Things Fall Apart; The Centre Cannot Hold [Attn: Sojin Majere Gaidin]

[Bella]

Even if it had been a while since she had danced properly, her body did not forget the steps or how to follow her partner's lead. She flowed with him as he moved her backward, relaxing even in the open with the ward she had set around their camp. It gave her the confidence in their safety to give herself over to his embrace, and his kiss.

Miahala let herself flow and all but melt into him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders to hold her body to his. The air was crisp but not cold as it brushed over her flushed cheeks and the slight bit of skin open to it.

Yes, some soft voice of approval echoed in her mind. This was definitely going to be a better trip than she had anticipated. And for several moments, she just indulged in the feeling of being in his arms and his mouth plundering hers. When she finally was the one to tear herself away with a gasp, she was flushed and panting softly, looking into his eyes. "Yes," she said with a small smile, "we should probably..."

[Jack]

Sojin looked at Miahala after she broke from the kiss. His sapphire eyes met her own blue-green gaze and he almost lunged at her again.

A part of him reigned back such desires, almost like a trainer with a wild horse.

There would likely be plenty of time for that later. He was a Warder and his first order of business was standing watch.

Not that Miahala needed it. She could as easily filet a bandit with her knife as soon as burn a fist of Trollocs to cinders without much effort.

He touched her face intimately and murmured, “We should probably …. well, you should establish some sort of rest. I'll take first watch, or until you're ready to resume our path.”

Miahala's Ward would apparently give a lot of notice in case someone was brazen to attack, but an extra pair of eyes would help.

[Bella]

"Rest," Mia drawled with a smirk. Rest certainly hadn't been what she'd had in mind, although practicality suggested that he was right. The flames flickered beside her as she very noticeably didn't move away from him. She pressed her face gently into his touch. "Yes. I suppose that would be wise..." She closed her eyes for a moment.

Even this simplest of touches was something she had missed so much, and not even realized. Why was she not beyond this? After all these many years, shouldn't she have been beyond such worldly things? The Amyrlin Seat. The Untouchable... Shouldn't she?

She wasn't. Far from it. One touch made her crave more. All of it in all shades, even just the closeness and the affection of these moments that led her mind away from the places it sat and was strangled. This was like fresh air after being in a stuffy room, and she didn't think she would ever get past the need for it. Not until her death...whenever that actually happened and stuck.

Opening her eyes and taking a deep breath, she smiled warmly at him and kissed his hand where he touched her face. "I will rest for a while, as you wish," she said, her voice soft, almost tender.

[Jack]

In many ways, Sojin Majere was a fool. He irritated those who might be strong allies, went too hard on those who might need a dose of mentoring and stern advice, and pretty much stayed too little in the Yards as opposed to the fields and halls of the still-constructing Caralain Manor.

When it came to Miahala, he was absolutely a fool, and for so many different reasons.

The silver-haired Gaidin knew the lingering anticipation from the Green Aes Sedai-turned-Amyrlin Seat. His heart was galloping a hundred miles a minute and he wanted to fall prey to his own desires.

But she was an Aes Sedai, and he a Warder.

A Warder, who at the very most, could offer a sword to help her fend off bandits, tigers and Trollocs should they sound off the Ward Miahala Ives had set. She was more than capable of watching after her own skin, as was obvious in the two times he had seen her fight.

Riahana's lecture still rattled around in his skull, and that was one point she had managed to drive home not too long ago.

Miahala was powerful, and among the oldest of the Aes Sedai still living in the Tower. She was not in need of a Warder so much as she was a confidant and friend. And a sounding board. There was one thing he learned in his observations of his father and that was a channeler who trusted so few, or kept things close to the vest without revealing anything slowly slouched toward a dismal end.

With the First Seeker, that was nearly the case. His first bond with Lysira ended in no small part do to a lack of trust and a stupendously stupid stunt, and the same scenario played out with Corsedai. With Sienna Calin, that trust had been rekindled and prevented a very stubborn High Seat from going down a path of complete doom.

So now, here Sojin was, halfway torn between a sense of duty and training instilled in him by the Yards and a beautiful woman a breath's distance from him. In his eyes, she was one of the most beautiful people he had ever known.

Duty came before anything else, he had been taught, including love and friendship.

Some things must change, flickered a thought.

He kissed her again, as fiercely as the last. His hands began pulling her skirts up with one intent.

[Bella]

To say she was surprise would be incorrect. To say she was displeased would be very incorrect.

Mia was confident that her ward would alert them without fail, and that it was a far enough perimeter that they would have time to ready their defenses no matter their state of engagement. Truth was, she could (in theory) handle intruders while still engaged. The One Power was a gift in that much, and her experience invaluable.

