RP:A Serving Of Gratitude

Summary: Lanara makes a delicious home-cooked meal for Largakh and his grandparents, Theoduin and Seldanna. The dinner is to show her appreciation to the trio as they had mended her extensive wounds, and had let her hide out there for a few days, in order to avoid the public after her mud-wrestling match against Talyara. After making small talk, they ask Lana to move in with them for as long as she desires, while she gets back on her feet, and Larz is in complete agreement, so she accepts their offer. During the week she will live at the Rolafir's cabin in Sage Forest, and on the weekends, she will spend her time at Larz's shanty, in Gualon.

Room Description: The dining room of the Rolafir’s magnificent cabin, in Sage Forest, has been beautifully decorated with fine tapestries, a long wooden table, six wooden chairs with soft cushion to sit upon, and a stone hearth. Above the fireplace rests three tall pillar candles, which have been lit, and casts shadows along the wall, while illuminating the dining area. A hunter green, finely sewn cloth, covers the table, and gold-trimmed placemats are aligned beneath each porcelain plate, with a thick cloth napkin at its side. Pewter silverware has been carefully laid out, along with wine glasses, and a tall glass of spring water is beside each plate. Three bottles of wine are on the table, a white, a red, and a blush, for whichever the diner’s prefer, and a beautiful hand-picked flower bouquet has been expertly arranged, and has been used as a centerpiece. Tea-light candles have been lit at various points along the length of the table, and there are two small jars, each housing spices, being salt and pepper, should someone desire a bit more seasoning on their food. A basket of fresh baked bread, a butter dish, a large bowl of mixed salad, and a cruet of dressing, are neatly set up, as well. The calming sound of crackling emits from the recently started fire in the hearth, and delicious aromas come from the adjacent kitchen.

Lanara hums to herself, as she puts the finishing touches on each dish, counting on her fingers and making sure that everything is just perfect. The elf had been in the kitchen most of the day, and she was grateful that Larz had managed to get every last item on her shopping list. That man was truly a catch! She smiles, and places a warming spell upon each of the serving trays, to ensure that each course would remain warm, while they dined on the others. This was an important evening for the woman, as she had specially made this dinner for Theo and Seldanna, in thanks for having healed her of her injuries, and for opening their home to her, so that she could stay out of the public eye. As she finishes sprinkling the pine nuts over the chicken dish, she unties the rope of the apron from around her neck, and steps into the washroom to make certain that she looked as presentable as the food. It had been four days since the match with her sister, and though the heartache had remained and her thoughts raced continuously, on the exterior, she seemed to be well on the mend. She slips the loose gown that she had borrowed from Seldanna over her head, and examines her figure, frowning every so often, and nodding in relief, at other times. The scrapes on her arms and legs had faded to red lines, and all the swelling had left her right eye, though a faint purple circle outlined the surrounding area. Lana peers into the mirror, and dabs some paste onto her face, aiming to blend the bruised area to match her slightly tanned complexion. She runs her hands along her torso, wincing slightly as her fingers graze the tender area where Theo had performed surgery, a three inch slit to the right of her navel, which is covered with a thin bandage, so nothing disturbs the stitches. Thankfully, the scarring would be minimal, he had promised. The tight straps that had held her ribs in place have been removed, and though the ache remains should she overexert herself, the pain no longer takes her breath away. She’s grateful to be fully mobile now, and she carefully slips a new dress over her figure, which clings to her form like a glove. It’s lilac, soft to the touch, with a modest v-neckline, and ends just above her knees. It’s elegant, but not overly formal, and appropriate for dinner with the elders. Even though they had already seen her in Larz’s night clothes, and then weeks later, literally naked, she still held a degree of decorum, as she often respected those that were beyond her years. Stepping into white high heels, she fixes a silver chain around her neck, and fingers the heart-shaped pendant, pursing her lips. It had belonged to her late mother, and as her eyes meet in the mirror, she finds that she’s blinking back tears. “No-no… Stop that. This is a happy occasion!” Scolding herself, she dabs a clear gloss onto her lush lips, applies some mascara to her long lashes, and spritzes her inner wrists with some overly expensive perfume she had purchased from a vendor at the market. Larz had tended to retrieving the groceries, while she had disguised her appearance using a glamour spell and had snuck off to buy a few new outfits and some personal belongings for her stay. Finally, she works on her long locks, pleased that the chunk of missing hair was now barely noticeable, though she carefully places a few extra strands to the right, as she parts it, so that it covers the area. She wears it free, loose curls reaching her elbows, as she twirls around in the washroom, eyeing the full length mirror, and taking a deep breath. “It’s go time.” Lana steps out of the washroom, places soup and salad bowls beside each plate, and fills each with a tomato and basil soup, while leaving the tossed green salad at the center, as she wasn’t sure if they all were leaf eaters. “Larz!” Raising her voice, she waits for the half-orc to enter the room, and she pulls him in for a quick hug. “Hey… I missed you! Sorry I kicked you out of the kitchen… I just really wanted to do this on my own. It’s a ‘thank you’ dinner for you, and your grandparents. So I really hope you all like it! And…” Trailing her finger down the center of his chest, she meets his tuscan gaze. “Maybe after dinner we can go for walk? There’s a large clearing nearby with a big lake… Maybe we can spend some alone time together.” She’d pause, waiting for his answer, before smiling and telling him to go and get his grandparents. Dinner was served!

