A thud outside the room stirred him awake, a half-lidded stare was turned to the closed door and tension moved through his body as he wondered if the dark-haired woman had returned. There was shuffling and then a drunken laugh that soon died down as the heavy footsteps continued followed by the sound of the neighboring door shutting, undoubtedly one of the patrons returning to their rented room to rest for the night.
Ease found him again and the tired gaze moved downwards where the baker still sat leaned against his chest fast asleep, she stretched between him and his brother on the opposite side of the bed. Carefully he shifted in place to adjust himself against the headboard of the bed that he sat against, lightly tugging the blanket further over the woman to keep the chill of the room from her.
I really need to stop sleeping like this.
While there were bedrolls on the floor none of the three had dared take them uncertain of what lived within those bedrolls or what crawled around on the floor of this forsaken Inn. He looked across to where his brother sat against the board at the foot of the bed, looking just as uncomfortable as he was but sleeping still with the baker's legs bent across his lap. With such a small space it had been tricky to decide how it would be best to puzzle three bodies onto it but after a long and late night chat this was how it ended up and even if he knew his back would ache the next day he could only grin knowing that the woman slept quietly.
At least she will not be returning home without a story to tell, an adventure.
He shifted underneath her to get more comfortable and absentmindedly his hand found her shoulder, trapping a small lock of the woman's hair between his fingers to brush through as he stared down at her thoughtfully.
Shall this be an adventure you will tell of when you return home? Speak of your grand journey over the borders of your homeland, the broken Inn, the foul meal and the threat suffered at the end of a dagger? Will this be your grand tale to tell? The story your children shall hear of and your grandchildren? Or will it be your secret? A hidden tale you will not dare to tell out of fear what the people will say?
A tired grin found him and his gaze wandered back to the closed door.
If any would stumble in here now, how quick would their minds go to a perverted place? How quick would your name be tarnished because they found you between the bodies of two men? Maybe the clothing still worn would be your saving grace.
He chuckled silently and turned his attention back down to the woman as she shifted against him. For a moment he simply watched her sleep, exhausted after the long walk and he could not help but smile as he brushed back a stray lock of hair that fell over her face.
Simple dreams. They are usually the ones that can come true, if only over a day or two. Though have we woken a wanderlust in you, I wonder? Will the kind baker of Bree-land vanish and the people shall not have their sweet pastries? Perhaps when you return you shall have your thrill of adventure out of your system. There is still a good hike left. You shall have your story to tell.
Slowly his arm dropped to rest around her again and his head fell back to try and rest comfortably against the headboard or at least as comfortably as the position would allow him. His eyes shut and his tired mind began to drift off within moments.
Why do I keep sleeping like this?
