In Our Lair {Cecilia}

[Tier]

The mountains were cold and blanketed with snow this time of year. The snow came in every day and then every night. Most travelers avoided the mountains due to the every coming snow. Most got lost in the snow or ended up running out of food and die out in the snow. This did not mean all travelers died traveling the mountains with an upcoming winter. There were ways through the mountains that allowed safe passage and refuge.

Tier was ancient in a sense and had traveled through the Stroikara Mountains so many times before. He knew the pathways that were the safest to travel through in the mountains. He knew where trolls were more likely to be ran into. He knew where the more dangerous beasts slept. He knew about every little details of each mountain in the range. To say the least, Tier was the one person to be stuck up in the mountains with.

The animagus had taken his love, Cecilia, up to the mountains in search for something he felt that the blind half breed needed to know about before she would give birth to their child. Tier had told her very little about what it was he wanted her to encounter. He had simply taken her up to the mountains with the assurance that she would be safe. He had never let her fall even in the thickest parts of the snow. Tier had kept his lover safe.

It had taken the two of them a few days to make it up to the cave that they were now staying in. The cave was more fashioned like a house build into a cave. It had a front door, two windows, and a chimney. The cave was just one room. When one entered the house, the kitchen was off to the right with a stone stove, wooden table, washbasin, and a stone counter that had been carved from the surrounding walls. The living room was just opposite of the kitchen and off to the left. The fireplace was to the far left wall that was usually lit. There was a rocking chair beside the fireplace. The floors were covered in fur skins. To the very back wall set a bed comfortable for two with furs used as bedding.

Tier and Cecilia had been staying in the lair for quite a while. It had been a week or two since they had gotten there. The animagus kept the half breed inside while he went off and hunt for food. He would bring it back, clean the meat, and help Cecilia cook it. They had done this for a long while, and it was rather enjoyable. It was as if Tier had already gotten the family he wanted already.

The day had started out early. Tier had woken up early and went through the usually routine. He had gone out to hunt and had come back with a rabbit for their supper. Which was what the animagus was attending to now. He was cleaning the rabbit and preparing it to be cooked. The shifter was humming to himself happily even out in the cold of the mountains.

[Cecilia the Blind One]

The blind halfbreed frowned slightly, sighing as he cooked the rabbit. It seemed to her that he was more and more wanting her to sit around and do little, which she just thought was because she was pregnant. She chewed her lip, smiling slightly as his humming reached her ears before shaking it away. She still didn't know exactly what it was Tier had wanted her to experience or meet or whatever, and it slightly bothered her, although she would never admit to it.

She placed a hand on her stomach, thinking as she drifted out of everything, getting lost in her thoughts for a moment before shaking her head and letting her blonde hair move with her. "Is there anything I can do, Tier?" she asked softly.

[Tier]

Tier smiled as he looked to Cecilia. “Well, I just finished cleaning it up. Would you like to cook up some rabbit stew for us? That would give me some time to go off and get some firewood ready for tonight. Wouldn’t want to get too cold in there, especially on a day like this.”

The animagus stepped over to the half breed, smile upon his face and rabbit in his hand. He leaned over and kissed her lips gently before handing her the rabbit.

“I will try not to take too long, but if I do, just yell out for me when supper is done. I will come running back, promise.”

[Cecilia the Blind One]

Cecilia smiled, shaking her head. "Alright," she said with a light laugh before taking the rabbit. Almost anyone else would have been unhappy and uncomfortable with leaving the blind halfbreed alone and cooking, at that. She pushed her hair off her shoulders before heading back inside, shutting the door behind her as her hands moved expertly, cutting up the rabbit and making the stew.

If you hadn't noticed that she never actually looked down, you would have assumed she could see, her hands never hesitated in their movements, confident in her abilities. She sang softly as she worked, moving about the area as if she had sight, never actually knowing what the place looked like.

The stew would be done by the time Tier got back, but if it was done before then, she had no problem moving it off the heat to cool and waiting for the animagus to come back.

