Morning Light
Klark watched Leksa sleep beside her in bed. Klark had woken before the sun had risen and patiently waited for the natural light. She had her sketchbook in her lap and charcoal in her hand. She looked between the empty page and Leksa’s peaceful face a few times, not deciding how she wanted to start her piece. She decided to start with an outline of Leksa’s face, delicately making her lines on the paper, light at first and then pressing harder when she’s satisfied with the line placement. She starts to draw Leksa’s hair and frowns at the lines. They aren’t making what she wants. She decides to move on and draws the pillow beneath Leksa and then starts to lightly draw in Leksa’s facial features. The charcoal makes slight noises against the paper and she hopes it isn’t loud enough to wake Leksa. She shaded where the light painted a delicate pattern across Leksa and how the pout of her lips made her look more peaceful then she felt when she was awake. She drew the scar that lightly touched the skin on her forehead above her left eyebrow and then turned her attention back to Leksa’s hair. She started with a few darker lines to show the direction of how Leksa’s hair was flowing behind her. Klark bent back down over her drawing and smiled, satisfied.
She closed the book and laid it beside the bed, shuffling back under the covers. Leksa slightly readjusted in her sleep and Klark kissed her cheek, moving so that her own face rested against Leksa’s neck. It was here she felt safe. It was moments like this that reminded her that their fight with Snow was worth it. She sighed in contemptment and kissed Leksa’s neck.
“Good morning.” Leksa groggily got out. Klark had woken her when she had gone under the blankets. Klark kissed her neck again.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.” She whispered. Klark felt a hand play with her hair, fingers running through her hair.
“Don’t be.” Leksa pulled Klark closer to her. “How long have you been awake?”
“Before the sun came up.” Klark smiled at the movements of her hair against Leksa’s fingers.
“You should’ve woken me.” Leksa’s voice gave away that she wasn’t awake yet, the deep hints and the husky notes of her voice not helping her case. “Will you train today?” Leksa wasn’t sure how Klark would react to the question. They still hadn’t talked about their fight from a few days ago.
There was a long pause and Leksa’s could feel Klarks breath against her neck. It had sped up slightly. One of Klark’s hands rested against Leksa’s stomach and the other was drapped across her hip. Klark clenched her hands a few times, going over in her head how she knew she needed to train but that she would probably just end up frustrated again.
“I’ll try but you have to stay inside. Let me figure it out and if I want help I’ll ask.” It was a compromise she thought would work.
“Okay fine. But take Kijo at least. He’ll warn of danger and he’ll collect the arrows for you. This will give me time to clean the house a bit.” Klark felt a kiss against the top of her head.
//
Klark pulled the bow back, Kijo making an excited noise. She angled the arrow down slightly, feeling the shift in the wind. She released, sending the arrow flying. The arrow spun in the air and barely hit the target on the left side.
Klark squealed in delight. The sun was in the highest point in the sky. She had been out shooting arrow after arrow and wiped the sweat from her brow.
“Leksa I hit the target!!” She screamed toward the house. Leksa tapped at the window closest to the garden to get Klark’s attention Leksa had a piece of fabric holding her hair away from her face and had been running around in her underwear and a loose fitting shirt. She gave a thumbs up and then smiled brightly at her. Leksa disappeared back into the house doing only Gods know what.
Klark turned back toward the target and pulled a new arrow out from the quiver that rested against her back. She pulled back and aimed slightly more to the left at the same angle as the last one.
She felt the strain of the string of the bow and let it go. The arrow flew towards the target, hitting right beside Leksa’s arrow in the middle. Klark threw the bow down in her excitement and started to dance in a circle, throwing her fist up in the air. Kijo squealed at her and mocked her, putting his arms in the air and turning in a circle with her.
“Now, what’s all this?” Leksa was leaning against the door frame that opened to the backyard.
“I hit it in the middle! Right beside your arrow!” Klark pointed towards the target.
“Let’s take a look.” Leksa was trying to remain serious but a smile was threatening her features.
Leksa calmly walked over to the target, tsking at it when she got closer.
“You did it Klark.” Leksa turned around beaming at her. Pride and love were in her eyes as she smiled.
Klark flushed and smiled back at her. “Thank you for giving me my space.” Klark kissed Leksa’s cheek and reached behind her to take the arrows out of the target.
“For you, anything.” Leksa moved to the side. “I should probably go over my forms while you practice, now that you’re a master at the bow, that is.” She teased. Leksa hadn’t touched the swords since the first day. Klark had put them out of sight, telling her where she had put them.
Leksa headed inside after she saw the expression on Klarks face after the tease. She chuckled at it and told Kijo to stay with his Mom. He did as he was told, pouting a little at her.
She found herself in front of the door that held her swords. She frowned and sighed, turning the knob and opening the door. She couldn’t hide from this forever.