Beautiful, like always

section written by Silver

Silvernia sat back in the wooden chair with a sigh. Light green eyes turned toward the window facing the dirt path tracing in front of the Iron Heart. Absently twirling some of her long silver hair, which has once again fallen out of the tie meant to hold it back, between her pale fingers.

"Hunter, what day is it today?"

Looking up from the mead bottle he’s been polishing, Hunter turned his attention to the owner of the question scratching his beard in the process.

"I believe today would be the 3rd day of the 4th sun. Soon to be the hot season too, now that I think about it" Hunter answered, curious what his half elf companion was getting at.

With a small nod to herself, Silvernia stood up and made her way to the stairs leading up to the bedrooms used for guests and their own on the third floor.

"I'm gonna go take care of some things, I'll be back in time for the lunch regulars." She said matter of factly over her shoulder, a sly smirk on her face that Hunter knew all too well meant she was planning something.

With a sigh, Hunter turned his attention back to the mead bottle he was polishing to prepare for the lunch meal,

"Just don't break anything this time." He said, but Silvernia was already long out of earshot.

The first couple people filed in through the door a while later and made their way to a few of the tables littered around the large tarvern floor, regulars to the Iron Hearth from the nearby village.

"Hey, Hunter, we'll take the regular!" Yelled Ren, someone who been frequenting the place for years now, a toothy grin set into sun tanned skin wrinkling at the corners of his dark chocolate eyes accompanied with just as dark hair cropped short.

"Of course! I'll be right out with it!" Hunter bellowed back, already grabbing bowls to fill with today's stew and a couple mugs of ale for the table.

"Some rabbit stew and blackberry ale for the season!" Hunter smiled while setting the meal on the table.

The men dug into the food happily, hungry from the long first half of the day in the fields. Ren wiped the foam from his stubbled lip and let out a content sigh, after downing a big swig of ale. Then did a quick look around,

"Where's the lass at? Usually she's down here helpin ya." He commented on the missing employee.

"Ah, she said she was go-"

"Sorry, took me a bit longer than expected." Hunter was cut off by a light chuckle following soft footsteps from the stairs.

"What do you boys think?" Silvernia stood at the bottom of the stair, looking over at the occupied table with a grin. Where once was long flowing silver hair, is now cut short just above her shoulders with bangs hanging to the side of clearly amused green eyes.

The table sat stock silent for a moment before blowing with all sorts of responses,

"Well I'll be!"

"Yah look great lass!"

"It suits you!"

The men shouted out causing Silvernia to laugh and give her thanks, but during the whole thing her eyes stayed focused on the silent owner standing just off to the side of the table, in his own silence.

"And you, Hunter? What do you think?" Silvernia directed the attention, eyes even more amused with the knowledge that she shocked him.

Hunter took a few moments longer to take in the new sight in from of him, the initial shock finally wearing off allowing a warm smile to set into his eyes,

"You look beautiful like always." He hummed out, causing Silvernia's smile to change to a softer one as she pushed back her bang before letting them fall back into her face. A small moment of fragility passing through her before her normal sharp look and smirk to return to her face.

"Alright boys, who's ready for another round?" She bellowed, exciting those at the table. The normal atmosphere returning to the hearth as the day made its way forward. Just like any other here at the Iron Hearth.