James
Vezda Nasaris
The Wider Nasaris Estate

Vezda took the opportunity to rock up onto the tips of her toes, her hands grasping William's forearms to steady herself as she placed a soft kiss on her new husband's lips. She knew this marriage would come with complications; what she had been wrong about was the source of them. Rather than finding herself betrothed to be married to a man she might never be more than acquiantances with outside of the marital bed, she now found herself with her perfect match... Only to have their union in jeopardy.

"Careful, but not paranoid, my heart," She murmured, rubbing the insides of his wrists with her thumbs as she smiled, blue eyes brave in the midst of such uncertainty. "I know that you have not known me long but we did indeed say a few words in front of a Wisdom and I intend to honor them. As long as I draw breath, no dagger will find your back William."
Marvin
William Guiscard 
The Wider Nasaris Estate

"You say the nicest things, dear", said William. Vezda's captivating blue eyes could convince him of anything and they had their desired effect once again. Little by little, he was returning to his more compossed self. "You are right. Paranoia does not become me", he admitted before looking over her shoulder to the water behind her. 
"Do you think that we could take a swim?", asked William. "A small dip always cheers me up. Is it deep enough?"
James
Vezda Nasaris
The Wider Nasaris Estate

William's change in mood brought her some ease as well, a slight smile appearing as she followed his gaze back to the water. She'd come her many times during her youth to swim, sometimes to fish. She knew the waters to be deep, clean, and refreshing.
"A swim would be wonderful. It appears much shallower than it is- I should think even a man of your height would not touch the rocks along the bottom. Sadly, I did not think to bring another under dress with me so in order to join you I would have to... Ah..."
Vezda removed her hands from his arms to mimic taking her dress off, chuckling while doing so. The last time she had disrobed in front of him it had been in the dimly-lit study where the shadows had made her much bolder. *He is my husband; I do not have to be coy,* She tried to tell herself, but it did nothing.
Marvin
William Guiscard 
The Wider Nasaris Estate

"What?", said William, confused for a moment. Her moves cleared the confusion quickly. He let out a hearty laugh. "I think that we are past that point, dear". He had already removed his cloak and was getting to work on his breeches. "I'll have to lead by example then. It's always the most effective method to get others to follow you", he said with a smirk. Teasing her was quickly becoming one of his favorite things and she seemed to enjoy doing the same when she got the chance. 
Fully disrobed, he marched into the pond, letting the cold water rejuvinate him. After a few steps, he was indeed struggling to stand on his toes and then he was fully swimming. After taking a big breath, William immersed his head fully within the water. With his eyes closed, he let himself go limb and just enjoy the feeling.
James
Vezda Nasaris
The Wider Nasaris Estate

She was just about to return her husband's needling when he began to disrobe right there before her, stealing the words from her lips before she could speak them. *He's right,* She thought, reaching up to loosen the lacing at the throat of her dress before wriggling out of it. After tossing her things over to a grassy spot on the shore, she waded out, heart hammering behind her breastbone.
*I have thrown myself onto the backs of untested stallions and jousted against men three times my weight and yet I find myself afraid to be exposed to my husband,* She mused, biting her lip. As the water reached her hips she leapt, then dived, coming up in a shower of droplets.
"Your example is quite lovely," She says at last, swimming over to William, "Especially the ass."
Marvin
William Guiscard
The Wider Nasaris Estate

William came up just as she was about to drop into the water. Dear Gods, he thought as he got a glimpse of his wife's physique, not under candlelight but under the full luminosity of the sun. Her hands were not the only strong thing about her. Her stomach had ripples going through it, her muscels being clearly defined while her legs were toned and strong. Mafalda wrought into flesh, he thought
"There she goes", shouted William, urging her own. After a quick dive, she emerged once again

"My,my, Lady Nasaris. That's not how ladies talk you know", he said as he begun circling around her like a predator. "I was thinking that if training with swords has that effect, perhaps we should make sword training mandotory. Those hips could crush my neck", he said returning the compliment before placing a quick peck on her neck, withdrawing before she could react. "I bet nobody told you that before what with all the focus on being slender and slim"
James
Vezda Nasaris
The Wider Nasaris Estate

