The Beast and The Swallow

"Noah."

"Yes, Lorelei."

"I bet you are having that face again."

"Which one, my love?"

"Your scheming, grinning one!"

In the gorgeous summer morning, a lone mountain of a horse sauntered without a care in the world under the green canopy of the road. On its back, two riders bantered, completely oblivious to the world around them. A scared pheasant rushed out of the bushes and, golden wings flapping, ran across the woodland path before disappearing into the thicket on the opposite side. The war horse just shook its head and gave the bird a disdainful snort, not bothering to change its gate. Alas, Lorelei couldn't brag with similar superb composure on this occasion. She yelped and stirred in the saddle, her hands jolting and almost pulling the reins, but Noah's palms, gently clasped around hers, prevented a mishap from occurring.

"Merhek! That cursed, panicky demon bird!" Lorelei panted and shook, her fingers clamping around the reins.

"Birds of a feather you are, you and that rooster, Lady Swallow." Grinning from ear to ear, Noah leaned in and kissed Lorelei's neck, only to receive a light shove in the gut from her elbow. "But you should admit, my dear, that I was right. Me sitting behind you was the one and only right way to give you riding lessons. Otherwise, you would be most likely lying in the dust right now, no matter how calm Cinder is. Therefore, I don't want to hear any protests or grumbling from now on about my teaching methods."

"Cheeky Beast!" Lorelei huffed and patted the black steed's mane. "I've observed enough of the riding lessons in the Orten household to know that the teacher usually walks beside the trainee and doesn't ride on the same horse with them. So stop pretending you are doing this from the goodness of your heart, when you clearly have ulterior motives."

"Oh, but it does all stem from my heart, Lorelei. It sure does." Noah snuggled his face in her hair, breathing in its bitter-sweet fragrance of herbs, soap, and lily-of-the-valley.

If he weren't a grown man, he would be now giggling like a child in a toy-maker's shop. His left hand released Lorelei's palm and wrapped around her waist, savoring her little shudder. The redness of her neck gave him more than ample information about the condition of her cheeks. For the next minute or so, he used all of his horticultural knowledge to think up comparisons for her blushing, ranking and discarding them in contented silence. Tomatoes and beets were quickly rejected, but cherries and apples earned his approval. He wasn't very sure about raspberries and rosehips, but roses, roses suited her lovely complexion perfectly.

"The Lady Rose of flaming cheeks, with thorny words my heart she pricks," he recited absentmindedly and received another elbow jab. In the process, Lorelei shifted her weight a bit, causing a tormenting, yet wondrous sensation in Noah's loins, which he indolently tried to suppress.

"You know, dearest husband, you've missed on the vocation of a minstreling vagabond," grumbled Lorelei, and Noah could imagine her pouting lips curved in a half-smile despite her efforts to sound earnest.

"The minstrel part I get," he breathed on the slope of her neck, planting a kiss where it connected to her shoulder. "But the vagabond part? How have I wronged you, my lady?"

"You kidnapped me from my training with Lady Akasha and Mother Roslinde! This could hinder my progress."

"And how far have you progressed?"

"That… I…" mumbled Lorelei, her slender shoulders slumping down. She finally whispered in a dejected voice. "I've made no progress at all. It has all been for naught. I've failed."

"You've been at it only for a week." Noah's grip around her waist tightened. "Don't stress over it."

"How can I not!?" Lorelei's body became rigid under his touch, and he knew that she was chewing on her lip. "The quaestors from Limris can arrive at any moment, but for sure no later than the end of summer if they travel with your brother! If I haven't managed to learn how to conceal who… what I am by then…"

She didn't finish, but Noah could sense her desperation and fear. He knew exactly how she felt, for he too had spent the recent nights waking up from nightmares.

The church's investigators took Lorelei, locking her somewhere in Limris or even further away, and he never saw her again.

The quaestors found her guilty of attempting to conceal her sainthood and burned her as a heretic, and together with her, the whole of Norden.

Lorelei was taken by the church only to later return - brainwashed and an enemy to him and Norden. And he was forced to kill her.

Gritting his teeth, Noah took a deep breath. He couldn't give in to his fears. He had to be strong for Lorelei. She needed a rock, and he was going to be one for her.

"You are failing because you are pushing yourself too hard." His thumb stroked the back of her hand. "You've been pushing yourself too hard. If you break down, this won't speed up your training. The one thing that can speed up your training right now is a couple of hours of complete rest. Honestly, one day, you will overwork yourself to death!"

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"A pot calling the kettle black." She pulled up his hand and kissed it. "Since when have you become such an authority on rest and recuperation, my chronically overworked Duke?"

"I'm no authority. But as you've said, I know a thing or two about overworking. I know the signs. And the consequences."

"And I, a physician, don't?"

"A prophet is blind to their fate, dear. You scold me for neglecting my wounds. I'm scolding you now for neglecting your mental exhaustion."

"We are both just two marvelous peas in a pot, aren't we?" Laughed Lorelei weakly, but her tone indicated that she wasn't going to argue further, and, what was more important, her stiff posture had relaxed.