She'd had many a camp-side liason with her lovers. None could have accused Caden Ives of being an unobservant warder or a poor Gaidin, but he had always been assured of her skills that he could relax (in as much as he ever did) with her while they traveled to enjoy her intimate embrace. She was always glad he had. Now, she was glad Sojin did.

Clothes came off in perhaps even more record-time than their last encounter, and the discarded garments became their bed. The heat they generated combined with the fire, so the night proved no fear of a chill.

In time, eventually, the real bedrolls were laid out. Upon her suggestion, together...strictly to help continue avoidance of a chill. It was the practical choice, right? The glint in her blue-green eyes and the small smirk curving her mouth told all the story one needed to know, but he was too...practical a man to argue with an Aes Sedai's wisdom.

She did settle down to get the rest he had suggested before, but this time it was more to her liking and in his arms, upon her assurance that her ward was well-set and reliable. Pressing her cheek to his shoulder, she slept better than she had in a long time...certainly since gaining the stole, and perhaps since again gaining her life.

OOC: Feel free to bring them to morning/getting up and going.

[Jack]

It was early yet, the sun just peaking above the horizon somewhere when Sojin opened his eyes to find himself staring at a beautiful sight. Miahala rested against him, his arms wrapped around her covered form.

For a long while he just lay there looking at the Aes Sedai. He remembered every moment, every blaze of passion and burst of pleasure before slumber took them both. Not a thought passed through his mind, however. It was blank and peaceful.

Had he instead kept watch, his mind would be different and he would be more tired. Perhaps for once, thinking of something other than duty was the right decision. It afforded him a memorable night with an Aes Sedai he respected and some peace for the first time in … well since their last tryst.

Sojin leaned in and kissed Miahala's forehead gently and murmured, “Good morning, Aes Sedai. I do believe we have a long road ahead of us.”

He spoke with hint of anticipation of what the road would bring, and spending more time with Miahala.

The packing of camp was effortless, most of it spent in silence as Sojin gathered his things and prepared his horse. The mare was still eyeing Miahala's stallion, and Sojin got the distinct impression that Tsyn was plotting. She was full of fire, and a good steed.

“Play nice, Tsyn,” Sojin whispered, grinning. “Well, not too nice.”

All the while, he kept an eye on Miahala, and a watch on their surroundings. It had been his experience that bad things happened right after a very pleasurable or enjoyable activity, and vice versa. Knowing his luck, they'd be attacked by idiotic bandits thinking a pair of travelers easy marks.

Once the camp was clear, Sojin was on his horse, looking at Amyrlin Seat as she did the same. Without a word, he nudged Tsyn into a walk. Light send this be a peaceful and pleasantly eventful journey.

[Bella]

The journey from the Grey Tower, where it lay nestled in the Mountains of Mist, to the Blight Border and the nation of Saldea was not, by horseback, a short one.

The days and nights passed far more enjoyable than she could have imagined when the Amyrlin Seat slipped out in the first place. To have companionship at all was a pleasant change from her original plan, but this particular companion proved even better. The days traveled along at a good pace, with good conversation and the feeling of safety brought by another set of highly skilled eyes.

And the nights... Well, those went without having to say anything more than they were very enjoyable, and extra safe.

Mia was pleased to have the chance to get to know him better. It had been said in her life that you got to know a person well if you joined them in fighting and f... Well, certain situations. She had already joined him in both, and had felt well on her way to knowing him beyond being the First Seeker's son. But the conversation itself helped flesh out her knowledge. And, she imagined, his of her.

It seemed the more she knew him the more she liked him. She liked being around him, and that was nice; so many people seemed to spin around her on a day to day, and the consistency of this trip brought its own pleasure.

Plus, no bandit or Trolloc attacks. Another plus.

Now, they were nearly to her ancestral lands. It was the night before, and one more morning worth of riding would bring them to the doorstep. The name within had changed, as the inheritance had passed to the women, but it was still Sha'hal blood that held this land, tended it, and grew the beautiful creatures that made the most of it.

Night had descended and the light came from the gleaming full moon overhead and the flickering fire just off to their side. Mia was astride the Gaidin, her hair spilling to either side of her face as she smiled down at him with the top cover of the bedroll pulled over her bare hips and scarred back. Her eyes glinted in the firelight. "This is your last chance to find some nice inn to stay at before braving my family," she teased.

[Jack]

The days and nights passed too quickly for Sojin's taste. Where normally he would relish the end to a long journey (unless it was to and from the Walker manor), he found himself enjoying Miahala's company more and more.

The days and conversations whilst on horseback were fantastic, light hearted and serious both. He had not had such a good time merely talking in … Light, his mind could not recall. Like most people, the memories he had of his time with Saphire were now relegated to both bittersweet shades of themselves.

With Miahala, he was learning something new every day. And he found himself wanting to learn more about her.

