An Awkward Encounter

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 5th July 2016

Characters: Corran, Nohria
Description: Nohria gets walked in on.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 12 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Goulan (NPC).
Notes: Rated PG-13 for spiciness

Her head was made of pain. Her hangover cure hadn't kicked in yet, so Nohria had to put up with the hurt, the fatigue, the sour taste a tooth-brushing hadn't entirely fixed, and the upset stomach for a little while longer. At least it was early enough in the morning that no one was going to bother her, and it was quiet but for the rattling of the cart she was pushing into the guards' private bathing room.

She dispensed towels, washcloths, soapsand, and a few robes, and then sat down on the cart to rub her head. She just wanted to go back to bed, or a gallon of klah, or have another bath to let the heat soothe her and chase disturbing thoughts from her mind. She'd barely had a chance for a scrub because having six beers last night had caused her to oversleep.

Well, no one would be up for another half hour. And it was so quiet here, and she didn't need to wash, so Nohria straightened, stripped off her dress, and let her hair down. Then she stepped for the water, planning to soak for fifteen minutes. Plenty of time.

Corran had not really had any intention of being awake yet. His schedule had been set up for later in the day, and given the hangover he was feeling, he was glad of it. The first ale had turned into a second, then Nohria had gotten him another, and now his head pounded and certain biological necessities called.

When he relieved that, he thought perhaps a soak would help. So he pushed open the door to the bathing room, planning on resting in the water till his head cleared. Because he was moving on the force of routine habit, he wasn't initially aware that it wasn't as deserted as planned…

Nohria heard the door open and immediately panicked. No one was supposed to be awake yet! She spun without thinking, hands blindly going for knives that weren't on her hips, and nearly died of embarrassment. It was Corran, who looked about as bad as she felt, and Ancients help her, her eyes simply would not leave him. His hair was mussed from sleep, and he was naked to the hips, which his trousers were hanging dangerously low on, and his muscle tone was so pleasing, the proportions of his limbs nearly elegant, and Ancients she needed to cover up, think of some excuse, apologize, do SOMETHING-

But all she could do was stare. Damn her. Damn him. Damn this entire situation!

Corran was staring at his feet as he pushed open the door and stepped into the room. When he heard a noise coming from inside the room he started and jerked his head up. He'd expected to see another guard who wasn't asleep. Instead he saw a shapely female figure - a very shapely one, one his eyes couldn't help but linger on, skimming the ample swell of her breasts before he looked up to see -

Nohria.

Nohria, who was part of the reason he'd had so much to drink. A reason why he'd lain awake in bed afterwards, thinking about her. And now she was here. In the washroom. Naked. His blood rushed south in an instinctual reaction to the sight, even as he turned his head to stop staring - and shards it was difficult - and his good hand groped behind him for the door.

His mind spun, wondering why she was here, what she was doing. If she was really here or if this was something conjured by his tired mind. "Er," was all he managed to choke out.

If it had been any other man, he wouldn't have looked away. Any other man would have tried to take advantage of her. That gave Nohria some strength. She straightened again, turning to get her underthings. "I'm sorry for my trespass, Guard Corran," she said in a voice that was much steadier than she felt. "I didn't think anyone else would be awake at this hour."

From the corner of his eye, he saw that she turned away, removing the temptation of her bust only to show another part of her curves.

"It is an early candlemark," he agreed. Just after dawn, he thought. Too much beer and not nearly enough sleep meant his thoughts were still clouded. Why was she soaking in the pool? Because he'd looked away he didn't see the signs of her work, so he took a guess.

"Is the women's rooms occupied?" He was half-thinking he could offer to let her finish bathing and keep watch so no one disturbed her.

"No," Nohria said, fastening her brassiere and pulling her dress on. "I just wanted to calm the raging wher in my head. My earlier bath did not do so." She cinched in the waist and tried in vain to loosen the bust, but that measure never really worked. "I- I'm decent. You can look now," she said quietly.

"I do apologize for surprising you." He turned away from the door, easing it shut the last way, hoping it didn't alarm her or look like he was trying to trap her. He didn't want someone else to walk in on her in disarray, on him half-clothed, and take it the wrong way.

Nohria eyed the closed door warily. "It was my fault for taking liberties. Am I to be disciplined, Guard?" she asked, edging toward the cart. She wanted it between her and Corran if this got out of hand. That and her hairpins were on it; if worse came to worst, she could stab him with them somewhere sensitive, like his eyes.

"If you were written up to the Headwoman you'd probably get in trouble, and you don't deserve trouble for wanting a few minutes of soaking," he said. "If you left now and no one else spots you, who else would know?"

Corran was proud he was keeping his voice surprisingly even. The thought of stepping towards her and kissing her was a prominent one in his mind. But she was stuck in this bathing room with him between her and the door, other guards in other rooms nearby, and he knew it wasn't a good moment.

The relief was overwhelming and flavored with a little guilt at the thought of stabbing him. Of course such a measure wouldn't be needed. "Then I won't tell if you won't." She put her hands on the half-emptied cart and started for the door. "My thanks, Guard Corran." She passed close enough to catch his scent. Damn it.

"Not a problem," he said.

**Ask her to dinner,** part of his brain thought.

**It's the wrong time. No,** another voice said, one that sounded more like his mother's.

"I'll be seeing you," is what he actually said. He stepped out the door first, and noticed no one was visible. He held it so she could get the cart out.

**Not if I can avoid you for a while,** Nohria thought bitterly. Ancients, she hadn't been so attracted to a man since Ardihan. Obviously she needed to start a course of contraceptive tea and get Goulan under her to work some of this weakness out of her system. She could not let it overtake her. "Good day," was all she said aloud.

"Good day," he said. Once she was out the door and out of site, he finished removing his clothes and sunk into the pool. He hoped the water would get rid of the ache in his brain and purge the new images in his mind...

Last updated on the July 6th 2016

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