Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

It was only Jax's second day in Astoria and already he was taking another bath. The sharp contrast from the Jax a week ago who couldn't shave and had last week's wine on his shirt was, all but slowly, making an appearance. It of course didn't help his ego, being invited into the palace baths twice, especially after giving a demonstration to the queen.

*The Queen...* Jax found himself drifting off once she entered his thoughts, her fire colored hair, porcelain skin that held no flaw, and a face that could launch every kingdom in Marin into a full blown war. And those eyes... Eyes as rich and pure as the silver hidden in every king's vault, and Jax would take every piece of it by force if it meant he could lose himself in those eyes just once.

*"What the fuck are you doing here!?"*

Jax shot up as the memory of a voice shot through his head. His vision was blurry, and when he blinked he could see a fire. *No it's not just that.* He shook himself and pressed his palm into his forehead, focusing on the pressure until when he looked down he saw water again.

"Snap out of it Jax, you can't entertain such thoughts. She's your queen after all." Jax chuckled to himself before reaching for a clump of soap, the pink powder turning to paste at the wet touch as he began to scrub his chest deeply.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

Anyanka wasn't able to sleep, once again she'd found her mind unsettled by the growing number of reports on her desk that never seemed to diminish no matter the hours she threw at them. The bulk of her mundane tasks that Angelica had handled even into her pregnancy hadn't been realized until she had fully resigned to life in Stormalong. 

Of course she was happy for the woman and her new husband. For the child who made her chest ache in a long forgotten way who she hoped would grow and thrive in South Feyshore. But the loneliness had begun to settle over her shoulders once more. She sat up straight, and Mikhail shifted in his chair across from her. He had also been so engrossed in his readings she'd forgotten he was there. It wasn't the first time the now dark haired boy had turned into a ghost before her eyes only to reappear with a start. 

"Heading to bed?" He asked, looking up long enough to dip his pen into a shared pot of ink. 

"I should. Tomorrow morning there's-"

"The briefing on Lord Vignola 's letter. I remember." He answered, and she nodded. The woman stood, pressing a kiss to his brow before offering him her chair. 

"Don't stay up too late." She said as she headed out, closing the door as his muffled 'yes,ma' followed.

Instead of heading to her chambers, she headed out to the bathhouse. She didn't feel unclean so much as tense, and hoped the warm waters would help soothe the ache in her neck and shoulders. The door was firmly closed though the fires inside still flickered, and she took that to mean it was empty. The main bath was, as it usually was unless it was being used for recreational reasons. Rarely was it used for bathing, as the four smaller rooms were more private. She headed towards the first one, bot bothering to knock due to the hour, and pushed the wooden door open with her fingers. Steam poured from the room and swirled around her ankles, the warmth hitting her skin and making her smile. When it parted, however, she found herself staring at her newest recruit working his hands over his chest to create a lather. 

"Oh." She breathed, and blinked before offering a sheepish grin. "I should have knocked, my apologies, Brightwater." She said, but made no effort to leave. "Why are you still awake, don't you have training in the morning?"
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax was enjoying himself a little too much, the thought of covering his chest in suds was almost like a game. On top of that it gave him a hands on experience with his own muscles he never had before. It's a different experience actually feeling how strong one part of your body is versus a other, for instance his arms and shoulders still pulsed with energy and strength, however his stomach and hips had a little give when he touched them, probably due to all the desk work the City Watch gave him.

He was making the decision on which group to work in the morning when the door to his bath opened. Jax was expecting a servant, his head shooting up instinctively, but his eyes met with what appeared to be Her Majesty.

*Daydreaming again Brightwater.* He thought to himself, maybe he'd dozed off in the bath without realizing. That is until the apparition spoke to him.

"Y-your majesty!" Jax exclaimed, standing up immediately to salute and bow, his lowered head reminding him just how exposed he was. His hands clasped over his revealing section and he blushed.

"Forgive me, I didn't realize this was your bath, apologies." He began rambling, wanting to dissapear completely and wake up from this nightmare.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

Jax addressed her, and proceeded to stand up from the waters in a jump. She gave a small yelp of surprise as the naked man stood, exposing himself before bowing. Anya averted her gaze, her hand raising to her brow to let him know she had looked away. She flushed a bit, admittedly having seen more than she intended to. 

"I mean, only technically." She corrected him, clearing her throat. She lowered her hand, and though he wasn't clothed he had at least covered his groin with his hands. 

