The Wind's Will

[Kharmin]

Morgause accepted Cameron's kind kiss with a wan smile. She watched as the captain retrieved their dishes and left the room.

Her eyes tracked back to the table, on which still remained the small pile of strawberries. Morgause sat up straighter and sighed. Strawberries reminded her of home – a memory from so many long years past. As a child, summer at her small village was a wondrous time, full of vibrant colors, warm nights and ... strawberries.

She chuckled and wiped a tear that she hadn't realized had fallen as she recalled eating so many strawberries that she became sick. Morgause had swore off the hated fruit, and vowed that no other strawberry would ever pass her lips again. Then, next summer, she tossed all caution to the wind and relished in her favorite fruit.

Morgause remembered her mother's strawberry jams that she used to make and would sell at market every month. She sighed heavily as she recalled her mother's kind face – her father had always told Morgause that she had her mother's eyes. Having had no siblings meant Morgause got to spend much of her formative years with both of her parents doting on her. She was by no means well off, but her parents did try to spoil her whenever they could afford to do so.

Perhaps that was why she felt it necessary to buy gifts for Erick and Milli. She figured that, with their mother's success with the inn, they were suitably comfortable; still, she wanted to give them something that they might not have otherwise had. It seemed to work as they both appeared to genuinely appreciate her gifts, and the strawberries, too.

Despite her mood, Morgause snickered as she recalled Erick's hesitance and blushing cheeks. He was still young, but Morgause was sure that he would fetch many a girl's attention with his bashfulness once he became older. The girl, on the other hand, was going to be more difficult to manage. Her innocent, outgoing nature would take some watching, Morgause was sure. She grinned and shook her head at Emma's ill fortune to have such a precocious child; Morgause knew what that was like, for she was very similar to Milli at that age.

Maybe Cameron was right after all? She thought. Maybe – just maybe – they could find a moment's respite under a secure roof surrounded by those who almost seemed as family to her captain. Her brow furrowed. Unlikely, she concluded. The de Torbrille name has come into their home and trouble will certainly follow in short order.

Morgause cursed the luck that brought her under Emma's roof. These were good people and didn't deserve the kind of reprisals that others experienced in the red-head's fleeting wake.

[Shura]

Cameron knocked to give the red head some kind of warning in her worried state before opening the door. She spotted Mogause still on the bed with a troubled expression. She smiled slightly "We're in luck, They had a bottle left." She said keeping a light hearted tone. She opened the bottle with relative ease and poured a some for Mogrause offering her a cup before pouring one for her self as well.

[Kharmin]

"Sorry, captain," she said softly. "I'm a wreck, and I know it. Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea?" She tried to chuckle to add some levity, but her green eyes still held worry and doubt, like a child who had lost her way.

Morgause wiped her face with the edge of her cloak that she hadn't yet shed for its comfort, thanked the captain as she accepted the cup and drained the contents in a single drink. She handed the cup back to Cameron with a pleading expression.

[Shura]

Cameron drank half of her own cup before sitting beside the other woman refilling her cup. "No need to apologize. Being chased isn't an easy or pleasant." She said before taking another sip of her wine.

[Kharmin]

Morgause took the second proffered cup and drained it much like the first, although this time she held on to the empty vessel. She raked her hair back out of her face and scratched her scalp as she tried to put on a less strained expression.

"No, it's not," she agreed softly and sighed. She motioned around the room, "Still, you have places such as this to fall back on. I've been running for so long that I daresay should the chase ever end, and I survive this madness, I won't know what to do with myself."

Morgause turned her gaze to Cameron. "I mean no disrespect to you or your abilities," she said, "but I worry that these people will catch up to me and that you will suffer for being with me. It wasn't right of me to hide this from you, and for that I apologize."

She handed her cup back to Cameron with a nod.

[Shura]

"It's not the first time" Cameron side softly refilling her own cup after setting Mogause's a side. "I worked on the fishing ship of Emma's brother for a while. He brought trouble home with him every other time we set sail. Most of it debt or the angry spouse of a woman he tried wooing." She took another sip of her wine. "They were either sent off drunk or by the end of a dozen or so rifles. Grerim would get in trouble with Emma but the real trouble was usually gone. More than half the town visit the small tavern down below nightly. Emma is very good with words and can with a whole bar at her disposal its easy to distract the weak willed. She is also a very kind hearted woman and helps a lot of the towns people when they need help. Most of the times just food but that results in a lot of people willing to stand up for Em. If any trouble should find it's way into the Inn and they would be smart to wait until we leave as oppose to trying to fight their way through a mob of half drunk trigger happy patrons." Cameron chuckled softly. She knew it was a serious situation but had seen the same situation play out on various occasions.

[Kharmin]

Morgause stood and crossed to the table, her nod having been clearly misunderstood. She poured herself another cup of wine and straddled the opposite chair. Her cloak spilled out like a still, mottled green pool. Her red hair struck a deep, lustrous contrast with the garment which brought the sparkle out of her green eyes.

She sipped at her cup this time rather than drain the contents like the last two and listened as Cameron detailed to formidable fortress in which they currently sat. Morgause sat her cup on the table and held her hands up in mock surrender. "Ok, ok, I give up!" she joked as the stress of her vigilance eased from Cameron's comforting words and the plying efforts of the fine wine.

Morgause placed her hands in front of herself with her wrists touching and said, "You win. I am your prisoner. I will diligently try to forget my fears ... at least for tonight."

