Tiran nodded at him, deep wisdom reflected in a passive expression and kind but surprisingly sharp eyes. That was his second most important conversation completed and Gabriel was almost ready to leave -- however, before he did there was something far more crucial to attend to.
The Daemon had not brought any belongings with him and indeed, outside of his simple attire of black cotton pants and the silver jewellery he wore draped around his neck, wrists, ankles and fingers, he owned none. There was no packing to be done; instead, once dressed, Gabriel went looking for a final farewell.
Vaern proved harder to find than expected though. The Healer's quarters were deserted, its occupants away or busy with patients, and the rooms kept for those will illnesses or injuries yielded no clues either. Those Gabriel paused in the tree-lined streets to ask had not seen the Elf that day either and she was not in any of her usual haunts -- the library, by the river, or teaching children the qualities of herbs under the shade of a three hundred year old oak. For some time the Daemon was baffled -- he'd told her of his intentions to leave soon on one of their many days together exploring the caves and forests of the Faerie lands -- however the answer to the riddle came to him suddenly as he glanced up at the mountain range that watched over the valley. It was so simple and obvious he almost laughed; he knew exactly where she would be.
The journey there this time was much faster. Months and months ago when he'd first done it he'd been hampered by injury and weighed down by crushing grief. Now his shoulder was almost as good as new; scarred, but fully functional, and although he still thought of Katherine daily and continued to mourn her death the weight of that loss no longer threatened to devastate him. He leapt lightly over ragged cliffs and swam easily through fast-flowing rivers, climbed ancient trees with animalistic grace and slipped almost unseen among the shadows. He was as wild and talented as he'd ever been, no longer stumbling gracelessly through the world but a predator, silent and dangerous, returned to his former strength.
And she was waiting for him, just as he'd known she would be.
Silhouetted in the fading summer light she made a beautiful picture. Silky caramel-coloured hair lifted and danced lightly in the breeze, catching behind the pointed ears which marked her as a Faerie. Her profile was elegant and refined; she had the high cheekbones that were common to all Elves but her eyes were something special. A deep kindness and wisdom marked her profession and age respectively; she was younger than Gabriel by around half a century but still close to four hundred years old. He trailed delicately clawed fingers along the back of her slender neck and twined her fingers through his own -- over time they'd grown close enough that these small gestures and touches were common and reassuring when they were together. She smiled but Gabriel could see sadness in her expression, in the way that the smile didn't fully reach her eyes as it normally did.
"I'm going to miss you, you know." Her voice was quiet but in this private place, next to the spring she'd first brought him to in order to save him, the words were clear and musical to his ears. She didn't sound accusing, simply pensive, but Gabriel pulled her closer anyway.
"I'll miss you too." They both knew that there was nothing that could change their parting. Gabriel was the Daemon Lord and he had responsibilities to his own race and, more than this, he was a restless wanderer at heart. He couldn't stay closeted in her world forever and already, after just a year, the first stirrings of wild energy were making it hard for him to sleep restfully. And Vaern, she was a Healer, a restorer of life, and was deeply attached to the Faerie realm. Her talents were needed for her own people and though magic was rife throughout their world she would be lost without the unique Faerie magic that was so powerful here. And more than this -- they loved each other, certainly, but both Gabriel and Vaern knew they weren't soul mates. Their attachment was strong yet they did not fully understand each other and would probably never be able to. Gabriel's violent, intense, wild Daemon nature was simply too alien to Vaern's gentle compassion and intuitive understanding of the emotions and experiences of others. A glimpse into each other's dreams had taught them this beyond a shadow of a doubt -- but it wouldn't make leaving any easier.
Gabriel dropped a gentle kiss on the back of Vaern's neck in the place where a slight hollow existed that smelt like ripe peaches. She smiled, already knowing his fascination with that spot, and held still as he explored. The soft attentions of his lips were interspersed with careful nips from pointed teeth; she'd never been with a Daemon before, and the little reminder of his dangerousness sent a thrill along her spine. Gabriel stopped thinking about his imminent departure and the life that awaited him beyond the Faerie gates; how could he think of anything else but the velvet softness of Vaern's skin and her heady, summer-fruit scent?
As for the Elf, she'd been lost the moment the Daemon Lord had touched her -- as always his presence hypnotised her and his bardic magic drugged her senses. His skin seemed ethereally silver despite the warm golden light they stood in and she could barely meet his eyes for fear of forgetting herself forever. She did though, entranced by the shocking teal of his irises and the depth of his character contained within them. Gabriel was so difficult to read -- a Daemon trait, as they were good at hiding their emotions -- but when he lowered his defences during their exploration of each other she could read him so clearly in those expressive eyes. It was more than a little frightening and yet she didn't even think of stopping this natural progression of their months together. The force of Gabriel's desire was simply too strong to resist.
He spun her around to face him and Vaern immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, long fingers entwining themselves in his shaggy, ink-black hair. His breath smelt like rich, dark honey; irresistibly sweet, she couldn't help but reach up and press her lips tentatively against his. Gabriel allowed her to set the pace at first, wanting her to be comfortable and feel at least a little in control. He knew the effect of his abilities and though his control over them was limited, especially now, he was wary of scaring her with his natural intensity.
She didn't seem scared, though. Hesitant at first, Vaern took only moments to coax his mouth open with her tongue and deepen the kiss to something more exhilarating. His fingers found the tie of the cloak she was wearing and loosened it; she wore nothing beneath, having known perfectly well what would happen before Gabriel left, but she hardly seemed to notice as they both drunk in the other during that single, unbroken kiss. Frantic heat and desperate desire drove them closer to each other; Gabriel pressed the length of her body against his own though somehow Vaern managed to release the tie of the pants he was wearing. Gabriel was far too distracted to care about how exposed they both were.
It seemed natural to sink to the ground at that point and only then did they finally pause for breath. Soft summer grass made a fragrant bed beneath them, and among the wildflowers Gabriel began to discover Vaern's body. His hand traced the attractive curve of her waist and cupped the swell of her hip before he placed delicate, exploratory kisses along her ribs. Each hollow seemed to intrigue him, almost as much as the freckles and scars he found which he lingered over as though savouring. These were the things that made her unique, special, memorable. He traced the outline of a crescent shaped birth mark lazily and the heat of his gaze brought a rose blush to her cheeks.
"You're beautiful," he murmured seriously, meeting her eyes and holding her gaze captive.
"So are you." Her own fingers traced the outline of his abdominal muscles which tensed reflexively beneath a touch so gentle she could only be a healer. She lingered over parts of him too; the ragged, bone-white scars on his shoulder which would always remind him of her now, rather than the Vampire he'd received them from, and the fascinating hollow created by his hipbone. She placed kisses there which made him catch his breath sharply and made her in turn smile, noticing the evidence of the arousal she was creating. And that, too, was beautiful; curiously she wrapped a hand around his length and watched his jaw tighten, reaching up to soothe the hard tendons that ran along his throat. That was a vulnerable spot for someone to touch, especially to a Daemon due to lives filled with fighting, and the fact that he didn't even flinch spoke volumes of his trust for her.