Largakh was in his own room of the cabin and put on a vest over his long sleeved button up shirt. While rolling up the sleeves to bunch just before his elbows he takes a glance to himself in a mirror to smooth his hair to one side, then takes a single blue tulip and puts it in the chest pocket of his vest. He felt nervous and didn't even know why, maybe he was worried she would strain herself with making dinner, but once he was summoned his fine leather shoes pick up the pace and he spritzed some old cologne on himself, hints of sandalwood and vanilla. Once his eyes set on her he grinned that way he does, stopped a moment in is tracks and checked her out with a low whistle before taking the flower from his pocket and placing in on her ear with a kiss to her forehead. “You didn’t have to do any of this, but I know they will love it,” a glance to the table and he could feel his stomach growl and saliva coat the inside of his mouth. “This looks great,” then she was leaning in and requesting time alone with him, “how could I say no to that?” She tells him to go fetch his grandparents, but he doesn’t move from his spot for a moment as he just gazes down at her with a certain look in his eyes before he leaned down and planted a soft smooch on her lips. Onced he pulled away he was grinning, “yeah, I’ll get them in a sec, just got to catch my breath. Some witch stole it,” he winks and then backs away before disappearing into the hallway. After a moment they all come in, Seldanna and Theo are dressed up in matching color schemes, but when they take one look at Lana they do so proudly with wide smiles. Seldanna gives Lana a hug, gently and Theo puts his arm around the girl’s shoulders while saying the same thing that Larz said, “You don’t have to do this for us. We see you as one of our own children, Lanara.” Theo looks to the food, mouth watering, “although, this does smell excellent Lanara.” He gives her shoulders a gentle squeeze while placing a peck on Lana’s forehead as they both say, “thank you.” Theo and Larz pull out Seldanna and Lanara’s chairs for them and then they take their seats, but Theo had snuck in a booty pinch to Seldanna as she lowered into the chair and this got a little giggle out of the elf. “Will you two behave?” Larz asked jokingly before placing his hand on the top of Lanara’s and he didn’t even notice how Theo and Seldanna seemed to be extra quiet, giving eachother a certain look as if they were speaking telepathically. They all try the soup and hum in approval, but Seldanna pauses, “Lana, my dear. If you want to keep hidden… Why don’t you just take us up on our offer? Stay here? The animals love you, we love you. I’m sure anytime you wish to get out Larz will come by and take you wherever you want to go.” Larz stops eating and sighs, “you guys have a point, but how many times is it now that you’ve asked her?” A short chuckle and Theo explains, “you’re right Larz, we are being a little pushy, but that’s what you do for the wellbeing of family sometimes.” Larz finishes his food first and mentions, “that was delicious.”

