A Humble Tailor's Apprentice

Life, Relationship change

Natalya meets Naertho. Natalya and Fenneck experience their second Winter's Eve Festival together and Fenneck opens up about his past.

Fenneck gasped for breath feeling Natalya's lips tease his ears. Natalya enjoyed teasing him. They sat enjoying each other's presence throughout the night. Natalya was painfully aware of how wet her legs were becoming by the time morning rolled around. They had drifted in and out of their meditations together throughout the night. When morning finally hit Natalya clutched Fenneck close, hoping and praying he wouldn't grow cold and distant again. He kissed her neck rather passionately as he awoke and Natalya squirmed to keep her legs closed. Fenneck noticed this and she felt his hands teasingly graze her chest. Something he had avoided thus far. "Good morning Natalya." He whispered, blissfully smiling at her. "Good morning Fen." She said leaning into him. "Can we go to the festival together?" She asked him, trying to make an effort to lead their relationship a bit. Fenneck smiled, "Of course my dear." She felt a wave of relief wash over her. Fenneck squeezed her, "I should go to my room and get cleaned up." He said looking down at the blood all over his tunic. "I'm so sorry about that." Natalya said caressing his face. He laughed, "It was warranted. I was a complete ass last night." He paused, "What made you change your mind?" "Baegla caught me and we talked for a while." Fenneck pulled away as he stood up. Natalya followed suit. "I see. She's quite something isn't she? I'll meet you in the the ballroom around noon." He said wrapping his arms around her waist. He kissed her forehead before heading out toward his room. Natalya went to her wardrobe and realized none of her gowns were nearly are fancy as Fiana's dress she had worn last year. She decided to try the tailors shop two floors below. She went down and opened the door. She had been here once before when Fenneck had taken her shopping. An elegant male high elf with long golden hair and green eyes appeared from behind a rack of dresses. "Good morning! Ah! Natalya!" He smiled, recognizing her, "You're my little Fenneck's leman are you not?" He had a lavish accent and walked with swagger over to her. "I remember seeing you last winter. How was it up in the mountains?" She found it strange that he knew so much about her situation. "It was good." She said slowly, "Quite cold. I just wanted to get a dress for tonight. I know I'm cutting it close." She said, "Are you open?" "I will be for you. Are you accompanying Fenneck tonight?" He said smiling. "Yes, are...are you two close?" She asked. The elf gasped, "Did that fool not tell you all about me? Why I daresay, I've known him longer than anyone else in this town." He weaved around the fabrics and dresses, occasionally sizing up Natalya. "I taught him everything he knows...Everything about clothes that is. He trained under me back when he was still a humble, middle-class peasant. Back before Baegla stole him from me and turned him into the pompous politician he is today." He said rather sarcastically. "I held Fenneck the day he was born. You should give him hell for not telling you about me." Natalya admired the dresses and clothes around her. "I wouldn't hold it against him. He hasn't told me much about his past." "I can imagine why." The tailor said. "Well, my name is Naertho Keyren. I'm Fenneck's uncle. It is a great honor to meet you my dear." He tips his head toward her in a bow of sorts. Natalya felt ashamed for not knowing this information. "I...I didn't realize-" He cut her off, "It's quite alright. We'll just blame Fenneck for his foolishness." He smiled at her and looked her over closely before a big smile came over his face. "I think I have just the thing." He disappeared into the back of the shop. Natalya admired the lovely fabrics and textures around her and considered the new information she had about Fenneck. Finally, Naertho came back in carrying a beautifully ornate elvish gown. It was blue and green and shone with what looked like silver dragon scales. Natalya thought it looked more like a work of art than an actual article of clothing. "I think you'll find this to be perfect for tonight." He seemed extremely proud of himself. "Please, try it on." He asked and Natalya walked into a changing room. She walked out and felt overwhelmed by the beauty of the dress. It shimmered as she moved as if the thread itself was laced with magic. Naertho's face beamed. "Fenneck will love it. Trust me." He said. He walked over to her and sat a matching diadem on her head. Her hair fell loose over her shoulders. Naertho took her hand and kissed it. "Thank you for being here with Fenneck. It makes my heart warm to know he has finally found a companion in his rather difficult life." His eyes beamed with pride and admiration. "Have a wonderful evening my dear. I