there's a fire in our hearts.

Eldan paced the hallways near Queen Sylvie's bedchambers, regaining his composure as he wiped the blood off of his dagger before slipping it into the leather holder that was attached to the side of his hip. His body sang with adrenaline, and he felt like he could feel everything around him, the energy pulsing through the air and the sound of his own heartbeat like a drum inside his ears. Once his breath became more steady and he was able to stop shaking, he made his ways to the doors of her chambers and knocked a little tune that only the two of them knew. The hallways were clear of other fae, it was late and most had slumped off to bed or mischief outside the fae lines. It was why no one had noticed his leave, as he had gone into the mundane world to kill a werewolf that had been causing the Queen trouble.

Alvara balanced the tray of wooden cups that sloshed ale and faery wine over the edges as she made her way around rowdy tables and people carelessly dancing to the band that played in the corner. She set down the orders where they had been asked for, skirting around grabby hands and lazy winks as she finished her rounds before returning to the bar to help the ones who mostly were sitting alone. There was someone new, head aimed down towards the wooden surface and face masked by a hood of a cloak. She walked over to them, tucking some hair behind her ear and smiling, even though the person wasn't looking up to see it. "Can I get you something to drink? Eat?" Alvara asked.

Sylvie flipped the page of the book she was reading, though her mind was not on the words printed on the old, worn pages. Her mind was on Eldan, her personal knight, who had been off for hours now. When she heard the knock on her door that only Eldan and she knew, she hopped up from her chair and rushed over to the door with light quick feet. Her pale pink dress hugged her hips but flowed the lower to the floor it reached, billowing like a flower. It had no sleeves but woven strings attached that tied behind her neck to hold the dress up, and no back to it. It showed off the silver markings across her skin, light little vines that reached from arm, around her shoulder and back down her other arm. She had them all over her body, aside from her face. The marks were that of royalty, it showed her position of power, position to be feared. Sylvie took a moment to compose herself before opening the door. "Sir Eldan," she greeted, "please enter," she opened her door wider for him before retreated back into her chambers. The handmaidens she had had for years had retired to their rooms for the night. She was supposed to have someone in her room at all times for her safety, but she hated the feeling of being caged in. Thankfully, it didn't feel like that like with Eldan around.

Of course he was pissed at her. Kailen was always pissed at Sylvie. Just because she was the queen didn't mean that she had to be a royal pain in the ass. The only reason why she had inherited the crown was because she was just a few minutes older. Still, that didn't mean she didn't have to rub it in his face every chance she got; to prove that she will always be better than him. Kailen knew he should be heading back, that it wasn't safe out here for a royal, even if he could handle himself, but he couldn't bring himself to leave the barstool just yet. When a lilt voice asked if he required anything, he gave a short nod. "Ale," he said before tagging on a 'please' a beat later than he should have. His manners had never been the best.

Eldan's eyes did a quick sweep over Sylvie, not being able to help himself as he gazed at her beauty, but also checking to see if her condition was okay. He always worried for her, since she did not request guards inside or outside her room for several feet in order to feel like she could have alone time, which he understood but could not help his feelings. Especially when he left the fae lines into the human world, he felt even more at unease for her because he was not close enough to watch her. He entered the room and shut the door behind him, sliding the lock into place before stepping in, running a hand through his hair as his eyes followed her figure through the room. "The werewolf you requested to be taken care of has been, and has been deposited so that no one will notice, my Queen," He began with, giving her a slight bow before he spoke in a sign of respect. Eldan ached to take off his armor that covered his skin that yearned for the touch of hers, now that he was standing in front of her with his body thrumming with magic and energy stemming from his actions.

Alvara hummed and nodded her head, grabbing a glass from beneath the bar and turning around to pour the ale fresh from the tap into it, making foam reach the top before she returned it to the table in front of the man, judging from his face. "Here you are, sir, can I get you anything else?" She asked, leaning against the bar a little as she tried to get a peek of his face without being too obvious. She couldn't help her curiosity to know what the man was like, it was one of her favorite parts of working at the tavern, to be able to meet all kinds of people and hear their stories.

Sylvie walked to a small table she had next to the chair she had been seated in, picking up the still hot porcelain kettle and poured two cups of tea, holding one out to him and waiting for him to take it before sitting herself back down in her chair. "Thank you for your service, Eldan. Please, relax and remove your amour, there is no danger inside the castle walls and it must be wearing on you," she told him and motioned to the other chair. She brought her cup to her lips and took a small sip. "There is no need to be so formal at the moment, Eldan, in my chambers I am simply Sylvie, here I do not rule over anyone in this room." That much was true. "Is there anything you require in exchange for the service I requested?"

Keilan reached out to grab the glass and took a swig from it. "Is there a place I can rent a room for the night? No matter the cost, I am able to afford it." He asked her, finally taking his eyes from the bar to look up to the girl. He doubted he would be recognised. It was always his sister who was the star, the more important one anyway. "Really, you could put me up in the stables with the horses and I would not complain."