[Tier]

Tier came back into the cave, smelling the stew finishing up. He had an armful of firewood that he stacked beside the fireplace. He placed a bit of the wood into the fire and watched as it flared up. He smiled a bit before turning back and walking over to the blind half breed. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her lips gently.

“Ready to eat?” he said cheerfully. “I know that I am for sure. It smells wonderful, Cecilia.” The animagus moved away from her, getting bowls for both of them. He dipped up some of the stew in the bowls as well before setting them upon the table. He sat down, watching Cecilia with a smile on his face.

[Cecilia the Blind One]

Cecilia squeaked when he came in and hugged her, a bit surprised but she hid it as she ducked her head forward to hide the color that rose in her cheeks. Shaking her head with a smile on her lips, she moved over to sit down with him. "I guess we can," she teased with a light laugh.

She took her bowl, pushing her hair off her shoulders as the two of them began to eat. She was immensely curious about the area around them but had the better sense to stay inside and away from outdoors and the windows.

Although, she was curious as to why they were up here and she did voice that, sort of. "Why did you bring me up here?" she asked him softly as her eyes 'stared' at the table top.

[Tier]

The animagus took a bite out of his stew, taking his time to reply. He had not been direct with Cecilia yet on why he had brought her up into the mountains. Tier knew that he should have told the blind half breed, but that would defy the point of it being somewhat of a surprise to her.

“You will find out soon enough,” he said, smiling. It was one of the many phrases he sent the half breed her way to avoid telling her outright. Tier took another bite out of his stew. “This is really good, love.”

[Cecilia the Blind One]

Cecilia narrowed her eyes slightly before shrugging it off, deciding she'd just ignore the animagus for the time being. Which she could do rather easily. She had found herself becoming slightly more impatient and became cross much, much easier now that she was pregnant and progressing along.

She didn't like his answer, he always gave that one to her, and she was tired of playing whatever game he had invented. She sighed as she focused more on her food, growing more silent than her twin, if that was possible. She finished her food and rose, taking care of her bowl before drifting back away from the table and ultimately ending up in front of the fireplace, her back to the animagus as she sort of stared at the wall of the cave.

[Tier]

Tier gave a sigh as Cecilia left the table to go off to sit alone, leaving him to the bowl in front of him and his own devices. There was no patience left in the half breed. The animagus would admit, he missed how Cecilia was before when she would simply understand that she would have to wait for her surprise. Now, that she was pregnant, she allowed her moods to take over her completely.

He stood up from the table when he finished his stew and went to clean up his dishes. When he finished, he walked over to Cecilia and sat down beside her.

“I am sorry that I cannot tell you yet.”

[Cecilia the Blind One]

She didn't answer him, she was mildly upset. All of this keeping her in the dark and not telling her was making her feel like she was on the Market again, where her life was at someone else's whims. She didn't like it, not one bit, and the more she thought about it, the more upset she became.

It was fairly obvious what she was thinking, seeing as she couldn't hide her thoughts because she didn't know how to, having never had to do so before. She instead swept her hair over her shoulder and began running her fingers through it, beginning to pull it into a complex braid.

[Tier]

Tier took Cecilia’s hand gently, stroking the back of it with his thumb. His other hand came up and gently stroked the half breed’s cheek before running through her hair. He gave a slight smile, knowing what she was thinking.

“Everything will be fine, I promise,” he told her softly. “I know you do not like this feeling, but allow me my time to surprise you. I assure that it will happen soon.”

The animagus thought for a moment. He looked to the window that was covered up with a curtain. He seemed to be distracted for a long moment as he thought. He did not say anything, chewing his bottom lip. After a while he looked back to the blind half breed.

“Tonight or tomorrow?”

[Cecilia the Blind One]

Cecilia shrugged, not really pulling away from him but not giving an answer. After all, if he was so hellbent on surprising her, then he could decide the time frame. He had done so up until now, so as to why he was asking her, she was a bit confused.

She closed her useless eyes and pulled out the strip of cloth, tying it around them as she normally did when she wasn't sure what to do or what a proper course of action was, sort of a defense mechanism. Right now, she wished her brother was here so she could determine what the feelings were that were in the room.

