Beauty and the Beast

[nakedxXbeauty]

"Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul."

Quiet rain pelted against the window of the small Lady's Rest inn room.  Leilani soaked in a large wooden tub filled with warm water and lavender scented oil.  Long, thick curls of golden blonde hung down her back.  A single white flower was tucked behind her ear.  The room was quiet save for the sound of the rain pattering against the window, and the quiet breathing of Wallace.  He laid on the bed, body halfway covered in a tangle of bedsheets.  She smiled to herself, gently washing her tanned, flawless skin with the sweetly scented water of her tub. 

Her time in Barovia had been short, yet it seemed that so many events, big and small, had taken place.  Through all of the trials she felt as if her purpose was to spread the love and passion of Sune.  The task was hardly easy.  The people of this cursed land were corrupt.  So many things had been tainted in one way or another.  Her eyes became blind to beauty, for it seemed now that those who possessed outward grace were rotten inside, and those who lacked the physical appearance of beauty were kind and gentle. 

The thing that confused her the most were her feelings for Wallace.  She had been completely disgusted by him the first moment she laid eyes on him.  He had been nothing more than a smelly drunk with pale skin and a thick accent.  After spending a short amount of time with him she knew he was hiding something.  She'd convinced him to back off from drinking so much, and gained his trust by healing his body and providing him with tender care after a severe public beating.  Their feelings for each other had progressed quickly, nothing that was new to her although it felt different this time.  She had eyes for no one but this scarred figure of a man who had the temper of a beast. 

Perhaps there was something she'd been missing all along.  Perhaps her beliefs and shallow outlook on beauty were wrong.  There had to be a reason that she had been brought to this land.  Perhaps her duty was to uncover the true meaning of love and passion.  She was confused and alone in her faith.  Only time would bring forth the truth of her beliefs.

She rose from the tub, wrapping a pink and red robe around her damp skin before sliding back into bed beside him.  She slept soundly in his arms, and for that time all of her cares and concerns had vanished. 

[nakedxXbeauty]

“The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart.”

Krofburg was a beautiful mountain village; calm and peaceful although surrounded by thin air and colder than usual weather.  The pregnancy had come as a shock to both of them, though it was not unwanted.  Vallaki was no safe place for a woman with child, both Wallace and Leilani knew this.  The thought of not being with her lover had frightened her at first, but the beauty of Krofburg had captivated her and she had quickly settled.  Eight months had passed quickly it seemed.  Her body changed slowly, blossoming into that of one which carried the beauty of new life.  Much of her time was spent in bed or sitting near the fire, reading or eating. 

She constantly longed to be in the arms of her lover, safe, warm, and content.  He came as often as he could, bringing her gifts of jewels and gems.  She was the happiest when he kept her company.  They'd sit near the fire curled up in each others arms.  He'd serve her dinner or rub her swollen feet.  At night they'd sleep in the cramped bed, safely wrapped in each others arms. 

She feared how things would be once the child came.  She knew what to expect, but Wallace on the other hand seemed to have no idea of what he was getting himself into.  They'd agreed that being so far apart would do no one any good, so once the child was born and both mother and baby were healthy they'd make the journey back down the mountain.  Keeping the infant in the Outskirts seemed out of the question, so a permanent room would be rented. 

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She sat propped up on a small mountain of pillows atop the soft bed of her inn room.  Her swollen feet stuck out from beneath the layers of blankets covering her thighs.  She gazes down at her belly, gently rubbing the sides and sighing.  The closer she came to the day of the infants birth the slower time seemed to move.  A day without Wallace seemed like ages.  She worried more when she was alone.  What if the labor pains came and no one was there to help?  She was certain there was only one shaman on the mountain and he remained at the sanctuary. 

He finally showed after days of being apart from her.  They walked through the village and rested beside a small pond, sitting nuzzled in each others embraces, talking of things to come.  That night they made love and she slept content in his arms, her mind worrying nothing of what would happen in the coming days.

[nakedxXbeauty]

“Home is home, be it ever so humble.”

The house was set on a hill, a strong wall of bricks surrounding it.  The roof was sturdy and the walls were strong, although the house itself appeared old and somewhat run down.  Weeds surrounded the foundation and just outside the stone wall ran a creek of clear, cool water.  There was a stable near the house, though the lock on the door was greatly rusted and remained jammed, despite efforts to bash it open.  The front door had a sturdy lock and there was also a backdoor with an identical lock. 

