Finishing the count for today Jeb put on a kettle for some tea. Waiting for it to boil he heard soft steps behind him, still focusing on the kettle. Celine leaned into his side and looked up. Noticing the fleeting look in Jeb's eyes Celine spoke.
"It's strange, sometimes I forget that our son is this highly respected and honorable Commander…"
Jeb with a small grunt "feared and hated to. I'm sure the Blood nobles don't like people like him."
They both looked over their shoulder to see their Commander of a son in his apron with colorful stitching sweeping the floor of a small generals shop.
"It was just yesterday that Eric needed that stool to reach the counter when helping you." Celine resting her head on Jeb's shoulder. Both sharing a weary smile and thoughts of their little boy that was long gone. But what took his place was a dependable man in dark times.
To their delight a shy but resolute voice of a young woman came from outside the door "...excuse me…is anyone home."
Celine with a knowing smile 'ohh news travels fast.' Quickly moving to open the door she was greeted by a beautiful young woman with bright green eyes and long brown hair and a soft face. Wearing a white high waist V neck, sleeveless halter dress.
"Triss!! it's good to see you, come in come in. you must be freezing." taking Triss by the hand Celine walks her to the hearth at the back of the shop.
With concern and a look of searching Triss was moving her bright green eyes all over the shop 'where is he!?'
Celine with a chuckle "Don't worry he's here I'm sure he got flustered hearing your name and went to freshen up."
Triss instantly became flush "What are you talking about!?"
Celine loved to tease the poor girl "what don't tell me you did the same. The instant you heard Eric was back in town…I mean look at you, I bet you're turning all the heads." If one was looking at Triss, visible steam could be seen coming out of her head.
"Mother please, could you stop teasing her." Eric came to her rescue. Celine noticed the water on his hair and a fresh comb "mmh alright alright I'll leave you too be…don't wake the neighbors."
Eric shaking his head and Triss making a little yelp of embarrassment were left alone. Only accompanied by the crackle of the fire. Eric was the first to speak. "You look beautiful, it's good to see you."
a small silence lingered Eric wondering if he did something wrong "Tri…"
Before he could finish her name she bolted to him wrapping her arms around him, the hug lasted a while not breaking contact. Triss looks up at Eric into his ocean blue eyes. "...I missed you."
Patting her back and placing one hand on the back of her head, Eric said softly. "I missed you too."
Triss with a "hmpf" stepped on his toes "is that why I had to find out about your return through a grape vine!"
Erice not feeling anything do to her being so light couldn't stop smiling at the sheer adorableness. "I'm sorry…I was gonna tell you first thing in the morning, it has been a busy day."
placing his thumb and index finger on her chin he tilts her face to look at him, seeing the playful tears on her eyes "you know if it wasn't important I would have come to you first."
Accepting his words, Triss playfully punches his stomach "alright I believe you."
With a much more relaxed atmosphere Eric and Triss reminisced about their times together as children. Eric would also tell about his experiences while he was out on the sea. It wasn't until Jeb came down to inform them that night had fallen and that Eric should walk Triss home.
However to Triss's Delight and Eric's bewilderment. Celine brought up the idea of Triss spending the night. "like the good old times" she said. Triss was ecstatic. She loved it when she could sleep over, in her own words "I can feel at peace here."
Eric the gentleman he is. "Triss you can have my bed I'll sleep on the floor."
While Eric was making a bed on the ground Triss was already changed into some of Celien's pajamas laying on his bed, "so how have the seas been?"
Eric fluffing a pillow "turbulent and hungry, We lost a lot of men this time." giving a distant look he continued. I even lost one of my lieutenants…luckily even the king has noticed our losses this time and has issued a grieve period."
Triss feeling a little guilty "Eric…I'm sorry." she swung her legs off the bed and gave him a back hug.
A small chuckle escaped Eric's lips "it's ok Triss there were also some beautiful things. I got to see the sapphire drake, and new lands."
Triss always wanted to see the ocean and see magic beasts but her concern for Eric overwhelmed her envy. Absent mindedly she started to run her fingers through his hair. Eric looked over his shoulder a little "Thank you…maybe someday I can take you to see it."
With a gentleness in her voice "I'd like that…goodnight."
"Goodnight Triss."
It was a couple hours into the night when Triss was tossing and turning thinking about his words. "Hey Eric…are you awake?" there was a moment of silence.
"Yes." He replied with a raspy voice.
"How many more times do you need to leave?" she asked with a strained voice.
"I have about 4 years left so maybe another 3, maybe 4 more deployments." There was a prolonged silence. Eric wasn't gonna say anything but he started to hear sniffling and wiping of tears. "Triss! What is it…" Eric asked in a worried voice as he sat up to rest his chin on the bed.
"It's just…I'm scared. Every time you leave I'm left all alone, all alone in that dam house with no one." turning over so their faces were inches apart, Triss looked into his eyes "I'm scared you might not return one day…and if that happens he…he." Triss couldn't finish the sentence.
The tears were too heavy and sobs were too frequent. Taking a finger Eric brushes her cheek and pushes some wet hair behind her ear, in a gentle voice but firm "has he done something to you?"
Messily shaking her head no "but I can see it in his eyes, his perverted demeanor…I don't think he cares anymore about the protection your name brings. I'm afraid he'll force the topic of marriage or…or worse."
Eric doesn't get upset often let alone angry but when it involved his family the tolerance was all but none existent. Triss was someone he knew from his days in the slums. They were inseparable; they would steal together, play together and when Eric's parents managed to open a shop, lived together.
Until one day a baron from a blood noble family noticed Triss for her Unique beauty at a young age and politely forced Eric's parents to let him adopt her. For what seems like an action out of the goodness of the noble's heart has had adverse effects, the father of the noble Triss's adoptive grandfather started to see Triss as something more than a granddaughter, something more tantalizing.
Ever since Triss entered the age of marriage her grandfather had been trying to court her. Luckily the grandfather's son, Triss's adoptive father has been doing the best he can to stop this, it wasn't until Eric years later got the title of Naval Commander and strictly told her grandfather to stop pursuing Triss.
Only being a logistics advisor for the king he had no room to argue. Triss has developed an untrusting, timid personality from all of this only relenting and feeling safe around Eric and his family, for it not only be her grandfather but other noble men wanting to capture her. 'The Emerald of the Empire' some called her.
Not wanting this to go on any further Eric contemplated. 'god I've been a royal dunce.'
Eric for a while has loved Triss and he could feel she loved him. An excuse both of them fell prey to was they should wait until Eric's service is done before anything official. However the coming war and the threat of forced marriage to her grandfather he couldn't let things play out anymore.
Kissing her forehead Eric gazed into her emerald eyes and said "I'll take care of it. I promise."
Triss enjoying the kiss snuggled into his neck. Understanding what Eric was insinuating she was scared but happy. "I thought we promised to wait until your service was done.."
Gently cupping her face with his hands. "I think we have waited long enough…besides with how things are going I'm sure this conflict will give them a justification to extend my service. If I'm going into a future of turmoil I want to have the woman I love by my side."
Hearing Eric's sweet words Triss's eyes started to water. Wrapping her arms around his neck she whispered into his ear. "I love you."
After some short discussions about their future together they felt calmed enough to finally sleep…however as Eric tried to lay back down on the floor. Triss arched an eyebrow.
Eric confused "what?"
Triss with a voice of irritation. "You're gonna say all that and promise to take care of me and we aren't even gonna share the same bed!?"
Face palming. "Boy I wonder sometimes."