[Tier]

Tier let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Fine, Cecilia,” he said, standing up away from her. He walked over to the fire and put some more wood upon it, the flames spiking up again. The animagus walked passed the half breed and over to the bed. He laid down on it, crossing his ankles and putting his arms behind his head. Tier closed his eyes with another sigh.

He had to move away from the blind half breed. Her current moods were able to get him rather frustrated and if he did not move away, he would get angry. The animagus knew to be patient, but he had to get some distance between him and his love for the moment.

[Cecilia the Blind One]

Cecilia bit her lip, dropping her head forward but otherwise remaining motionless. She didn't know exactly what he wanted her to do, and without knowing more she wasn't going to jump ahead and make decisions. All her life she knew that it was folly and as much as she trusted Tier, she had to trust her instincts as well. That much was certain.

She knew to leave him alone and would do so, she would probably sit in front of the fire until he either fell asleep or she did, one of the two. She shifted slightly as the baby kicked, moving so the child was more comfortable, rather than for her own comfort. She placed a hand on her stomach, her eyes closed and hidden behind the cloth.

She made a small noise in the back of her throat as the baby kicked a rib, not loud enough for Tier to hear, she hoped, and frowned, rubbing her stomach a little bit.

[Tier]

“Cecilia, come to me,” Tier said to her as his eyes opened up. He looked over to her as she sat there. He knew the baby was kicking her. He knew it was causing her discomfort. The animagus had a sense for all of these things as well. He could pick up on all the little noises that the half breed made.

“Come here and lay down with me. You should be laying back and resting for now.” The animagus smiled a bit, scooting over in case she would come and lay down with him. There was plenty of room in the bed for the two of them.

[Cecilia the Blind One]

Cecilia sighed and rose to her feet, silently making her way over to Tier. She wasn't going to argue with him when she knew he was right, sitting on the bed next to him, chewing her lip and pushing the braid back off her shoulder. "I'm sorry," she said softly, apologizing for her earlier mood.

She sighed slightly as she felt the braid coming out and shrugged, finally just pulling it out and letting her hair down. Something told her that the baby was a boy, and she wasn't about to bring it up with Tier for the moment, because she didn't know.

[Tier]

“It’s alright,” Tier said gently, moving his hand up to rub Cecilia’s back gently. The animagus smiled a bit, letting his fingers roam up and down the half breed’s back. He sat up a bit, his hand continuing to massage her back as he leaned over and kissed her cheek lightly. His other hand came up and touched Cecilia’s rounded belly.
“We will go tomorrow morning, I promise,” Tier told her gently, leaving another kiss upon her cheek. “I know you do not like being kept in the dark and led around like I have been doing to you, but I assure you it is for a good reason.”

[Cecilia the Blind One]

"Okay," she said softly, giving him a slight smile. She would accept it for now and deal with whatever came her way. Sighing, she ran a hand through her hair as she relaxed back against him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

She wrapped her arm around him and let her hand wander up his back to run through his hair. She could sense his moods now that she was touching him, but still didn't know quite what his exact mood was. She wasn't going to run her hand over his face, that would be rude unless he let her or put her hand there.

[Tier]

As if reading her mind, Tier took Cecilia’s hand and pressed it to his face gently. He smiled a bit. “I am happy, Cecilia. I know that you can get upset with me. I know this, and I understand, but I am not upset. So, do not worry, alright.”

The animagus smiled once more, leaning forward and kissing his love’s lips gently. “You should lay back for a bit and allow me to hold you, though,” he said. “I just want to lay here with you and that baby inside of you.” His hand gently rubbed around in a circle against Cecilia’s stomach.

[Cecilia the Blind One]

Cecilia nodded, smiling slightly as she lay back with him, allowing his larger frame to cradle her smaller one, accepting the touches. Tier was rather touchy-feely, more so than her. She let a hand ghost over his features, fingers light as butterfly wings as she traced over his features.

She leaned over and kissed his lips gently, returning the sentiment with a smile when she pulled away. "I love you," she said softly, with a smile. The cloth was still over her eyes, giving her a different look. Her eyes expressed no emotion that she was aware of and held no purpose to her, despite their beautiful color.