"By the Gods, woman! All your comparisons to pots and food are starting to make me hungry!" Noah contentedly supported his chin on her shoulder.

"I wouldn't refuse a bite either." Lorelei twisted her head and planted a kiss on his temple. "But I have no idea where we are or how much longer we have to ride. You are the guide."

"Lucky for us, we are almost there. We'll dismount over by those trees."

Guiding Lorelei step by step, the two reached the line of the thicket. Noah jumped from the saddle and offered Lorelei help, but she refused, stating that since she was learning, she needed to do it properly. For some time after, Noah watched with amusement his beloved wife scrambling down from the saddle with the grace of a drunk acrobat - an observation he swore to never speak to anyone about and take the secret into his grave. Panting and flushed, Lorelei finally stepped on solid ground, where she was greeted by Cinder's enthusiastic whicker as he rubbed his snout into her.

"N-Noah, what's happening?" she stammered, suddenly facing two large, inquisitive nostrils inches away from her face.

"The old boy likes you and expects a treat from you," chuckled Noah and patted the horse's side. "You big, soft traitor! How could you abandon me like that!?"

The war steed gave his master a side glance and neighed before turning to him and playfully nibbling at his clothes. With a hearty laugh, Noah pulled out two apples that soon disappeared amidst juicy crunching. The third apple he gave to Lorelei, carefully instructing her how to offer the fruit so that all her fingers could remain intact after feeding Cinder. Taking the reins, Noah then led the way through the thicket.

Before disappearing between the trees, he looked over his shoulder. Dederi, Feste, and two other knights were just arriving from the bend of the road and quietly dismounting their horses. The guards saluted him without a word and kept their distance, but Noah knew that they would soon follow. Their presence somewhat clouded his leisurely outing with Lorelei, but he understood that it was inevitable. With all the recent occurrences, it was paramount to ensure Lorelei's safety. Both their safety. For a moment, a chill shook his body, but he clenched his teeth and drove the darkness away. Right now was a moment of happiness they deserved.

After trekking through the woods for a couple of minutes, Noah leisurely threw Cinder's reins on a bush and scratched the horse's forehead.

"Don't wander too far," he whispered, gently blowing into the steed's nose, and received a whicker and a nudge.

With a practiced move, Noah took down the saddlebags and flung them over his shoulder. He then turned to Lorelei, and a mischievous smile bloomed on his lips.

"Would my lady trust me enough to close her eyes and let me guide her the last couple of steps? The surprise will be worth it, I promise."

"Now I am really curious!" chirped Lorelei and complied with his request.

"Hah! You dear cheat!? I see you peeking from under your lashes!"

"I'm not!"

"Liar! But I have a way to rein in your curiosity, my dear."

Saying that, Noah stepped close behind Lorelei and put his palm over her eyes. She gasped then giggled, but made no attempt to shove him away. Instead, she stretched out her hand, and he willingly grabbed it. As if participating in a bizarre dance, the two snuck under the trees and between the worming roots, their cheerful banter accompanied by the song of birds and the rustling of the leaves.

It didn't take long for Noah to halt his step. He allowed the sun to bathe his face, breathing the fresh scent of the blooming flowers before whispering in Lorelei's ear.

"Prepare to be amazed."

His hand slid down, trailing her jaw and caressing her neck before standing still on her shoulder. A sharp intake of breath was all Lorelei could muster. Looking at her gaping mouth and huge, round eyes, his smile grew. She was even more beautiful in her child-like amazement. Her little nostrils flared up, taking in the fragrance. Her eyelids trembled, but she didn't dare blink out of fear that this might dispel the magical view before them. Noah could understand her reaction so well. Years ago, when he first found this place, he had the same reverence on his face.

Before them sprawled a small meadow. Circled from all sides by tall pines and mighty oaks, it was like a sea of flowers amidst the woods. A narrow spring burbled between the tall grass and the swaying stems, its cool waters winding like a silver ribbon and disappearing under the canopy. But the flowers were the true marvel of the meadow. Tuft upon tuft of golden yarrow basked in the summer rays, their yellow petals shining like little suns. The flowers' sweet and earthy fragrance hung in the air, mixing with the aroma of pines and heated soil.

"I promised you a meadow of gold," whispered Noah and hugged Lorelei from behind, pressing their cheeks together.

"It's gorgeous!" she sighed. "I… Is it real?"

"It is. And it's all yours."

Releasing his hold, he gave Lorelei a gentle push. She needed no more. Like a freed bird, she ran laughing between the flowers. The breeze played with her brown hair, today freed from the usual constraint of braids, save the two thin ones crowning her temples. Noah forgot to breathe. He would remember her forever like that - flowing chestnut locks, cascading over an emerald riding dress; a beaming face and sparkling eyes peering solely at him, despite the distraction of the surrounding beauty; a rosy mouth calling for him, and a delicate hand stretched out an invitation. She was a woodland fairy amidst a field of gold, a goddess summoning his sinful soul.

In a trance, he let the saddlebags fall and followed her into the sea of yarrow.