hope to see more of you." Natalya thanked him and realized it was almost noon. She dropped her other clothes off in her room and headed up to the ballroom to meet Fenneck. As she walked around the staircase she saw Fenneck a few steps up, waiting for her. He was wearing a green dress tunic with silver trim. He turned and stopped when he saw her. His eyes sparkled and he seemed at a loss for words. Natalya walked up to him feeling exposed but enjoying Fenneck's reaction. She walked up the step her was on and took his hand in her own before Fenneck finally spoke, "Where did you get this?" He sounded shocked. "You're uncle gave it to me. It would have been nice to know he was your uncle before I walked into his shop though." She teased him. He was look looking at her dress in shock, his eyes started to shine as tears of happiness filled them. Fenneck reached out and caressed the fabric and a single tear trailed down his cheek. "What's wrong?" Natalya asked, confused by his infatuation with the dress instead of herself. Fenneck looked at her and smiled. "I thought this was destroyed during the revolution." He said in wonder. "The soldiers ransacked my uncle's shop destroying most of it's contents." He caressed her torso allowing his fingers to dance on the fabric, "This was the first dress I ever made." Natalya looked down in awe knowing Fenneck had created this masterpiece. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever worn." She said. Fenneck looked into her eyes and smiled. "It looks stunning on you." He studied the way it hugged her body. "It fits you perfectly." He said in wonder. "I'm sorry I never told you about Naertho. I didn't want to overwhelm you the last time you were here." Natalya smiled, "It's quite alright, but you should probably apologize to him for it." She teased. Fenneck smiled, "You're probably right. Shall we?" He offered her his arm and motioned toward the ballroom. Natalya took his arm and they entered the ballroom. Natalya was grateful for to be back in his company. As they enjoyed the festivities Natalya made an effort to reach out to him more. To touch him before he touched her. By the time they headed down into the theatre they felt inseparable. Before they entered the theatre Fenneck took her in his arms, "After the ceremony, I'd like you to come spend the evening with me in my room. If that is okay?" Natalya felt her heart flutter, "Of course." Fenneck gave her a grateful smile and they entered the theatre. Natalya was excited to experience the magical elation from the ceremony. As she looked up at the artificial sky and the grand tree in the center she felt exuberant. The music from the bards filled the space and Natalya felt transported into another realm. They arrived much closer to the ceremony this time and went directly over to some seats in front of the stage. Natalya saw Baegla and a few other court members she knew talking to this large human in grand clothes. He had a large golden-brown beard and flowing hair. He had a small diadem on his head. Fenneck leaned down to Natalya's ear, "That's king Zeitdrache, he's been visiting from Thymryu this past week." He voice was mostly informing but Natalya hinted at the slight sound of distrust on it. At that moment, Naertho walked out of the crowd of people. He was wearing extravagant robes and smiled at Natalya when he saw her. Fenneck walked up to him and they embraced. Naertho was almost an entire head taller than Fenneck and he looked down and held Fenneck's shoulders, "How dare you not tell your lovely lady here all about your favorite uncle?" He scolded teasingly. Fenneck looked embarrassed. Naertho turned to Natalya, "How is my nephew treating you this evening?" She smiled, "He's been a perfect gentleman." She said reassuringly. She enjoyed noticing their resemblances as they stood next to each other. Fenneck spoke, "She looks wonderful this evening, doesn't she?" Naertho turned to him, "Indeed. Makes you think you should have become a tailor instead of an adventuring archer huh?" Fenneck playfully rolled his eyes. "Why don't you both join Ayred and I for the ceremony? I know you typically don't sit with peasants anymore Fen but perhaps you'll make an exception for your dear old uncle." Fenneck looks exacerbated, "The point of the revolution was that there are no more 'peasants' uncle. Of course we'll join you." They walked over to a male wood elf with olive skin and jet black hair. He was also dressed in elaborate robes. As Naertho set down next to him they shared a rather passionate kiss. When they finished Naertho introduced him to Natalya as his husband. Soon the music changed and they sat down and watched as Jasna led a group of bards in the magical ballads of the Winter's Eve festival. Natalya felt the magic start to build as the Glitterfjellians sang around her. She found herself trying to pick out Fenneck's beautiful voice among the crowd. Soon