And the nights … well, the nights were scorched into his mind.

And perhaps for the first time in a very long while, he was happy not to be wading into an army of bloodthirsty foes.

Now, the pair of them naked lay under the stars, and Sojin looked up at something as wondrous. Their journey was nearing a crossing path and he couldn't help but feel something deeper.

His lips curved in a smile as his fingers traced bare flesh below the bedding. They crisscrossed over every scar, every burn as if it were nothing but skin. Then he raised a hand to her face as he contemplated how to respond.

He bore no doubt on his face, only solid reserve.

“My Aes Sedai, I assure you that an inn would be a dreadful thing,” Sojin murmured. “The ale would be watered down, the women not so lovely, and I fear I would be facing the gallows the first idiotic Southerner that besmirched the bravery of Borderlanders as foolish because I would have to challenge him to a duel.”

Even in this time there were still people who wrote Trollocs and Shadowspawn off as nothing more than children's stories. Sojin was raised in Tar Valon, taught to respect the fact there creatures of the Shadow who threatened the Borderlands.

More than anything, he was raised to respect those who stood vigil and acted as the shield for the Westlands.

Besides, he had ulterior motives.

“I braved a circle of thirteen to rescue a Green when as ji'alantin, led men into battle against enemies of the Dragon, and braved the Seanchan in the Battle of the Caralain,” Sojin murmured. “I think it's only fitting I find myself facing a foe superior to all those.”

He raised his eyebrows and a mischievous grin touched his face. “Besides, what would a Sha'hal matron think of a famed and legendary member of its house bringing home a mere soldier as a guest during one of her visits.”

Sojin was not naïve to think that Miahala was unknown among her kin. She was Amyrlin Seat to the Grey Tower — a figure that made thrones shake, a legendary Green Aes Sedai and formidable warrior in her own right. And if he knew the First Seeker as he did, Sojin lay odds that Jerid Walker would make it known who Miahala Ives was when she traveled the lands in public.

That man had an affinity for spreading information, a gift that served him well as a Keeper.

But Sojin Majere was an unknown, or so he'd like to think. He rose to High Seat only after House Walker was assumed a defeated, weakened power. His mother's family was unknown outside the borders of Tar Valon's immediate influence, and he was only ever a captain in the Band of the Red Hand.

At best he could been as a mere Warder assigned to the Aes Sedai's protection, at worst a common soldier. If it earned Miahala points in the Borderlands version of the Game of Houses when facts came due, he would happily play the role.

He leaned up and kissed Miahala softly. When he broke, he whispered, “Where you go, Aes Sedai, I follow. My sword is yours.”

[Bella]

Her amusement about a superior foe had her amused almost onto the verge of giggling...and Miahala Ives did not giggle.

She was about to argue with him simply on the fact that a soldier was well-respected in her families, as were Gaidin. In fact, with the Grey Tower so heavily linked to the Sha'hal bloodline now--especially hers--those members of the Tower that she deemed suitable companions were considered highly respected. And there was no game playing her family. They were simple farmers.

What he said after he kissed her thought, caught her off-guard. The promise of one's sword was not a vow taken lightly by a Borderlander, it was perhaps as sacred in many ways as a vow of marriage. Loyalty being almost currency in the Blight Border. So his words were not taken lightly, nor given lightly, she felt sure.

The look of amusement has slipped out of her gaze to something more solemn, and yet...there was the light of something else as well, although even she was not sure how to define the feeling.

Mia shifted her weight to one arm, her hand stroking over his cheek as she traced his bottom lip with the pad of her thumb. "I accept your sword, Gaidin," she whispered back. Perhaps in another moment, she might have made the play on a certain innuendo to be made, but this time she remained solemn as she leaned down and pressed her lips to his again.

[Jack]

Sojin had always been aware of the customs surrounding the Borderlands. It was a part of his education.

And at the moment, it was the only oath strong enough to provide Miahala. For as long as he needed her, he would provide her with steel and sinew.

The silver-haired Gaidin returned Miahala's kiss passionately, his hands tracing patterns up and down either side of her skin.

In many ways, he felt more connected to her than any other woman he shared the road or bed with, except perhaps one. But that was so long gone, and the memories, while pleasant, were just that.

For now, he would enjoy Miahala's company and act as her sword as needed.

Of course, he hoped this journey might continue for some time. He'd probably told her more about his past in one day than most could pry from him in five years. And he enjoyed her stories as well, enjoyed talking with her.

If the Tower was to have an Amyrlin Seat that connected with its people, Miahala definitely fit the bill. The Hall conformed to her, not the other way around.

Sojin broke the kiss and looked into Miahala's blue-green eyes.

“I'm yours, Miahala Ives, until this journey ends and you return to the Tower,” he murmured.