More than once, her father had chastised her for the 'foul language' he thought she had picked up from his men as she trained them and trained with them. What he didn't know was that it had been Diran, her mentor and her father's closest friend, that she'd picked it up from.
"I am no lady," She corrected him, "I am a knight, and at the moment I face a foe who is-"
Her words were interupted by William sneaking in to kiss her on the neck and flit away again before she could catch him, leaving her laughing in his wake.
"Wait, William... What did you say?"
Slender and slim. The words echoed in her thoughts as she paddled in the water, watching him swim circles around her. *Was he still teasing?* Her figure was a tender spot for her; she'd been mocked for needing her dresses cut and sewn a particular way because she was taller than average and "Built like a man" According to her own tailor.
Marvin
William Guiscard 
The Wider Nasaris Estate

"Did water get in your ears, dear? I like your hips", he repeated quite clearly. "I like your arms too and your belly. In fact, you are much more beautiful than I would have imagined Vezda". He realized now by her reaction that the subject was probably very sensitive for her. The nobility placed expectations on every fibre on ones being and their appearance had to be one of the most taxing. "Why would anyone want for you to stop training is beyond me", continued William, not wanting to leave any doubt in her mind. "Well, it's not really but you know what I mean. The important thing is I love how you look. Now please, say something else before I lose my reputation as a tough man. All these compliments...", he said trying to lighten the mood
James
Vezda Nasaris
The Wider Nasaris Estate

For half a second, she thought she might have gone mad but William was neither a compulsive liar (that she knew of yet) nor was he jesting with her. A slow grin spread across her lips as she swam up to him, scoffing at the idea that anyone was around to hear their conversation.
"Your reputation is secure, rest assured. It is mine that is at risk. I have tried to deny my own nature as a woman for too long and now I have this vision, this... Gloriously witty, *Tough* Man before me, saying these things to me... If the men who think me an unforgiving sparring partner saw me now, my reputation would be finished."
Vezda was joking of course, grinning nearly ear to ear when she splashed water at William's chest to emphasize her words.
Marvin
William Guiscard 
The Wider Nasaris Estate

Vezda's mood changed from one of worry to one of happyness or so at least it looked it from his end. That's good, he thought. She had calmed him down and given him some peace of mind earlier. Doing the same seemed only proper especially when he wasn't lying about it. It was his time to smile when she complimented him. Women rarely had good things to say about him. He was prone to flight after a little while with them and they took that badly. William didn't mind the occassional curse but listening to actual praise was all too refreshing. 
When Vezda was close enough she splashed some water on him, no doubt in retaliation for his sneak attack earlier. Well then, I can't let such a thing go unpunished. 
"That's it then. This must end", he said before assuming a wicked grin and launched him self against her. Water splashed, Vezda squealed and screamed while trying to fight back. After a lot of concentrated effort on his part, even now, she refused to give an inch without a fight, William was finally able to place his feet on solid ground. He secured Vezda tightly, looking into her beautiful eyes. "What will I ever do with you, my Lady? You are troublesome"
James
Vezda Nasaris
The Wider Nasaris Estate

"Love me for all my days and share my bed all the nights, that is what."
Breathless and giggling like a young girl, the words slipped free before she could think twice about them. Vezda was too busy squirming in her husband's arms, her feet held just inches off the bottom as she returned his gaze without flinching. It was all for show; if she truly meant to free herself, she knew better ways than floundering about as she was. 
"Whatever *Will* You do with me, hm?" She prodded, leaning in to graze his bottom lip with her teeth as she went on, "Should I be scared, *Tough man?* We are all alone and I am captured, with my weapons nowhere to be seen..."
Marvin
William Guiscard 
The Wider Nasaris Estate

