Relaxation

I have to admit, this trip has been very relaxing. Even Aspen thinks I do not spend enough time, if any, for myself. That I work too hard. Maybe I do but I know of nothing else Id rather be doing than protecting the city I love. As I sit here and watch Aspen sleep peacefully, Lar-Torvis on the last day of our trip finds me scribbling the accounts of the last two days and nights. They have been special. I can still feel Aspen's softness, taste her sweetness and soft timbre of her voice saying my name. It melts my heart so much so that Im constantly asking her to repeat it. We spoke about names...my name means King but when she says it to me it means....King who's found his Queen. :::has to grin::: so Brennus takes on a whole new meaning when it comes from her lips. Her name means yellow tem. Tems are strong...and tall. Ok, so maybe Aspen is short but she is strong and she does stand tall in her beliefs. She also told me about her middle name, the name of her father and when she spoke of him, there was a gleam of love from her eyes that only a daughter has for a man with much meaning in her life. There was also a hint of sadness to them that made me want to reach out and hold her. I could tell she loved him very much.

The morning sunrise was even more spectacular as we greeted Lar-Torvis cuddled up in the furs at ship's stern. Pleasantries the entire day like watching the children play on deck with their wooden swords. Caleb dressed as a pirate antagonizing his little brother had me and Aspen in stitches, and Breanna supposedly the fair maiden in distress was cheering on her brother Caden's defense of her. Then Aspen said something that took me totally off guard. She said that Caleb reminded her of the pirate that came to visit Lydius. I just blinked at her and then to my son and asked her why? She mentioned something about Caleb antagonizing his brother and that Caden was defending all he held dear, reminded her of how the pirate antagonized me and how I defended all I held dear. And that it appeared to her, from what she's seen is that what I do for Lydius went unappreciated. She stunned me so becuz she wasnt there with the pirate, I didnt understand how she would even know how the pirate effects me or even that he effects me in any way. But she justified it with the fact that it was merely a sense and she hated it when others antagonized me. She didnt like it. I had to smile at that and assured her that those that seemed to antagonize me was not malicious and that there was really only one person's appreciation that mattered to me. And that was Trenton. I do my all for my Ubar and my city and he appreciates me like no other. All the others may antagonize and be unappreciative, it mattered not to me. She still said she didnt like it and I had to laugh.

We anchored off a few passangs from the bay by the cottage, rowing from the ship to the jetty. As I pulled the small boat to shore, the boys ready to jump out and help, I splashed Aspen who was holding Breanna and since I wet my daughter, the boys went to her defense and attacked their Da. We ended up wrestling in the water, they called me a Kur and since they were strong warriors like their father, they would beat the big bad Kur. Needless to say the big bad Kur ran off into the forest never to return and the Tormaigh twins prevailed. Until the next saga they will defend their city and people. And the day before we caught us 3 sharks. They were small but adequate, having steaks our entire trip. I am bringing one back for my Ubar and the other the Bistro will get. But the boys chucked the bait, helped me with preparing the hooks and readying the harpoons. We had a blast!

Aspen for the most part cooks but she cooks all the time for others in the city, I wanted her to spend time with me. I brought her on this trip so that she could get to know the children and spend time with me and not have to cook. jade and ember have been busy helping with the meals as well and the children, they are a handful but the boys help me with things and they dont give dasha too much trouble. She is a good nanny for them. I can still see the look in ember's eye as she watches the twins on the deck of the ship, the love and admiration she has for the children pleases me. I also see the worry of when the boys learn their ropes and knots and the fact that she's a jira that could very well end up tied to the mast one day. They are only 5 and there is no way they would dare do that to their Da's girl...without my permission anyway. :::has to smile:::

Aspen and I spent the evening at the cottage by a warm fire then took a moolit walk out to the jetty, bottle of wine and soft talk. With the children around its been difficult getting her alone, they seem to crowd her with excitement and stories. Im glad they've taken a liking to her and Breanna, she clings to her which surprises me but Im glad. There is still so much I want to learn about her, I've already claimed her in my heart and she knows this, we've talked about our future together but we both know we need time tho I doubt we can wait much longer. She thinks the hardest part will be when we return to the city and how she wont be able to quell the glow she knows she is displaying. We both didnt realize just how much we meant to each other until that fateful night on the beach where she professed her love for me and that before she could move on, she had to tell me. We've held back so much for so long already, my heart wont be denied but there is a long distance between saying something and actually doing it. Time will tell if our hearts are true, right now, how I feel about her I want it to be the truth.

And speaking of truths I wont lie and say I dont think about Callie and how she fares but I know she is delving into her work and shop. I will pay her a visit soon, the children do need to see their mother but I want to give her time. She seems to think I think our love was a lie. Our love was not a lie, our children are proof of that. But things change and even tho my heart has found another, I still love Callie, just in a different way. She is the mother of my chidren and I trust her when she says she considers me her best friend. We started as such and we will always remain as such no matter what...harsh words said out of pain and hurt cant change that as much as we think it can. And I will never deny her anything within reason.

Well, I must stop here, I hear the crew shouting instructions above deck and we are headed back inland today. Back to the grindstone. I actually miss my duties, my tarn....the wind rushing past. I love the water but give me flight...that is my true heart. Until next time...