[Shura]

Cameron tilted her head slightly at Mogause. "You're my prisoner now?" She chuckled finishing her cup "I don't mean to undermined your fears, just a sure you that it is safer here than possibly any other place." She replied in a soft tone. "That being said." She got up from the bed. "Perhaps we can start a more relaxing evening after a hot bath." She grinned with a mischievous glint to her yes.

[Kharmin]

Morgause's eyes truly sparkled at the mention of the hot bath. If the red-headed woman had any real vices at all, long hot baths were at the top of the list. Often, they were expensive due to the heating or porting of the heated water so she rarely enjoyed this particular past-time. The look in Cameron's eyes left no doubt that the woman was serious – a hot bath was in the offering.

With a sly smile, she mocked submission to her 'jailor' and replied, "I am yours to command, captain."

[Shura]

Cameron chuckled softly as she offered her hand to Morgause. She brough the whine and cups along as the captain lead her "prisoner" down the hall a few doors to a room roughly the size of the one they were staying in which held a few benches with towles placed to the side and a large tub sitting with a few copper pipes above it. It wasn't as fancy or prestine as the the bath houses in billoways but it would work just the same. Cameron went over to the pipes and turned a valve. There was a ratteling sound for a few seconds before heated water gushed out lf the piping filling the tub. It would take a short while to fill butthe water was scoldong hot so it wouldn't cool during the wait.

[Kharmin]

Morgause brought her ever present longbow and quiver with them as they exited to the bathing room. Once the door was secured and the hot water started to pour, Morgause wasted no time in divesting herself of her clothes.

Her boots were left in their room, so all that remained were the cloak, shirt, vest and leather pants. She removed the cloak with a flourish and folded it neatly. Then, Morgause removed her vest and her blouse. Around her neck and dangling precariously close to her breasts as she bent down to slide her pants over her hips, the leaf pendant Cameron had purchased earlier swayed with her movements.

Morgause stood and clasped the pendant. "I will never take this off," she said to Cameron with determination. She crossed the room and sat on the edge of the tub. Her hair fell over her face and breasts as she delicately leaned over the edge of the tub and ran her fingers through the filling water.

[Shura]

Once the water was going Cameron sat aside unlacing and removing her boots she set then pulled off her shirt with a soft sigh. She looked over spotting Morgause as she undressed and lost track of what she was doing watching the siren instead desire bursting into flames once more. She smiled slightly at the womans statement a strange feeling stirring her. "I would hope so." She grinned before removing the rest of her clothing a long with her bindings. The water was almost done by the time she finished undressing.

The captain couldn't help but admire the redhead as she sat on the tub. The continuous threat of some mysterious pursuer was daunting. The threat coupled with the Navy would make things even more difficult. The other captains had brought up a good point.She wasn't known as a pirate and could easily pass her self off as trader which eased some of the difficulty. Still even with the threat and trouble leaving Morgause never crossed her mind. It was almost frightening how attached she had become to the woman. She had gotten attached to others Em and the twins were like family too her but Morgause was something... else. Figuring it best not to think too deeply on it least she start to doubt the connection they were just starting to form. She promised to give things a chance and she wanted to see where this relationship would go, even if a small part of her was scared. Cameron poured wine into the two cups offering one of Morgause as she joined her near the tub.

[Kharmin]

Morgause's fingers brushed over Cameron's as she accepted the refilled cup of wine from her. She brought it to her lips and as she turned it up to drink, her deep, green eyes shot a glance of warmth, trust and desire across its rim toward the captain.

She held the cup close to her breast and she swiveled her hips as she daintily swung her long, tanned and toned legs over the edge of the tub. The water had cooled some during the time it took to fill the tub, but it remained steaming hot. The humidity that had taken over the room already caused beads of sweat to form and run in hypnotic patterns down her body.

Morgause eased into the water and an expression of joy radiated from her face. The ends of her hair floated around her like some chaotic spider's web. She sipped her wine again and tilted her head back so that all of her hair soaked up the hot water. When she looked back at Cameron, she pursed her lips in appreciation at her lover's svelte form.

Wordlessly, Morgause motioned for Cameron to join her and raised her cup of wine for a toast.

[Shura]

Cameron felt bolt of desire run through her from the look in Morgause's eyes. She took a long drink form her cup to keep calm. The night was meant to last and be enjoyed. She couldn't help a small smile at the look of happiness that came over Morgause as she settled in the water a welcome change from the stress and worry from earlier. Set the bottle of whine on a small table that was beside the tub before getting into the steaming bath welcoming the sting of the water as she entered. It was just the thing her sore muscles needed the fact she got to share it with a beautiful woman made it perfect. Some water spilled over the side as she settled her self in with a heavy sigh. "Nothing beats a hot bath..." she chuckled "Well almost nothing" She added with a soft purr.

[Kharmin]

The copious amount of wine coupled with the steaming bath were having an immediate effect on Morgause. The worry across her brow and in her eyes had disappeared as she truly relaxed in Cameron's company.

"Mmmm," she hummed sensually as her legs came into contact with Cameron's. Fires of desire flared in her green eyes and she passed a sly grin over her lips as she licked them in anticipation.

"In the bath at Billoways," Morgause softly intoned, "there were ... servants ... who could be paid to wash you. Would that we had them here; it would make this my new favorite place."

She laid her head back against the rim of the tub and propped her ankle up on one of the sides. The steam and water fought for purchase on her smooth skin as droplets of water clung to her leg. She wiggled her toes and giggled as the effect of the wine continued to ply its trade on her. With her free hand, she ran her fingers through her hair and sighed.

Morgause closed her eyes as she kept her head back on the rim and hummed again. "Mmmmm. Thank you, captain for ... this. I'm not sure how I can ever repay you."