*Love me for all my days and share my bed all the nights*, not an awful thought, all things considered. Not an awful one at all. He had in practice agreed to that already but in spirit... Well he was getting to that as well with each passing moment.
"You should be afraid. There are no witnesses here. I can be as harsh as I want", said William before kissing her once again, a little more forcefully than other times. Judging from her reactions, Vezda seemed to appreciate it
—
All seemed forgotten. No Lordlings out to get him or piercing eyes of spies occupied William's mind at the moment. Vezda was curled up next to him, her breath tingled his neck while he lazily waved his left hand through her hair, a perfectly peaceful moment. An escape from reality, a few moments of calm before the storm
"Do you think they'll miss us terribly?", he whispered as if he was weary of breaking the silence between them. "My men must be besides themselves"
James
Vezda Nasaris
The Wider Nasaris Estate

On the cusp of consciousness and still bathed in the euphoria of his embrace, Vezda turned to press a kiss to her husband's neck while murmuring her reply to his inquiry.
"Your men know two things: that you are to be wed soon, and that both you and your betrothed have not so mysteriously disappeared," She mumbled as she trailed kisses up to his ear, pausing to nip the lobe gently. "I am sure they will have figured out what is afoot."
What she did not say was that she was reluctant to return bearing proof of their less-than-gentle coupling, nor was she eager to leave the warmth of his side just yet. It was nice, for once, to be completely at ease around someone else.
"Will your men go mad with worry if we stay just another hour?"
Marvin
William Guiscard
The Wider Nasaris Estate

William chuckled. *Of course, they weren't stupid*, he thought. He hoped that they were content with just making excuses for him. "I hope that your family isn't as astute as the boys. Would they make a big fuss, I wonder? Would they force me to marry you to safeguard your hon... Ugh!!", he winced as Vezda bit his ear gently. 
William opened his left eye to look at her. "One hour? I don't think they'll mind", he said before turning towards her, entangling his feet with her own. "If they do, well I'll make sure to reward them for their trouble with some of the Lordlings wealth when I get my hands on it. Let it not be said that I don't take care of my own"
James
Vezda Nasaris
The Wider Nasaris Estate

"I have disappeared with the man I am already betrothed to marry," Vezda pointed out as she moved in to nuzzle his jaw with a sigh of pure contentment. "If anything they will be cross you could not wait until the wedding."
Even though it was I who could not wait, she remembered as her arm snaked around his side, pulling her closer still to him. His body was firm, warm, and she found each of his many scars mesmerizing. When her fingers chanced upon one, she liked to stroke it, wondering what story it held.
"I shall speak to my father about adding some of our finest beer and wine to the dowry. Something tells me that your men would enjoy such things since trade is sparce in south shore currently."
Marvin
William Guiscard
The Wider Nasaris Estate

"Oh they will love that. I am not sure how they'll be able to live back in South Feyshore". *This place could make anyone want to stay and never leave*, he thought as his wife held him closer still. William noticed how his scars seemed to grab her attention. He himself didn't pay them much attention. They were just there, each representing a time that he hadn't been fast enough or careful enough in a fight. 
"They are just a patch of skin, dear. It's not like the stories you might have read. Each and everyone means that someone was better than me for a little while", said William as his moved to caress her cheekbone. "I don't even remember where I got most of them". He might have been taking away some of the magic of it all but it was the truth. *She's just read about and played war. She hasn't actually fought in one. All of it must be a big tale of heroism and glory in her head*
James
Vezda Nasaris
The Wider Nasaris Estate

"I still wonder," His wife mumbled as she traced the line of a particularly long, jagged scar, her brows pulling together, "How you got them, who gave them to you. Who could be better, faster, stronger than you," She mused.
Vezda wanted to know more about William as a man and as a mercenary. She could pick his brain for hours- if he let her- and still not know enough about him. *Is this what lo-*
*Hush,* She interrupted herself, shocked by the thought. Flattening her palm on his hip, she turns her face up to look into his eyes.
"Is it so wrong to want to know everything about my husband? I spent last night wondering what type of fruit you preferred, whether you liked rain or sunshine, whether you liked the perfumed oil I sometimes wear..."
With a short, self deprecating laugh, she smiles. "I sound absolutely insane. And I am."