," she says, putting what she'd gathered together with his sticks. "Failing that, perhaps Dorne. Regardless of which way we go with them, we should know as much as possible." She was already thinking of them as "we" and his problems as something they'll tackle together. She wasn't really thinking about it as she replied.

[Kevan Dunn]

The 'we' didn't escape his notice and filled his heart with joy; knowing that thoughts of being together and coping with whatever Gods threw in their way together were coming to her as often as to him was relishing and reaffirming that he was deeply falling for a woman truly after his own heart. Observing her was a delight in itself and while bold thoughts were not far away from his impression of her, there was a lot more to it than a physical draw. His mind was putting her form against various backgrounds; right now on the bow of a ship to Lys, with her raven hair tugged on by the winds of the Narrow Sea. Being a part of her life, and her of his, was, perhaps oddly, satisfying a prospect in itself.

He knelt to form a circle from cones and twigs, half-consciously making a seven-pointed star as a tribute to the Seven who let Arwyn's and his paths cross, but it soon got overlain by bigger pieces of wood. "I wouldn't say a trip across the Narrow Sea is unthinkable. I haven't been to the Free Cities but I have read a bit of the Old Valyria and Aegon's Conquest, so I at least associate their names with something."

[Arwyn Forrester]

She nods, settling down to watch him build the fire. "I remember learning and reading about that, as well. I met a woman who lived much of her life in Braavos the other day."

[Kevan Dunn]

"The seat of the Iron Bank. Is that woman a merchant?" He offered her the flint wordlessly if she felt like doing the honours the Northern way; another excuse to look at her of course as well. He never had enough.

[Arwyn Forrester]

"A skilled swordswoman," she says with a smile toward him, taking the flint and using it to rapidly start a few flames on the tinder, carefully taking the lit wood and putting it, with a little room to breathe, under the heavier wood.

[Kevan Dunn]

"The one that involved herself in today's conflict?" He leaned over to gently blow onto the struggling fire to help it catch biggers twigs and spread into sustainability.

[Arwyn Forrester]

She starts a few more twigs going, as well, and soon the fire spreads, starting to brighten and spread cheerfully. "There we go. Yes, her."

[Kevan Dunn]

"And have you managed to train in any weapon aside your brothers?" He took off his jacket and spread it on a tree stump right by the fire he then gestured for her to take, sitting right next to it on the ground. The convexity of the pouch bulged under his shirt, over his heart, but he absentmindedly checked if it remained there anyway.

[Arwyn Forrester]

"I wanted to, but that was quickly discouraged," she ecplained with a half smile. "Mother felt that becoming an entirely proper lady would serve the House better."

[Kevan Dunn]

"My father kept a blind eye on Maera's efforts to learn how to fight and ride." He chuckled. "It's ironic, with your mother trying to discourage something in the name of propriety that is passable in the realm where that propriety got defined in the first place." He waited for her to join him, smiling. "If you ever feel the need to catch up, I won't be opposed. I'd even send Maera or one of the retainers at the Burrow your way to aid in it."

[Arwyn Forrester]

"It is..." She chuckled. "Honestly, especially after earlier today, I'd like to, and perhaps advance my knowledge of warfare, as well. If things do go to war, no matter who with, perhaps I can help."

[Kevan Dunn]

"I'd love both of us to be on the same page as often as possible." He rolled the sleeves of his white shirt up for the sparks not to make holes in it. "And for you to have a nasty surprise for anyone daring to assail you when you'll be travelling without me."

[Arwyn Forrester]

She reaches over, resting an arm across his shoulder to over a little more warmth. The fire lights up the smile at his words. "That sounds like a excellent idea. People should learn quickly that deciding to take on either of us is a foolhardy proposition."

[Kevan Dunn]

"I think mystique is a good deterrent." He agreed, leaning to the side with his head, pressing his lips against her fingers, one by one, slowly and gently.

[Arwyn Forrester]

She chuckled gently and leaned over nuzzling against his head gently before straightening. "I've only seen just enough of the Reach to make it to Ashford. What is it like where you are, and in the rest of the Reach? Have you traveled much within it?"

[Kevan Dunn]

"I haven't seen that much either." Kevan admitted honestly, shaking his head. "Father is very attached to his post at the Burrow, and his family usually has stayed with him so he can guarantee our safety. But I need to travel around more." Gentle kisses of her fingers continued. "Now that I just might be able to, and hopefully with whom."

[Arwyn Forrester]

She smiles, closing her eyes as he kissed her fingers. "It's good to know the land. It's an opportunity to discover it together."

[Kevan Dunn]

"It's strange, I didn't have that much of a wanderlust before meeting you. Now I can't stop thinking about us having journeys together. It's hard to explain." He sighed before small kisses that let his lips learn more of her hand. "Like I want to see you in all the beautiful, mysterious places of the world, and at the same time they're worth seeing because you'll be there."

[Arwyn Forrester]

Her thumb brushes softly across his cheek. "Bit of a homebody normally? With what you were saying about your father, it makes sense."

[Kevan Dunn]

"In a sense, the Dunns have long been supposed to stay put. But that may be about to change, and there's no-one I want to bring the change about with than with you." he caught the wandering fingertip between his lips, then looked up to seek her eyes.

[Arwyn Forrester]

"If it doesn't change, that's okay, too," she adds in reassurance, looking down into his eyes with a smile.