Lanara inhales as they embrace, the scent of the cologne a welcome smell, as she nuzzles against his chest. Was there anything this man did wrong? He literally was the perfect specimen of a man, a friend, and… Something much more. As she leans back, he tucks the blue tulip behind her tapered ear, and she literally laughs out loud. “Okay, you literally are the most perfect man.” Her chocolate hues lock onto his face, a faint blush in her cheeks, before she takes in his attire and widens her eyes. “Fancy. You look handsome. And… Yeah, I really did have to do this… You are so lucky to have Theo and Seldanna. I grew up without any of that… Taly had mother, and I would see her on the holidays and over the summer… But aside from all of that, I pretty much raised myself. Cherish them, Larz, always.” A pause, as he accepts her offer of some alone time, that damn blush intensifying. “Great!” At the exact same time, they lean in for a soft kiss, and she sighs against his lips, loving how they -always- were on the same page. The kiss ends all too soon, and though she knew the food wouldn’t grow cold from her warming spell, she stands there, looking at him as he remains rooted to the floor. “What?” Tilting her head to the side, she drinks him in with her dark eyes, unsure if he was still a little shaken from their kiss, or if something actually was wrong. His next words catch her off guard, and the bubble of laughter that erupts from her causes her poor ribs to smart, so she clutches her middle, and shakes her head, trying to contain her laughter. “I’m going to steal more than your breath, Mister! You better be careful around me!” Lana gives a quick once over at the table, making sure that everything is in its rightful place, and as she hears footsteps, she turns to greet the elder elve’s, each of them getting a warm hug from her, in turn. “Thank you both -so- much. For everything. I’ve come to truly care for you both… I will cherish the memories that we’ve made this week, always.” She’s referring to much more than the healing that awful night… She thinks back to helping Seldanna in the kitchen, and swapping recipes, and late evenings with Theo, before the hearth, exchanging stories of their adventures in the forests. She would miss them both when she left, and she clears her throat, to keep her voice steady. “So! There is salad, and tomato and basil soup… And the main course will follow.” She sits into her offered chair, grinning as Seldanna giggles and meets her husband’s gaze, that love of pure love etched on her pretty face. They still kept it fresh and that newness hadn’t worn off of their relationship. They were couple goals! “Thank you.” Lana says, looking up at Larz as he pushes her chair in, and then she sees it, the way their expressions change and that mental talk they seem to share. Were they not a fan of tomatoes? Or salad? Was it the bread? Somewhat worried, she takes a slow sip of her water, exchanging a ‘look’ with Larz, hoping she didn’t fail in some way. It’s Seldanna that breaks the silence, with another, possibly the twenty-fifth, offer to live with them for a time, and Lana lowers her glass to the table, unsure how to answer. The half-orc enters the conversation and Lana feels cornered, nipping her lower lip, her nerves getting the best of her at this moment. How could she answer without hurting them, or with being brutally honest? They’d feel sorry for her, and she didn’t want their pity. Nor did she want to invade on Larz’s relationship with his grandparents, because if they didn’t work out, it could get messy. Without touching her soup, or making a plate of salad, she abruptly rises to her feet, and gives Larz a pointed glare. “Can you help me prepare the next course?” Softening, she looks at Theo and Seldanna, “Excuse me, I’ll be right back. You two enjoy your soup!” Her heels click against the floorboards as she steps into the kitchen and stands before the large tray heaping with food. Was she trying to feed an army?! Looking over her shoulder at Larz, she semi-panics, as she maintains a whisper while speaking. “They are so sweet. And I really do love them. And I also really care about you, and well, US. So… Um.” A beat. “Would you honestly be okay with me staying here? I don’t want to overstep on our relationship or what we have or will have in the future. I never had a home, actually, and I can’t just outright say that to them. And I can’t just lie to them and tell them I’d rather live in a treetop somewhere. And I can’t move in with you because it’s soon and I don’t want to like, I don’t know… I don’t want for us to get stale. So… I’m sort of in a bind here, and I didn’t think they’d mention it. Again. Maybe I can stay a few weeks? Just to help with the animals… And you could see me whenever you wanted to, not that you’d have to baby-sit me, or come over all the time just for me…” She sighs, clearly overthinking the situation. “Can you carry the tray?” On the tray was roasted chicken done in a sauce of milk and honey, and garnished with pine nuts. There also was a large bowl of diced turnips, in a sauce of butter and olive oil. The elf really had outdone herself, and she worriedly meets his tuscan gaze. “Larz… I want you to make this decision for me, okay? I trust you. I trust us. And I want you to just please help me to stop overthinking and just pick an answer, and I’ll go along with whatever it is… I think you know me better than anyone, and I won’t be mad if you have me stay here, or with a family of strange hobbits that dress as rabbits, or if you tell me to sleep in the streets of Kelay. I really will just be obedient. At least in this instance.” She laughs, nervously, before arranging the food on the plates.