"I thought the bathhouse was empty, please, sit down so you're not standing there dripping and naked." She insisted.
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax nodded quickly sitting back into the water. The small wave it created sent the waters splashing quietly against the walls of the tub, but Jax would swear they were the loudest things in the room.

He sat there, eyes wide as he studied the water.

"Thank you, Majesty, please accept my deepest apologies, I appear to be tripping all over myself. You are right however, I am training tomorrow, although I still haven't been told which position I'll be taking. Yet you suggested I bathe after my exhibition today and this was the soonest I could get away. If you'd prefer I can move to another room so you can have this bath for yourself." Jax continued to ramble, talking a million words a minute.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

The splash filled the space where neither of them could, and once it settles he started talking faster than a child caught red handed. Anya's small smile grew, and finally she started laughing. 

"Jax, please." She started, resting her gaze on him. "You're welcome here, don't fear as if you've done anything wrong." She told him truthfully. Turning, Anya headed towards the far wall. A small storage bench sat in the corner, full of towels and modesty robes. She plucked two of each, and moved towards him. 

"Here, if you feel the need." She offered, holding the robe out to him. It was intended to be within the water, it's sapphire color enough to provide modesty for those who used the main bathhouse and didn't wish to be seen. She turned her back, allowing him the opportunity to pull it in if he wished while she stepped behind the screen to disrobe herself. 

"As for the position, I don't think it's been decided yet." She told him truthfully, speaking over the screen. Her dress fell at her ankles and she stepped out of it, puling the robe over her form and tying it at the waist. "At least no suggestion was made to me yet by Lord Cromwell."
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax took the robe graciously, and as soon as the Duchess disappeared from sight he turned and began covering himself. He made sure the robe was folded neatly, smoothing out the creases in the robe that had spent so long folded, before turning to his original direction and standing at attention.

"Your Highness, if I may," He began, "I came here to serve you, upon your request, with your ring, and swore my body and sword to you, not Lord Cromwell."
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

Anyanka moved from the other side of the screen, tucking her hands along her neck to pull her hair from beneath the collar of the robe. It bounced around her shoulders and she raised a brow at the man. 

"Lord Cromwell is better at determining a training schedule than I am, Brightwater." She reminded him. 

"His recommendation let's me know how much training you might require to meet Astorian standards, it doesn't give you your assignment." She pointed out, taking his hand without asking for it to be offered as she moved down the first step into the waters. 

"You keep reminding me your came here to serve me, not Astoria. Is that intentional, Brightwater?"
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

"I will remind Her Majesty that I'm not Astorian." Jax said, thinking the writer of Anya is ridiculous thinking that he wouldn't offer his hand to the Duchess.

"I don't have anything in Astoria besides the acquaintance of one person, and my steel. I don't have anything here, yet, so I talk about the little I have." Jax continued, feeling much more comfortable now that he was semi clothed.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

"Need I remind you, Brightwater, That there are only a small handful of people who have the pleasure of saying they were born Astorian." She pointed out, her fingers tightening on his hand as she found herself chest deep in the bath. She pulled a bit, trying to bring him back into the waters with her. 

"Astorians are made, though, since you seem to find yourself insisting on loyalty to myself and sword, maybe a Queen's guard position would suit you."
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax looked down and lowered himself into the water after the Queen's insisting, folding his hands in his lap once he had. He listened with a solemn expression before he uttered a reply.

"Your Majesty, you humble me, but do you think it's wise to bring someone who is so often referred to as 'Green' into your own guard?"
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

She couldn't help the smirk, her hand that had been in his lap pulling her hair up so it didn't get wet. 

"Men don't learn unless they're given the opportunity." She said, sinking down enough to let her head rest against the lip of the bath. "If you'd prefer to start in the stables and work your way up once you've proven you're well able to watch over livestock then we can. But that feels a little degrading." She mused, then let her head roll a bit so she could give him a look. 

"Besides, you're the only person who had been concerned I was traveling without a guard. "
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax chuckled, shaking his head slightly.

"You must admit a Queen traveling alone is rather unorthodox, Your Majesty." He coughed quietly, clearing his throat.

"But if you wouldn't mind, minding livestock sounds too similar to what the Romanov's had me doing. The markets of Brindelle certainly smells like a farm." He laughed, relaxing a little bit.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

"I've learned over the years if I travel alone people don't tend to realize who I am." She shrugged a shoulder and moved from where she lingered towards him. The water parted for her, and she took her place to his left. 

