The Prompt: The morning routine, do you ever role play it out? Or do you just slap on your gear and mount up? Well, here it is, tell me what it is your character does to get ready for the long haul.
- Jende of Moon Guard US

Routine? Pfeh, it had been months since she had a routine. Slowly sitting up and wiping the sleep from her eyes, Aurelia recognized this was as like the "old days" as things were liable to get. She yawns -- a big, unladylike display -- and only then does she look over, watching Ishbaneer set his book aside with a smile. Or as close to a smile as he could muster, at least. She leans over him, eyes scanning the spine, and her expression flickers with fond recognition.
"Told you it was a good one, eh?" she murmurs, kissing the man on his forehead. He nods in agreement, pulling his arm back from around her shoulders as she turns to rise from the bed. No words pass between them as she brushes the sleep-tangles from her hair and changes from her nightgown into a simple linen shirt and a pair of leather trousers, but it's a comfortable silence, like an unspoken understanding. Aure smudges her lips with gloss, applied by the tip of her pinky, and only lets out an amused "huh," when she turns around to regard the empty room.

She finds him by the fireside in the Gallows' End Tavern, a small glass of juice and a bowl of porridge on the table in front of him. Aure smiles gratefully at the rogue, and, if she was undainty when half asleep, she makes up for it now with all the niceties of her race.
"I kin see why ye like that one, Sunny," he offers, and it takes her a second to realize he means the book. She nods, setting her moonberry juice aside
"How far in are you?"
"Just had th' nightmare about her coronation." The elf chuckles.
"Gets better'n that, even. You'll see."
And after this brief exchange, they fall silent again. She doesn't mind, what's there to say? They said everything that needed to be said last night. Right? Swallowing down the last spoonful of porridge, she reaches for her husband's clawlike hand.
"I love you, Isaac."
"I love you too, Aure."

And then she lets him go. Lets him go from being her husband back to being the shepherd, and even after she's reliquished her hold on him, it takes the man a moment to pull away from her.