Largakh froze a little in his chair at the look she gave him and both Theo and Larz stood up when she did, “yes, of course.” He felt like a child in trouble with they way she glared at him and Theo took his seat once more when they were out of the room. She’s having a moment again and he just smiles adoringly down at her before occupying the space behind her. His arms curve around her waist, making sure to be mindful of her healing wounds, “of course I wouldn’t mind you staying here, are you kidding? There would be more chances I could see your beautiful face and spend time with you. It’s become my all time favorite thing to do.” He starts to sway a little with her in his arms as if there was music playing only for them and his face rests against her hair, “my place is always open to you, that is why you have my only spare key.” He places a kiss on her head and over her hair, “I think this could be great for you and it will only bring you closer to them. They really are proud of you, I can see it and they just want to take care of you.” Her mention of babysitting is met with a soft chuckle, “during those few weeks, I could still stop by on my regular days and you can come spend the weekends with me in Gualon? Plus, you still have your dance class at the orphanage, you know those kids adore you and the news never reaches over there anyway. It won’t be like you are stuck here.” When she asks him to choose and tells her to stop letting her overthink he gently turns her around so her front is pressed gently to his own, his head tilted down to look at her and his hands cupping both of her cheeks, “I would never want you to stop overthinking with that beautiful brain of yours. I will not tell you what to do because you are a mature adult who can make her own decisions, but I will give you advice. I think you staying here for a few weeks will be great for you and them to heal not only on the outside, but the inside and I will help you with whatever you want for the time being. And yes, I will be perfectly fine if you stayed here because I know you will be safe.” A wider grin, “I -know-, you can kick some ass, but I would like it if you didn’t -have- to.” He winks after giving her buttcheek a pinch and picks up the large tray of food before waiting for her, “whatever you chose, they should hear it from you, my only.” He stood by the archway in wait for he will follow her back out to the dining room, finding Theo and Seldanna were leaned in close, whispering sweet nothings and rubbing their noses together while they ate all the food Lanara made, but also are on their second glass of red wine and rose. Larz playfully clears his throat and sets the food down after Lana set her plate down and their eyes grow wide with desire. Seldanna then gives an expecting, but patient smile up at Lana.

Lanara leans back as he wraps his arms around her waist, and she is relieved to hear that he’s completely on board, should she decided to stay with the Rolafir’s for a little while longer. She had been dating Larz for a little over a month now, and she had yet to find a flaw. Whereas… Lana had nothing but flaws, and she had worn her heart on her sleeve before this man, yet he still remained at her side. Was he dancing, now? Slowly, she sways with him, to their own imaginary beat, and she turns around to face him, giving him a peck on the cheek, and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “You are amazing, you know that? And… I think I like the idea of spending my days here… And my weekends with you. I guess I’ll have to overcome my aversion to unlocking your door, though…” She feigns a dramatic sigh, trying to make him laugh. “And yes! I still have my dance classes at the orphanage… It’s been a few days, and I actually miss a few of the little ones. I even miss the brooding teenagers that -refuse- to learn to dance, but I caught one! I caught one of the older boys… He was dancing in the mirror when he thought no one was looking. His face literally turned the color of a tomato when he saw me over his shoulder. I asked him to dance. Thinking it would be fun! And I could have shown him a few moves in private, in case he was shy about dancing in front of the others… But that just intensified his blush. I’m not sure why… I can’t wait to visit the kids again.” Lana gets that faraway look in her eyes, similar to when she’s talking about her animal companions, and she catches Larz looking down at her, likely making the exact same connection, and her cheeks flush. “Thank you… You’ve become so much to me in these few short weeks. You’re my hero, my warrior, my punching bag - well, in earlier days, my dance partner, and now… My voice of reason.” This dramatic sigh isn’t in jest, as she leans in and kisses him on the lips, tenderly, long and slow. “Look how far we’ve come. You went from slaughtering boars and spying on me with your ill-mannered grandpa… To… To the man that I want to spend every waking moment with, who is wearing this intoxicating cologne, and don’t even get me started on the leather jacket! And, you probably still hunt, and