"You certainly had no idea who I was until Romanov's staff revealed it. A shame too, I liked where things had been heading when you were brave enough to flirt. "
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax tensed for a moment when she moved closer to him, and tensed up harder after mentioning his flirt.

"Your Majesty, I-" He swallowed hard, shifting his eyes away. "I must admit I have been misinformed to royalty before, and after awhile they all start to blur together." He almost made an excuse with his drinking, but no one would believe he was that much of a lightweight.

"Not to mention, I was hardly presentable enough to be flirting with royalty." He managed a chuckle again.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

She chuckled, turning her head to look at him with a knowing look. "You certainly weren't presentable enough to stand and bow to me a moment ago either." She reminded him, and her eyes flickered downward for s moment before catching his once more, a newfound glint in them. 

"And yet."
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax couldn't help the rush of blood to his cheeks as he looked further away.

"It seems that's a habit I'll have to begin breaking." He wiped his face with warm water, hoping to simulate the reddening and create a successful scapegoat.

"What does Her Majesty mean by 'yet'?"
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

Her fingers found her face, pressing along her jawline as she watched him try to rub the blush away. 

"And yet, you did. And we survived both social missteps unscathed." She explained. 

"In fact, they were charming enough that you ended up bathing with a Queen and offered a position in her guard. I'd say you shouldn't break that habit if you want to continue this streak."
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax couldn't tell if she was joking or if he was dreaming. He was fairly certain this was an elaborate dream and he was actually drowning in the tub somewhere in the real world.

"Is Her Majesty suggesting I should continue to flirt and stand naked in her presence?" He smirked slightly, peeking over at her from the corner of his eye.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

Anya shrugged a shoulder, and it was her turn to hide the blush that threatened to rise on her cheeks as she sunk down a bit into the water. 

"I'm not suggesting anything I'm letting you know that it wouldn't upset me if you did." She answered, pushing wet fingers through her hair.
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax could almost spy a blush as her majesty turned away. A hundred thoughts sprang into his head, all of them risking his very life.

"Very well," He stood abruptly, "As her majesty commands."

He was trying his hardest not to break out laughing, but he continued, pulling at the silk sash around his waist.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

He stood, and the water level of the bath lowered, simultaneously making her heart sink to her stomach as he moved. Her eyes widened a bit, and she couldn't help the concerned laugh. 

"Jax!" She said his name on a laugh, moving to face him as her hands caught his on his waist. "I wasn't commanding you to strip for me." She explained, the blush full force now as she stood eye to stomach with the standing man. 

"I was just saying I'm not opposed to mutual nudity, not that it's required to be in my presence."
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

"Her Majesty has worded her way into a trap." Jax laughed, lowering to a squat so he could look into her eyes.

"You didn't catch me in mutual nudity earlier." The Devil himself loaned Jax the smirk he wore now.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

Her lips parted, realizing he was right, and her hand lingered on his waist despite his new position. She hesitated, reading his face before running her tongue over her teeth. 
 "By all means then, Brightwater. " She mused, moving his hands to the tie of her own robe.
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

"A hilarious jest, Your Majesty." Jax laughed, and yet he couldn't pull his hands away, the warmth of her hands on his was distracting to say the least.

Jax's eyes wandered down, and lingered on the warped image under the water. He could swear the air in the bath was thicker than Northern beer. The knight swallowed again.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

Anya tilted her head to the side, he hesitated and called her invitation a jest, making her brow raise. 

In response to his hesitation, she lowered her gaze to his hands in hers. His fingers grazed the silk of her tie but made no real effort to grasp it. The water between them carried his as well, and her index finger hooked her own before catching his as well. 

The redhead raised her attention back to his, locking eyes with the man as her fingers curled into a fist, and the water moved around their waists as she pulled firmly, setting both the ties free from their hips and slowly sinking to the bottom of the bath. 

"Why do you think I jest, Brightwater?"
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

"You must be jesting, your Highness." Jax managed a nervous laugh before returning his hands to his lap as he attempted to find some grasp of sturdiness in the bath. His hands were shifting, trying to keep his robe under control while averting his gaze away from the billowing silks around the queen.

