The Vale of the Demon (Bailey)

[Blake Oleander]

Blake had thought things would have been the same after being named King.  How wrong he was, with the doubling of the size of their territory's population so too doubled his duties.  People needing his approval for this or that.  Reports from the borders and of their Qi beasts and their training.  It was neverending and foreign to him.  But it was a duty, and he was pledged to his people.  However, there was one of his people that he'd been seeing less and less of and despite himself, he found it unsettling.  No, that was the wrong word.  Disappointing.

It was during one of his precious bouts of free time that Blake would escape from his mansion and what served as his seat of power for the time being as he walked among the territory looking to find Bailey Blake. 

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey would be found among the merchants that had recently come to make Aurora their home, taking in the new faces with a polite smile and chatter as they went. It seemed she was picking out clothes, for whatever reason. It might have had something to do with the fact she was feeling secure enough to not wear her buttons fastened all the way up to her neck anymore, but the small blonde was engrossed for the moment in what she was doing as she shifted from one foot to the other.  Fatigue and soreness continued to prod at her, presumably from the long nights and wandering throughts.

At least it was something. More and more, Aurora was beginning to feel like home, like a place sh could finally settle in. Even if the rest of her family chose to stay behind, which worried her. This wasn't a time for her to just stop what she was doing, and with Blake's duties as King taking up most of his time, it left her to continue finding her own things to do. It felt like she was missing something, though. A familiar face, or a sense of familiarity.

Brushing her hair back from her face, Bailey bid the merchant farewell with a smile and looked around, debating if anything else caught her eye or was needed.  The familiar face was hard to miss as she did, same for the people that also recognized her partner/leader/mentor and paid their respects.  Her expression brightened as she lifted a hand in greeting, holding the sack close to her as she made her way towards Blake.

"Good afternoon, your majesty."  She bowed with her fist over her heart, somethign she'd picked up on and had become habit thanks to her time her.  It felt strange to call him that, to use the title on a man who had once been a warrior, calling himself an arrow to be aimed by his master, but she coudln't deny she was happy to see him.

[Blake Oleander]

It was hard to walk through the crowd without gaining attention. And as it was in their small home he was unable to move without someone bowing or needing him. It was... uncomfortable. Even Bailey had picked up that habit and he didn't really know how to deal with it, or tell her that she didn't need to do that. It was awkward. So when she bowed to him he just kind of nodded and bowed back slightly letting her rise.

"Would you like to take a walk?"

[Bailey Oleander]

Poor Blake.

It wasn't hte first time she'd wondered how he would take to public displays of hierarchy and diplomacy, but for the most part he handled it well enough. Regardless of how they knew each other, he was king, and there were certain formalities to be observed if they didn't want to be mowed down by shock and outrage before teh day was done. Especially when that crowd of people practically stood between teh two fo them, drowning out his path until he woudl take another step in a given direction.

She blinked at the question, knowing it was well past the time of day they took for training and honestly not expecting to see him for any other reason today, either. Like yesterday, and hte day before that. Duty called, and he answered.

"I would love to." She smiled and nodded, making her way towards him.

[Blake Oleander]

He would take a few moments to excuse them from the hanger ons before leading her deeper into the territory. Out of the city and into the wilderness. The place he was most comfortable and familiar with in his homeland.

"Have you had a chance to explore outside of the city yet?"

It was still little more than a village, but it was expanding quickly. He imagined it would be a proper city before long.

[Bailey Oleander]

She would follow along as the others fell behind, giving them space to be, even though she could feel their eyes on the two of them. Still, it was enough to ease the tension she felt tightening in her shoulders, teh need to get defensive about space that felt unnatural. Then again, perhaps it was merely the fact she had gotten used to it being a mere handful of people in teh village before. Or all the attention that came with being beside Blake, or talking to him like a person instead of a ruler.

She let out a quiet sigh of relief once they cleared the walls, shaking her head at his question.

"Not really. I've seen bits and pieces when I've stepped out, but I've not explored or seen much far from the walls." It was safer now to do so, and she was no longer a skittish mouse who couldn't defend herself, but she had been focused more on what was going on in the village than outside it.

[Blake Oleander]

"I see."

He'd say, continuing to lead her further into the wilderness.

[Bailey Oleander]

That was the Blake she knew.

"Where did you have in mind?"

Questions, questions. So many questions. And a head tilt to go with it as she continued to follow Blake wherever he was leading her.

[Blake Oleander]

"Deeper into the forest."

[Bailey Oleander]

"I see."

Is she being coy? Humorous? Ridiculous?

Maybe.

[Blake Oleander]

He just kept leading her deeper!

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey glanced around as they went, enjoying the view as well as noting any landmarks or anything to indicate where they're going.

"Maybe I should have come further out before now. It's beautiful out here." So green. The place was alive, and full of life. Eking out an existence among rock, canyon walls, and ruble made this place look like a dream.

[Blake Oleander]

"It's why so many of us fought and died here."

Here and all over these woods were homes of the last moments of many of his brothers and sisters and those they called the enemy.

"There is a well another mile or so ahead."

[Bailey Oleander]

"I think I can see why," she agreed softly, though not smiling with the words. She'd met what remained of his people, celebrated and toiled beside them. And she would have done whatever it took to defend her own home, if needed. She'd have fought against the idea months ago, and though she didn't embrace it now, she understood the sentiment and why people did so.

She wasn't sure what to expect with the well, but she woudl follow!

[Blake Oleander]

He'd eventually lead her to the well. It was old and nearly dry. It was a far cry from the main ones they used for the village that supplied them with more than enough water to drink for even their current population. The rope was frayed and partially rotted, the bucket was old and crappy, and the stone of the well was chipped and missing in places. It was far from impressive.

"Here it is."