The meal that Elariel and Tae'loren cooked was the best that the High Elves had eaten in a long while. The tasty and well cooked food combined with the presence of the Night Elf and the tension of the day meant that the meal was accompanied by a distinct lack of chatter. Normally their meals were a time to catch up on the day, make plans for the week, and debate various magical conspiracies. Instead Aidyn tried his best to crack jokes and pretend that everything was fine whilst Roe'nor and Neras ignored Tae'loren and Solarius openly stared at him.<br/><br/>Throughout the meal Elariel was pleased that Tae'loren made the effort to make eye contact and smile; it did a great deal to help her put aside the animosity from some of the others. When they were done eating Elariel took Tae'loren's plate and her own and washed them in a tub of water. When she returned to the fire Tae'loren immediately got to his knees before her. Her stomach clenched at the submissive action and her colleagues looked on with interest.<br/><br/>With cheeks warming under such close scrutiny Elariel stepped forward and took her handkerchief from her pockets. She took every care to tie the fabric around Tae'loren's head whilst avoiding his ears; she knew her male companions would read far too much into it, and it would reignite her own desires. When she was done she reached down and cupped his elbow, guiding him to stand.<br/><br/>"No wonder you wanted to keep him," Aidyn said with a sly suggestive wink, Elariel simply ignored the jibe and led  Tae'loren from the barn. She heard voices clamouring as soon as the doors shut behind them, and she also heard the Night Elf's sigh. She echoed the sound of relief as they crossed to the beaten down homestead.<br/><br/>When they were in the safety of her room Tae'loren made the offer to sleep in the room of the males, and told her that he would not be offended if she took precautions against him. The idea of both made her chuckle slightly as she unclipped her cloak and threw it on top of her disheveled bed roll. Over in the other corner of the room was her old room mate's bed roll which would suit Tae'loren nicely. She also knew that the wards on her room would be more than enough to protect her, but she doubted that she would need them.<br/><br/>"I honestly don't trust Roe'nor and Neras to allow you to wake from your sleep," Elariel said as she stepped towards Tae'loren. The front of her body was so close to his that she could feel his warmth through her robes and if she breathed too deeply her breasts would brush against him ever so slightly.<br/><br/>"And I have no real need or desire to take precautions against you."<br/><br/>Elariel rose to her toes and reached around Tae'loren's head, once more untying the blind fold from the most impractical position. She didn't mind though, as her body closes the distance between then and her fingers brushed the smooth skin of his face. Their proximity made her stomach coil into tightly bound knots and she inhaled his intoxicatingly earthy scent. His warmth began to seep into her and she found it somewhat comforting.<br/><br/>"Feel free to guard yourself from me if you wish," Elariel said, voice low and soft, as she removed the fabric from his face. As she withdrew she made sure to let the side of her little finger brush against the upper ridges of his ear. The action was more intimate than the situation deserved, but it spoke to a barely restrained part inside of her that craved for attention.<br/><br/>Elariel took a step back and gave Tae'loren a smile. There was no apology there, for she did not regret her action. If she was too forward she would be happy to leave him be, but as her eyes scanned his dusky hued skin and artfully sculpted body she hoped that he appreciated it.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>