The front door opened into a large living room.  Broken furniture and garbage lay scattered about.  There were a number of usable pieces of furniture as well as a large kitchen.  Stairs lead up to a second floor and off of the hallway were three bedrooms; a large master suite and two smaller rooms.  They were all cluttered with broken furniture and garbage.

She began to make plans immediately, stripping off the old dirty bed linens and lining the largest bed with a number of warm, soft furs.  She cleaned what remained of the pots and pans in the kitchen, and cleared the pump of the rusty water.  New linens would be purchased and the broken furniture would be split into wood by Wallace and used to burn in the fireplace. 

Before she allowed the baby into the house she insisted on searching it herself.  Wallace stayed outside with the infant while she searched, murmuring soft prayers and blessings throughout.  The large master suite was furnished with a cradle.  She felt nervous around it, so made a point of promptly destroying it.  After she was certain the house was safe they brought the baby in and began making plans.

[nakedxXbeauty]

Winter came as soon as it had left.  The large house kept them sheltered from the snow and warm.  The repairs had been completed just in time.  A fire always burned bright and warm from the fireplace.  The kitchen constantly emitted smells of spiced apples and seasoned meats as well as fresh bread and ale.  The beds were covered with simple linen sheets and thick animal hides stitched together as simple but warm quilts.  The new cradle that had been crafted for the infant was layered in warm blankets and soft furs, insulating the child from even the strongest breeze.

Wards were placed around the entrances of the house daily.  Prayers were prayed and blessings were called upon to protect from the restless spirits who had at one time plagued the home.  Despite the air of calm that lingered on the home, she knew that without the aids and blessings of her god, things would once again become as restless as they had been the first time she entered.  The worst aura had come from the old cradle, the one that she had made sure to destroy.  Something horrible had at one time happened in the place they called home. 

No local has come yet tae' complain either!.. 'Es better that nay'un even knows of us bein' 'ere... aye.. jus' ye, me, 'nd our child..

I think the locals are afraid of this place...

Aye?  What they fear fer?  Maybe they heard o' stories.. about an enchantinly beautiful fair-haired lass? rheh...

No.. I think something happened here... something horrible, before we came.  The first time I entered, a wave of...sadness washed over me.  The spirits dwelled here, I know they did.  They are gone now, or at least silent.  The wards and the blessings keep them at bay.

'At sounds bloody odd, 'nd disturbing... witch-like almost... no witch comes near our home.  I will hav' merh' axe ready for 'em.

Despite the oddities that seemed to give the house some sense of unease, she was not afraid in the least bit.  To her, it was home.  It was the place where they would grow and prosper as a famil.  It was the place their children would be raised.  Nothing could take her joy.  Nothing.

[nakedxXbeauty]

Two babies.  She was now giving care to not just one infant but two.  The work was difficult and tiresome; changing diapers, giving baths, feeding each of them, soothing them when they cried.  Joshua was strong and healthy.  He had filled out since his birth and had a head covered in wild red peach fuzz.  The child Kayne had found, however, was smaller and much weaker.  Once he plumped up he would appear much more healthy.  She had no idea what had happened to the infant, or even where he had come from for sure. 

Her and Wallace had moved a few times.  From the Old Inn they went to Midway and from there they moved to the Fishing Lodge.  Everything was so distant from civilization.  Wallace had finally agreed that they could move back to Vallaki.  The Lady's Rest had been somewhat calm, at least enough so that she hadn't dealt with any real problems even while watching both of the children.  Kayne and Wallace intimidated people enough that they at least kept a safe distance. 

By now she'd convinced herself that the child they'd lost at the Old Inn had been an event that was meant to be.  Two children was difficult, but a newborn was completely different than even a young babe.  It would be dangerous and difficult and perhaps they just needed more time to strengthen their first child. 

Wallace had found them a cave which appeared to be safe.  A long tunnel lead back to a large open space.  The tunnel would provide safe protection and with a few... well, a number of homey touches the inner room could be made into a cozy safehouse for them and the babies.  Wallace would hunt for food, fruits and vegetables and drinks would be stored, furs would line the floor and a cradle would be made for the baby.  Things were starting to look up again and she was completely content, happy, and fulfilled with the life she was living and the husband and son she was sharing it with.