Sight-Seeing [Coci Heavenshield]

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Taking a moment to rest in his head in her lap, Thurion then rose from the snow only to wrap his arms around the woman he loved unconditionally. She was his rock, always there for him to lean on when he would otherwise fall, just as he would forever be hers to look to for support and comfort. People like to make all kinds of jokes concerning marriage and how it limits you to one partner, ball and chain and all that. They've obviously never been married themselves, or they would know that waking up to the same face each morning is a blessing; you know her every little perfect imperfection, and you love them just as much as the rest of her. You know the way she talks and how her lips move to form each word before they are even uttered.

These little things are what truly makes a happy marriage; you know all of her flaws, and she knows all of yours. You are both open books for the other to read, exposing yourselves and leaving yourselves vulnerable while knowing the other would never do anything to harm you.

Once geared up and ready to go, Thurion cupped Coci's face and kissed her soft lips, before resting his forehead against hers. "I'll go first and you follow my lead. If you are having trouble, let me know and we'll find a place to stop." His lips would then press against her pale forehead, breathing in her sweet scent one last time before he turned to face the mountainside. His hands reached for the highest protrusions while his feet pushed off the ground to find their footing along the wall of Midvinter stone. The sun yet stood high upon the sky, so he would keep a slow pace at first to allow for Coci to get acclimated to the climb.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

She let her hands drop away as Thurion rose from the ground and stood before her. Only a moment would pass before he embraced her once more, cold skin on cold skin soon changed to a warmth gathered from heart to heart as his forehead rested against hers. Coci could sense everything, all his thoughts although not voice in words or communication through the mind, but the essence of them filled their Bond with unmistakable verse. It is the imperfections that make us perfect. Otherwise we are not beings of though and intelligence, or of emotions and spirit. She does not consider imperfections or faults of character to be such things, but rather aspects of an individual that make up the whole. Love a person, love them completely and absolutely.

Her lips still tingled from his kiss, the warmth of which had remained against her skin as the cold tried to remove it but could not. A kiss that remains a memory upon her body, every single one of them and each time love is demonstrated thus her heart swells just that little bit larger. Moments like this do not fade away once ended, but are written on the tomes of their history that each will hold within themselves, Thurion and Coci's story had a beginning, but will have no ending.

She breathed again, he has a way of taking her breath which she marvels at even after these years, now and beyond this life. "I will tell you I am a little nervous", she finally spoke, Coci holds great respect for Midvinter and her Ways. She looked to where he pointed, strange how distance does not seem so far from the ground, she knew better of course. "So, we are going to reach for the Heaven's Top?". She smiled as she looked to their destination, oh no he was not settling for the valley or midway, but the pinnacle on which the Temple will be founded. The answer came with Thurion springing from the ground and starting the climb. She watched and waited for a few moments to allow him a little distance before she too, felt the cold hard Midvinter Majesty.

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[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

The climb went at a slow yet steady pace, with Thurion always making sure Coci was able to keep up. The elements were in their favour, with little to no winds threatening to throw them off the mountainside. The sun yet stood proudly upon the afternoon sky, granting them the luxury of a couple more hours before returning to its rest upon the horizon. A rope had been tied around both their waists to keep either from getting separated.

It was exhausting work, but with the sun at his back Thurion stood upon the peak of the to-his-knowledge unnamed mountain. Perhaps they would have the fortune of naming it? He would remain where he was to make sure Coci made it to where he stood, reaching for her hand when close enough. As she took his hand Thurion pulled her up to stand upon the edge, now wrapped in his arms in loving embrace. "You did good, sweetie," he spoke softly past her ear between heavy breaths.

Their lips met shortly before both collapsed upon the snowy ground, resting in each other's arms. Once they'd catched their breath together they would begin inspecting the site, planning for the construction of the Midvinter Temple.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

For her the climb had been arduous. Every part of her body ached, her limbs burning with the constant strain placed upon them and she did not have the luxury to relax at any point on the climb. The conditions had been ideal, the face of the mountain had afforded them both good grip and footing but regardless this physical exertion no amount of training will prepare the body. The actually activity would prove far more demanding but her body felt like it had worked and worked hard. The summit was close, Coci looked up to see Thurion reach it first and disappear over the lip. Reaching up to find a grip, she pulled her body upward to follow him.

Not once had they used the force to climb, to ease the way and conserve effort and this felt great. Reaching for his offered hand, Coci lumbered up and finally stood next to him. She is totally exhausted, her breath heaving her chest and she felt like she would collapse at any given moment. Her legs and arms unable to be lifted and felt like jelly. Yet she managed a wide smile as she looked into Thurion's face, he too looked as she and she could sense his physical fatigue.