watch me a little too closely, not that I mind, and your grandpa is probably still suspicious of my oddities at times… But I am smitten. And I’m not running away… Not anymore. Not from this. So… Okay, I’ll tell them…” She ignores the pinch on her rear, she would get him back later, and as they resume eating and make small talk at the table, she lowers her fork. The chicken she had speared minutes before still remains untouched, she was nervous, this was a -huge- step for the witch, and she can sense that Theo and Seldanna were expecting an answer. The faint blush on Seldanna’s cheeks from the wine gave her a maternal, youthful, look, and she focuses on her, though she’s speaking to them both. “I hope you all liked the chicken, it’s the first time I tried this exact recipe, and I was just explaining it all to Larz in the kitchen. He, uh, wants to learn to cook, so I was just giving him the rundown.” Those brown eyes flick to the male, hoping he’d join in, and not rat her out for literally having one of her ‘moments’ and needing to vent. Before long, he’d be tango-ing in the kitchen, while making them all dinner! “So. After that, uh, lesson. I was thinking about what you both were suggesting, and if it’s alright…” Of course it was, they asked her three dozen times. “I’d like to move in, just for a few weeks! We’ll see how it goes from there? And, I will help out, I will not live here rent free. I can chip in with gold, or I can do the animal care, the cooking, house cleaning, whatever you both need. I would never take advantage. And on the weekends… I would probably stay in Gualon.” An unnecessary cough. “To go over the class material for the orphanage, and all.” They really didn’t need to know about her personal time with Larz. “Okay. Great! So, I’ll go and grab dessert!” Abruptly, she rises from the table, shy beyond belief in this moment, and she practically sprints into the kitchen, to retrieve the final tray of the evening. This one has two desserts on it, each looking far too pretty to eat. A homemade apple pie, with figs, raisins, and spices, is still warm to the touch, the smell of apples pouring from the slits in the crust. And four small bowls contain pears, soaked in wine, with a garnish of cinnamon and ginger. Lana takes a minute to catch her breath, and eyes the dessert, hoping that the meal was impressing the trio in the other room.

Largakh watched as his grandmother's face lights up, abandoning her half eaten meal to get up and embrace Lana again around the shoulders. She starts going on about how she wants to do a girls day where they do facials nails and makeup, but also to some moving target practice on horseback. It was obvious that Seldanna was going to enjoy having a woman around the house. Theo mentions he could show her some old elven healing techniques and Largakh just watches them fawn over his only with a grin on his face while continuing to fall even more for this woman… His tuscan eyes rest on Lanas face, a glimmer of something unspoken within and it's then that Theo nudges Seldanna to take a glance at Larz. She smiles and takes everyone's empty plates to make room for dessert, but raises a brow at Theo when Lana mentions having to go over dance moves in the privacy of Larz’s apartment. They may still act like teens in love, but they weren't born yesterday so she lets that one go - whatever they do is their business. Larz chuckles as Theo mentions he should have worn loose fitting slacks then mentioning, “don't you ever let this one go,” with a wink to his boy while Lana went to get desserts. If she were listening she would hear Larz reply, “I don't plan on it.” Then the treat is served and Larz’s eyes widen, impressed while Seldanna rubs her tummy, “I can't eat another bite, but I must for this looks way too tasty to pass up.” They all dig in with pleasured hums and, “this is sinfully delicious.” After all is done Larz helped take the plates to the kitchen with his grandmother and she pulls Larz down to whisper, “please tell me she's the one my boy.” All he does is wink down at her which causes Seldanna to squeal and hug him tight, “I just love her so much.” Larz thinks to himself ‘me too,’ but he settles for, “good.” Once the dishes are all cleaned up he takes Lana by the hand and leads her out of the back deck, through the small farm field and to a small secluded flat stone path that has always been easily hidden. “You were amazing, all the food was perfect and now I think is a good time to relax your sore muscles.” By now they are far enough from the cabin and it's private in the jars of firefly light illuminate their way in a romantic fashion through a canopy of vines. The canopy of vines and flowers open up into a large dome shape with many more firefly lights and the floor is carved out of slate surrounding a hole in the ground. It was a natural hot spring with healing powers (at least it feels like it) and there was a small wet bar and cabinet of scented oils along with soft towels. He takes two out and hands her one with that crooked grin, “this should help with anymore soreness.”