Eldan received the tea cup from her and held it between his hands thankfully, enjoying the warmth that spread through his fingers as he kept it balanced there. He took a sip before setting it down, bowing his head slightly before beginning to remove his armor gingerly with a relieved sigh. Once it was off, he was left in a tunic halfway tucked into his pants, the shirt laying open halfway down his chest. He moved to sit down in a chair near Sylvie, returning to his tea cup and taking another grateful sip. Without the armor on, his battle wounds were exposed, bruises littering his skin where he had been grabbed and thrown across the room. He had a long scratch down his arm that he didn't give much attention to. "As you wish, Sylvie," He said then, looking over to her with a little smile. "Is there anything that you wish to offer?" Eldan asked, not being able to hold back the slight smirk that overtook his lips.

"I do believe we have one more room left at the inn that's above us. I can secure it for you and lead you there once I make sure that it's ready. Enjoy your ale, and I'll be back shortly," She told him, after being intrigued when he looked up to meet her eyes. His face was still shadowed but more characteristically recognizable, and she identified him as being handsome, as much as she could see, with sharp cheekbones and glowing eyes. She turned and checked the rooms that they had, saving one for the man and then returning to him a few minutes later. "Your room is ready, and I can lead you there and have you settled whenever you wish. I will be your attending maid for the room, so anything you may desire I can procure for you," Alvara told him, a small smile quirking up the edges of her lips.

Sylvie had a soft smile on her lips when he started taking off his armour, glad that she could make him comfortable in her presence. He was one of the few fae she was around often enough, that was not nervous around her. Her eyes couldn't help a glance at his mostly bare chest, just slightly entranced in that before noticing the bruises. It had been a nasty fight, she was sure of that now. Sylvie brought her cup to her lips to take a sip before setting it back down on the small table. When he asked of there was anything she would like to offer him in exchange for the service of getting rid of that filthy mutt that had caused so much trouble for her, she had to think about it for a moment. "I shall grant you a kiss," she answered him with an affirmative nod. That seemed as if it were the perfect reward for his duty today.

"Thank you," Keilan replied when the fae told him they had a room left. At least he didn't have to sleep in the stables. He drank from his pint of ale in the time between her leaving and returning to tell him his room was ready. He went to take another swig from the cup, but noticed that he had drank it all already. "Can you grab another pint of ale before showing me up? Two, if you wouldn't mind keeping me company for a bit. I don't quite feel like being completely alone right now, honestly," he asked her, standing up from the bar stool he had been sat on. It was strange not wanting to be alone, seeing as that was the only thing that he ever desired when he was in the castle. He had always wanted the servants to be gone, for his sister to be gone, everyone to just leave him be. When he finally got his wish and went off for the night, or possibly a few more after this, he didn't want to be completely by his lonesome.

Eldan raised an eyebrow at her offer, placing down his tea cup and turning his body towards hers in his chair, leaning forward slightly. "That sounds like quite an ample reward, I have always been enchanted by your lips, as they look so lovely with a smile," He told her, a warm smile on his mouth as he looked into her eyes, gleaming in the low light of the room. One of his hands reached forward to rest lightly on the exposed portion of her knee, and his head inclined forward enough that she only need to move her head an inch to meet his lips.

Alvara nodded her head at his request, turning to fill two more mugs with ale before placing them on a tray with the room key and waving him along with her free hand. "Right this way, sir," She said, stopping to tell one of the other girls working that she would be back in an extended period of time, before continuing to lead the man up to his room. She unlocked it and let him step inside before closing the door behind her and following, placing the tray down on the small table in the corner with two chairs. The room was dark besides the moonlight streaming in through the window, and while Alvara's heart was beating in her chest, she felt intrigued by this man and his presence. "What is it that you desire of me?" She asked, standing a few feet from him with her hands at her sides.

Sylvie placed her own cup down on the table, her one hand going to rest on his that was on her knee. She returned his smile with a soft one of her own before leaning forward the remaining little bit of space. His lips on hers sent a spark through her body that ignited like wildfire, warming her entire being. It made her feel far more alive than she thought she could ever feel, made her feel incredible. Sylvie rested her other hand lightly on his cheek and tilted her head a fraction of an inch to only deepen the kiss. It was only then, that she realised what she was doing and pulled away. A queen should not be kissing her knight like this. It was vastly inappropriate. Biting down gently on her lower lip, she ducked her head slightly. "I hope that was an ample enough of a reward for your courageous work today."

Keilan followed her along to the room that would be his for the night, at the very least. Inside the room, he lowered the hood of his cloak before removing it altogether and laying it at the foot of the small bed. "Just company, dear, that is all. Read nothing more into it," he told her as he sat himself on one of the chairs. "And please do not take offense to that, you are very lovely, I just require someone to talk to for a little while. I will pay you handsomely for this, if you require." He hoped that she did not take it as him assuming her to be a prostitute, but to pay for her time since she would not be making money downstairs if she chose to stay and converse with him.

Eldan hummed softly as she kissed him, his heart beating faster in his chest as she made a move to deepen it before pulling away. He tried to change his expression to one that wasn't disappointed, smiling warmly as he pulled away to lean back in his chair. "It was quite lovely and very generous, my queen," He told her, his voice low and soft. He looked over at her and his heart yearned for more even though he knew he could not receive it.

She listened to him as he spoke, moving to sit down in a chair when he was finished, crossing her legs and placing her hands there. She could only see shadows of the planes of his face, and looked over at him inquisitively. "You do not have to pay me, my time is not as precious as you may think. I am not here by will," Alvara said, waving her hand over the candlestick on the table and igniting a small flame.