"That .. that was amazing", she could barely whisper to him. Coci relished the feeling of his arms around her, this allowed her to sink into them and rest against his body for support, yet he required the same and before their embraced had ended, both fell to the snow covered ground. She lay there, just catching her breath before turning her gaze to the sky that blanketed them both. Both hearts beating as one, soon began to slow and she felt her energy rebuilding slowly. Soon they would get to work on establishing the location of the Temple but for now, she laid in her husband's arms.

"Have I every told you, that I am in love with you?", she smiled at this question, it is one spoken to each other in more private moments as they lay playing with idol chatter. "Come on", she said lifted off him, using her hands against his chest to push herself up. Coci finally had the chance to look around the location, she walked back to the edge of the pinnacle to find the most extraordinary view she has ever seen.

"Välsignad.." her word spoken as softly as the breeze that rolled down from the cap of the mountain.

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[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

"I seem to recall a couple times," he replied followed by laughter. There was nothing quite like a day of sheer physical exertion followed by the comforting arms of the one you love. There was no-one he would have rather shared this moment with, not in a thousand lifetimes. Joining her at the edge, Thurion looked down to see their sled as a tiny blot on the ground below. Even the horses could be made out, now casually drinking from a nearby stream. But it was the unbelievable view that really caught his eye, as it would with anyone. The lake they'd circled stretched out before them, nestled between several more mountains only Midvinter could provide in terms of sheer size and scope. He could only imagine what this place must look like during summertime, when the lake is unfrozen and patches of green surround it. Like a jewel glistening in the sun.

The Valkyri word for 'blessed' left his wife's lips, and he could do little but nod in agreement. "The Blessed Peak," he chimed in before once more taking her in his arms. As he gazed longingly into her dark eyes, the magnificent view soon turned sour in favour of the face of his beloved. "Each time I look at you I have to persuade myself that you're real," Thurion spoke as their foreheads touched and their noses rubbed against one another. "I love you, Coci." Following these precious words was a kiss which would last for an eternity, or for as long as she wished it to. In this moment, there was only the two of them. Nothing else mattered.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

"That shall be it's name, this place. The Temple shall rise from the rock and be known thus", she said as she turned in his arms taking her eyes from the view. That connection through their eyes as strong as the mountain on which they stand will never be destroyed but will always stand firm and powerful as long as their love endures and so it will now and into the next life. Yet she closed her eyes when their lips met, a warmth that was more radiant then the sun felt through his kiss which never fails to ignite her. "I am not real, I vanish when I am with you and live within your heart as you live in mine. I love you Thurion Heavenshield".

Her arms wrapped around his waist holding him tight to her as she rested her head against his chest returning her gaze out over Midvinter. Her gaze found it's way toward Tháinbroek far in the distance to the north west. Coci closed her eyes and centered her focus on their father, Thrand. Although he is not sensitive to the force, all living creature are regardless if they 'hear' it, and so Coci searched for him, sending him a 'message' of reassurance that his son and herself are safe and .. they will be late. Once she was satisfied he had calmed in thought, she looked up into her husband's face with a smile.

"Why don't we spend the night atop the peak?, after all .. night is coming", she asked as there was bound to be a cave here, at least one deep enough to give them shelter. Coci pushed back from her husband but took both his hands in her's and pulled him toward the rock face. There is a grin on her face, she is remembering their first night together. "No storms, no injuries .. just us".

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[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]​

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

He let out a chuckle. "You read my mind," he said in reply to her suggestion. Thoughts of their first meeting would forever linger in his mind, as treasured memories. It seemed like a lifetime ago, as if there never was a time before he met his Coci. His lips found hers to share his love for her, which would only increase with each passing day. A cold breeze swept through the mountaintop, causing flakes of snow swirl around the two just as their kiss ended. "Let's go," he told her moments before picking her off the ground and into his arms.

Behind them a cave entrance could be seen in the distance, probably as ancient as the Valkyri people themselves. It wore crude marking around its entrance, and without hesitation he stepped inside with Coci in his arms. Almost immediately the cold began to subside, although their only source of light came from the opening itself. A fire would do nicely, but all that could wait until later. Instead he laid her down on the dry cave floor as softly as possible before joining her, wrapping his arms around her to share his warmth with her. Tonight they would be free from the worries of the world they lived in, and simply be allowed to be.

The End​

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[member="Coci Heavenshield"]​