"I'm only a knight, and a commoner at that, it's highly frowned upon to reveal yourself to someone of higher class."
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

"You already did, Jax." She reminded him once more, but pressed her lips together into a tight line. "I'm simply returning the gesture. But if you're uncomfortable by it, my sincerest apologies."
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

"It's not that your Majesty,"

*You're talking in circles Brightwater, you'll insult her.*

Jax sighed and lifted his hands, pulling the robe off of each shoulder one at a time, before bundling the cloth up, albeit causing the water to swirl, and tossing it to the side of the tub.

Jax looked at the Queen with a cocky look and held out his hands, as if to say "There you have it."
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

She held his gaze as he did so, and when he finished she couldn't help but roll her eyes at the cocky grin. 

"There's the kind of bravery I'm looking for in my guard." She purred, and reached for those hands that he held out, guiding them to the silks of her own robe that moved in the water he'd just disturbed. 

"And Jax, you seem to keep thinking you're going to get in trouble, as if anyone here as any more power than myself. I'd appreciate it if you stopped thinking that way and enjoy when I give you the opportunity to be my equal, even if it is only for a bath."
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax didn't know what he was doing, his mind was screaming and yet his hands moved through the water, they grasped at the silks floating. Instead of pulling them off or retying them, he pulled, the water breaking as the Duchess' body quickly closed the distance of the bath.

"Are you sure you know what you're asking of me, Anya?" It was the first time he'd used her name, but for some reason this moment felt right for it.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

She would be lying if she tried to claim his pull hadn't surprised her, and her eyes widened a bit, thinking she was about to be pulled off her feet on accident. But she didn't, and her hands broke the forward fall against his chest. Her eyes held his as he questioned her intentions, and her lip quirked just a fraction at the sound of her name on his lips. 

"I'm asking you to prove you're a man I can trust with my life." She said quietly, the movement of the water around them and the dripping of the wax off the candles in the scones louder than her words. "That you'll be cautious and steadfast with me in your hands."
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax looked down at the Duchess, taking a moment to breathe in, the feeling of his heart in his chest pounding against his ribcage. His right hand reached up, taking one of hers that rested on his bare chest, his other hand going to the small of her back, pulling her even closer. His eyes were unwavering and he spoke softly.

"If your feet should fail, then I shall carry you."
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

Anya was quiet for a moment, letting the man make his vow. Her hand in his turned, squeezing softly before nodding. Her hair was wet now and it clung to her shoulders where the robe hung freely. 

The woman held his gaze and his oath made the sigils that marked her arms started to burn with that familiar sensation of magic. She hadn't known it when she'd made the offer to him back in North Shore, and she hadn't known it upon his arrival. But with his heart so close she could practically feel his pulse running through the marks, she was all too aware he was the one. 

"Until that day." Anya agreed
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax nodded slowly, his head reeling as time began to stand still around him.

"Do you want me to let go?" He spoke quietly, almost scared to break the silence in fear of bringing about reality and ruining this too perfect of a moment.
Joseph
Anyanka Durkhan
Zahrada Astoria

Anya's chest rose in a soft, silent chuckle and she shook her head. "Close your eyes, go beneath the water, and count to ten." She instructed. Before he did, she dipped her arms into the water. The burn made her arms sting with the introduction of the water, like a fire being doused. The glow she was familiar with was starting, she'd feel that surge of magic soon and those silver eyes would turn molten. 

But she wasn't going to let him see that, not yet. So she kept her forearms close to her sides, dulling the effect, and when he closed his eyes she moved from the bath. She left her clothes behind the screen, not bothered by the walk from here back to her chambers in the robe alone. She didn't want to risk him coming up before she was gone, knowing he'd convince himself this was all just a dream regardless.
Eric
Jax Brightwater
Zahrada Palace, Astoria

Jax smiled and nodded, his eyes remaining locked with hers as he lowered his head below the water, only closing them once the water demanded it.

*One. Two. Three. Four.*

Jax found himself in darkness, thinking back on what just happened and taking a small bit of pride in the fact he never lost himself and lingered on the revealing nature of his Queen's robe.

*Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine.*

Jax could feel his lungs begin to burn, having been distracted he didn't top his air supply off with a small breath, making the last second stretch into eternity.

*Ten.* Jax rose, wiping the water from his face and eyes as he broke the surface, his eyes looking around. She was gone, but the clump of clothes beneath the screen told him it was more than fantasy. The naked knight approached the bundle, kneeling to pick up the soft fabric.