she found herself swept up in the spiritual, mystical experience. She felt Fenneck's hand in her own start to surge with magic as Jasna's voice sang out the starting chords of the final song. Natalya watched in wonder as the tree in front of them slowly started to glow and bloom. She felt the wave of magic course through her body and felt more at peace than she had been in months. She noticed the haze of the northern lights start to fill the air and she felt her heart glow with warmth. Oh how she wanted to believe she deserved all of this. Thinking of the wonders and goodness of Flottenheim brought tears to her eyes as they finished the song. As the last chord rang out the same stillness from last year set over the crowd. She felt fuzzy and peaceful as she and Fenneck walked out of the theatre and up to his tower. She felt the same closeness with Fenneck she had a year ago and her heart felt like it might burst from the happiness she was feeling. Fenneck led her out onto the balcony which was already decked out with cozy blankets, furs and pillows. The beautiful haze of the northern lights shown around them as Fenneck pulled her the ground next to him. They curled up together and Natalya felt immense joy at laying in his arms once again. They laid there looking into the stairs until Fenneck softly broke the silence, "When I was younger, I was studying to be a tailor with my uncle. Occasionally, he would have the opportunity to create gowns for the royal family who lived here in Flottenheim." His fingers interlocked with Natalya's own as he continued. "Lord Malenthot had two daughters, Jasna, who you've met, and her younger sister...Evelyn." He smiled softly as he said her name. "One day they came into our shop and we fit them for some dresses for some event. I was measuring Evelyn while my uncle assisted Jasna. Evelyn had beautiful blond hair and the brightest blue eyes I had ever seen." He looks wistfully out over Flottenheim as if her was remembering her. "She was feisty and we started flirting with one another. Eventually we started seeing each other, in secret of course, her being a noble's daughter. I was just a simple tailor's apprentice, I had no right to love someone like her. We kept it up, in secret for years." His voice changed from wistful to painful as he continued. "One evening, she came to find me and dragged me somewhere privately to talk. She was upset." His voice stayed steady as he continued. "She had found out she was pregnant, which, for an elf at her age, was a very rare thing. Something we didn't think possible as the young, stupid children we were." He swallowed. "Evelyn told me that we were done, that she didn't want to see me again and that she...she was going to take care of the baby." He looked down solemnly. "I tried to talk to her, to try and convince her to run away with me into the mountains and into Thymryu. She told me no and that she never wanted to see me again. She left that night." Natalya looked in Fenneck's eyes and saw tears building up in them but he kept going. "Around five days later, I went to find Jasna because I hadn't heard from Evelyn. She was the only one who had known about my relationship with Evelyn at that point. She told me that Evelyn had gone into the Vallee to some supposed healer who told her he had a potion that could...abort the child." He paused. "She and the child ended up dying that night in the palace." Natalya could feel the weight of Fenneck's sadness and she squeezed his hand and felt tears burn her own eyes. "Jasna told me to watch my back. That I should leave Lenisily in case her father found out I was the father. I left and made my way home." He pauses before he continues, his voice cracking despite his effort to remain composed, "As I got to our house I noticed the door had been kicked in. I ran inside and...and..." His voice trailed off as more tears slipped down his face. "Inside, my...my parents had been slaughtered by KAV agents. They had left the bounty for their death on the table. They were guilty of high treason and crimes against Lenisily. Staladin's signature was across the bottom of it." He swallowed and rubbed his face against Natalya's. "I was scared. I grabbed what I could and I escaped into the mountains. I stayed there for two years before I came back and found Baegla, Jasna, and the other revolutionists." He stopped and held Natalya close to him. Natalya caressed him and wiped his tears. She felt immense pain from Fenneck but also a sense of relief. He finally looked up at her, "In the mountains I swore that I would never love again unless it was theramin. I didn't want to risk hurting anyone else the way I had hurt Evelyn." He caressed her face, "I'm so sorry I have been so cruel to you." Natalya looked into his sad, hurt eyes and she placed her forehead against his and they laid there under the lights for for a while before Natalya spoke. "Thank you for telling