Lanara hadn’t expected the couple to be this overjoyed that she would be living with them, though the smile that is on her face is genuine, and her eyes seem to moisten. She hugs Seldanna tight, and sincerely says, “You are so amazing. Thank you both for welcoming me into your home.” The two women have a bonding moment, and she laughs as they agree to facials, polishing their nails, and doing each others makeup. She knows deep down that the older elf would likely have her playing dress up, modeling each and every outfit she comes across, and that she’d have her hair braided every morning. Somehow, this feels right, and she is giddy with excitement, as they chitchat for several minutes, forgetting that Theo and Larz are watching them. As she returns to her chair, Theo takes over the conversation and promises to show her some healing techniques, to which she counters, “And -I- will show you a thing or two about healing with gemstones. I feel that many are eager to use herbs and potions, but did you know that rocks are also used in healing?” The two converse over the table for a moment, the smile not once wavering from Lana’s face, and as she reaches to take a sip of her wine, she sees the elbow nudge that he gives his wife. What was that about? Shifting her gaze to Larz, she catches him staring at her, and she winks, as though telling him her nerves have somewhat calmed down. Rising from the table to retrieve the dessert, she paces back and forth for a few minutes in the kitchen, giving them a minute of privacy in the next room, while she takes a breather of her own. A glance at the back door shows her that Krystan has returned from hunting, and he eyes the witch through the glass, as though asking if she’d need him to spend the night. Lana slightly opens the door, and rubs his velvety head, leaning down to place a chaste kiss to the top of his nose. “I’ll be okay, old boy. You run… It’s a full moon. Go and have fun with your friends. I have Larz to look after me tonight, okay?” He tilts his head, those big blue eyes meeting hers and studying her for a long moment, before he turns away and runs off into the night. Closing the door, she lifts the dessert tray, and re-enters the dining room, having missed all of their conversation. Not that she would eavesdrop… Okay, she probably would, but this time, their secrets would have went unheard. Everyone is offering her compliments on her cooking, and she gives a nod, grinning. “Thank you… Growing up at the academy and being somewhat isolated… We often had to take our meals alone. And I just -loved- to cook and try new combinations. I’ve had some horror stories, I’ll tell you! But I’ve always had a passion for making sweets, and that’s what I would make for all the other students. I would leave them outside of their doors. We wouldn’t converse or anything… We all had different powers. I had empathic abilities. They are… Gone.” Lana looks sad for a moment, before she shrugs and meets Seldanna’s gaze. “So that was my way of making others feel special. And letting them know that someone cared, and wanted to give them a treat. And then they became demanding! I’d receive notes under my door, asking for special kinds of cookies, or a certain request for a pie, that sort of thing. Now, my sister? She can barely make a salad!” They all chuckle, and finish their dessert. After helping with the dishes Larz appears and takes her by the hand, and after saying a brief goodbye to his grandparents, they step out into the night. The walk is short, though the fireflies light their way, and the full moon overhead illuminates a normally darkened area. Walking close at his side, she gives his bicep a gentle squeeze with her free hand, and shakes her head. “I’m glad you enjoyed the meal. And…” There’s a pause as they arrive at their location, which is far different than the one she had picked out, but it would do, as she spies the lotions, the hot springs, and of course, the wet bar. This was much better than that lake she had wandered past last week! The towel is taken, and she looks around, not seeing any swimwear anywhere, and her eyes narrow on Larz. “Ah… I see what’s happening here…” She gives a breathless laugh, her cheeks slightly reddening, as she pulls him in for a passionate kiss, her lips lingering upon his own. Slowly, she pulls back, and slides the vest from over his shirt, motioning for him to do the rest. “I believe -I- owe -you- a massage. This actually was what I had planned on doing after dinner. So! Get mostly undressed, and I’ll go see what sort of lotions you have over there….”