Barak had tried suggesting that she leave the cabin and come out to receive a little sunlight once in a while, but his words had fallen on deaf ears then. He knew she could not stay cooped inside that room all through their three weeks sail, but he was pleasantly shocked when he saw her standing there.
The wind rippled through her long red hair and clothes, her lips pressed together, her brows narrowed on the fairy that had become his new friend. Her fair skin stood out amidst the brown-skinned people on the ship. Dear lords...
He’d seen her in daylight, but there was something about the open sea, and just something about the dramatic entrance that she made. There was something in the air itself because it felt like he was seeing her for the very first time. And oh, she was lovely.
"I see the queen bee has finally left her hive." came a voice from behind Neriah, Barak looked past her and saw his father coming up from below deck. By this time, there were maids and crewmen alike hiding in corners, sticking their heads and faces out, all of them trying to catch a glimpse of the mad villainess, he was certain.
She was the center of attention. It was only normal, after all, this was the first time some of them would see her.
Barak watched as Neriah calmly turned around to face his father and he sincerely wondered what she was going to do. Be rude and run, or be polite and pay her respects.
"I greet the great wyvern of Trago, may the peace of Aveliana be with you." He was shocked, but the smile on his face grew some centimeters higher as she curtseyed and greeted his father in a rather gentle and sweet manner. One he had no idea she had.
"Rise, my child. Family should share a hug, not a curtsey." was Bashan’s response to her greeting and he opened his arms to take her in them but then a long slim hand was held out... It was hers.
"I’m afraid that would not be possible as I am not yet familiar with Tragonian culture, I would appreciate it if Your Majesty would accept my greetings and not extend anymore than an equal response with the mouth. At least until I learn the Tragonian culture of hugging." Neriah bluntly said and Barak had to bite down on his lips to stop himself from laughing.
All that talk was because she probably didn’t want to hug a barbarian. He could tell she was coming up with such dumb excuse because of that. She was still a liar this wife of his.
"My dear child, it is just a hug. It is not particularly a culture. Just a hug and—"
"I am sorry to disappoint Your Majesty but I have yet to acquire the skill of hugging a father-in-law. So I will work hard to learn it. Until then, I shall greet Your Majesty in my humble Avelian way." She said and gave another bow, not allowing the man to say anything further before scurrying away with Aria.
Bashan blinked, confused about everything that just happened. Then he stared at Barak, silently asking ’what just happened?’ And Barak just replied with a shrug of his shoulders and a low chuckle as his eyes followed his lying wife.
"Shall I go have a little talk with my dear wife, Riri?" He asked as the fairy popped out from behind him and sat on his shoulder.
"You can just talk with Riri," The fairy smiled beautifully and Barak patted her head with a finger. She was cute... Like her mistress.
...
A hug!!! That man that looked like a well built bear offered to give her a hug! What was his plan? To crush her bones? Oh she was brilliant, she had brilliantly scaped her way through that one.
Just thinking about it now sent shivers down her spine. Hugging a man so huge! Being in the arms of Barak was sometimes crushing, and Bashan was even bigger than Barak!
It would be a death sentence. He did not look like a person who could handle a delicate flower like herself, he’d break her she was certain of it. A hug! Seriously? Why did he offer something like that?! Even a handshake would have made her wary, but she would have managed to consider that. But a hug, no way.
"You know–" She jolted as she heard his voice out of nowhere. "for some reason, I had thought you would be the sort of person to vomit all over a ship." Barak said as he climbed up to where she stood with her hands resting on a guard rail.
His words made her scoff.
"What do you take me for? Although I have never been on a long distance sail before, I have been on a ship, my dear sir." She tossed back some strands of hair with her hand.
"Ah, I see. So the princess is not only a brilliant rider, but also a commendable sailor." He complimented and her cheeks flushed a soft pink.
"Tell me something barbarian, what did you do to my fairy? What sort of sorcery is this? You must have performed some wizardry to make her cling to you like that."
"I shall leave you two." Aria politely said much to Neriah’s dismay as she tried to hold the woman back but before she could even say a word, Aria had walked past her and only returned to pull Riri off Barak’s shoulder, much to the plight of the little fairy.
"So you believe I have put some sort of spell on your fairy?" He asked as he also leaned on the guard rail. "Why is that?" He asked and she eyed him.
"Is it not obvious? She sings your praises like you were some sort of god and she clings to you as though she were your wife." Neriah scoffed. The matter annoyed her greatly. It was madness no matter how much she thought about it. What about the man had the 7 inch creature drooling?!