me." He squeezed her hand, "I want to love you. I want to want you the way I should. I've built this up so much over the years that I fear I would have been disappointed no matter who my theramin was. I want this to work." Natalya felt tears well up in her eyes. She wanted to love Fenneck but she worried that she was the reason he was disappointed. They laid across from each other, their faces only a few inches apart. Fenneck reached down and caressed her torso. Natalya felt herself burst into tears and Fenneck went to pull her into the warmth of his body. She moved back though and felt fear over come her. She sat up struggling to breath. "What's wrong?" Fenneck asked, reaching out to her. She pulled away from his touch as the struggle to breath grew. She didn't deserve him. She didn't deserve this loving affection. The guilt she had of killing his best friend crept up on her, with it all her guilt over Lenisily, the KAV, the amount of men that had used her before Fenneck, the fear that she might hurt him again, the guilt of the pain and terror she had inflicted upon Dimitri. She felt everything growing hazy and she started gasping for breath. Fenneck carefully reached out and touched her shoulder and she suddenly felt air fill her lungs. She felt his magic consume her body and send a wave of peace and calm over her. She started crying harder though and Fenneck scooted close to her and wrapped his arms around her. He held her for what felt like hours as she cried. She didn't know what else to do. She wanted to run away. She wanted to not hurt Fenneck anymore than she already had. He had been hurt by this world too many times before. She felt angry at the gods for sending him herself instead of someone who could easily love and care for him the way he deserved to be loved and cared for. She didn't deserve his patience. She didn't deserve his blind affection. She was a dirty whore. She was used. She was cruel. She knew more ways about how to bleed out a living creature than to comfort a friend. She knew how to make men weak with desire and lust but had no idea how to properly and healthily love another being. She wasn't meant to live in a palace. She was meant to live alone, in the mountains, where she couldn't hurt anybody. Finally she stopped crying, she felt dried up. Fenneck continued to hold her and caress her. "You deserve better than me." She said quietly. Fenneck caressed her face. She continued, "I've done so many bad things..." She said painfully. Fenneck squeezed her tighter and she felt his face against her own. "Your past does not define you." She shook her head, "It does though. Everything I have ever done has hurt somebody." He took her face in his hands, "Natalya..." He seemed lost for words. "Even you know it's true." She said looking into his eyes. He was quiet and he looked up into her eyes sadly. "I keep ruining everything," She said. "You clearly planned on tonight going a different way than it has. I can't risk hurting you more than I already have." She paused, "Let me go." She looked up at him. "Let me leave you. Let me die in the mountains like I should have months ago. I don't want to keep causing you pain." "You really think leaving will accomplish that?" He begged her, tears in his eye. "You think leaving will make this better?" "You deserve better than me." She stood up, "Fuck the gods, they clearly don't care about us Fenneck. If they did, don't you think Evelyn and your parents wouldn't have died. Don't you think I would have had a life free from the abuse and torture I grew up with?" His eyes glossed over with pain. "They don't give two shits about us or our happiness Fenneck. You should have stopped trusting them long ago. Clearly this was just another way they devised to torture us with." Fenneck looked broken, sitting on the ground with no answers, no hope for Natalya. The magical closeness from earlier that night felt severed and Natalya noticed Fenneck looked duller than usual, as if his magic had been sucked from his soul. "So leave." He said quietly, not looking up. "You're right. There's no reason to force this." Natalya felt her chest wrench as her heart broke from Fenneck's defeat. "I'll leave your dress in my room." She said. Fenneck didn't respond. He felt a million miles away. Natalya left and walked to her room. She carefully took off her gown and laid it on the bed. She didn't have any more tears to cry. She felt dull and achy but in control. She put on her winter gear and grabbed her things, already packed from the night before. She left the palace and headed toward the mountains through the haze of the Northern Lights. When she reached the Vallee she took one last look up at the palace behind her. She could see Fenneck's balcony but couldn't tell if he was still laying there where she had left him. Her heart sent a sharp pain coursing through her body as she turned away and headed into the mountains.