The Realms of Thrice (Lesbian Fiction)

Chapter XIX - Home

AN: Sexual content.

Chapter XIX - Home

Late evening swept over the Capital and both women found themselves safely tucked away in Emri’s residence. It was a cool mid-spring evening on this forty-fifth day of the Eclipse of Dawn. Cool enough that it allowed Emri the pleasure of lighting her beloved hearth aglow. Fire had always given her hope—life. Fire gave light, warmth, morale, and, on occasion, a full belly. When one had fire, he or she was never truly alone. So even in this modest home, where a fire was not necessary, it flooded it with life.   

Nora took note of the simplicity of the space and how it differed in its own unique way from any of the other realms, or the small village. The hard lines that made up the space appeared clean and true. The geometric design alluded confidence—something very much Emri. But Nora had a difficult time envisioning her young friend, who was the epitome of humbleness and sensibility, calling such a place home. It was so glaringly different from the young girl who trudged around with tattered, torn, and stained clothes, hair mussed, with a huge toothy grin upon her face—proud of the fresh kill thrown over her shoulder. Nora witnessed that same young girl in the few months they had spent together in the hollows. But as Emri moved about the small home, Nora realized, she adapted seamlessly, because, whereas, the environment might have changed, the atmosphere was all Emri. The smells, the smallest and grandest of touches spoke volumes to its inhabitant. The sweet, heady aroma of mulled wine steeping, the lightness of citrus and various herbs, the warmth, both physically and mentally emitted from the small hearth. It all showcased tenderness.

She followed Emri back to what she assumed were the sleeping quarters.

Emri had suggested a change of clothes, something that Nora would not argue with. The linens Kaleisha had been so generous to provide, where filthy and in need of a good tailor to be truly comfortable.

So, after no more than a few minutes time, Emri returned freshly clothed and had Nora’s clothes in hand.

Emri donned loose fitting, faded gray breeches with a silk white button-up shirt and an unbuttoned black vest. Emri moved fluently and Nora couldn’t help but believe Emri felt most comfortable in the casual clothing. She had brought Nora back a standard ivory silk robe that appeared a staple in the Gray. It was sewn together from the high waist down, but the bodice had to be secured with a decorative straight pin for any modesty. The thin robe swallowed her small frame, but after a few small alterations with the ties, it clung to her frame in the most pleasant of ways. She sighed as she ran a hand over the front of the robe, smoothing out the garment. It was an old, steadying habit.

Mimicking Emri’s casualness, she stepped out of the room barefoot, but noticed the occasional hand stitched rug stole the hardness and coolness from the smooth concrete floor.

She blushed as Emri’s eyes traveled the length of her, wordlessly taking her all in.

Emri inhaled sharply with how incredibly young she looked with the youthful, loose fitting garment and her long flowing hair tied back in a single braid. Her crimson eyes danced with splendor from the soft dome lights of the room.

That’s when she noticed it. A familiar object hung around her slender neck, falling over her pronounced collarbone.

“My necklace,” she spoke in wonderment as she walked to the older woman, her gaze moving from Nora’s eyes to her neck. She hesitated as she lifted her hand and allowed her fingers to trace the necklace. “I can’t believe you kept it after all these years.”

Nora smiled as she covered Emri’s hand with her own, stilling her fingers over the soft skin of her neck. “Of course I kept it. It was yours, a part of you,” as she spoke, she brought a calloused hand to her mouth and placed several kisses against her palm and fingers before pulling Emri forward and kissing her lips.