Keep me warm... Keep me safe...

As usual, I did not draw the sketch but I did the colours and background on this piece depicting my two characters Aelys and Sugeru. Its lines were done by PotemkinBuster and I coloured it with his approval.

In the land of Drechenval, Aelys and Sugeru are the wardens of the throne until the heirs to the late king Chomeï are old enough to rule.

Aelys has ran away from Dendroa after Oren's death, ran away from the people she loved after having been accused of her king's murder. Alone and lost, she was found by Sugeru who cared for her and brought her to Chomeï. The Drechenval king believed she was innocent and in a token of good faith, made her warden of his children. Later, after being claimed by the illness that brought him down, he made her promise to keep his lad and family safe, calling her his daughter.

Sugeru is Chomei's right hand, general of his armies, intendant of the land, best friend and confident. He fell in love almost at first sight with Aelys but the young woman was so hurt by her previous experiences that she couldn't at first accept his love.She would use him and deny the feelings she may have for him.

"Look at me"

Low but inflexible, he speaks, his mouth a few inches from the conch like curve of her ear. Under the tent,  her eyes had been almost glowing, bathed by the warm light of the flames, turning the light grey of her pupils to pure silver.

As usual she has come to him, as usual he has relented, sharing his warmth with her, intoxicated by the smoothness of her skin and the raw need so visible behind the distance she maintains with everyone but tonight he has enough.

"Open your eyes, Princess." He pulls off a little to gaze at her face, seeking her eyes. She  complies and he is lost, instantly. She looks so young suddenly, almost afraid. She is about to close her eyes again, a gesture of timidity and bashfulness in total contradiction with the eager grip of her legs on his hips, with the raw need in her hold, her hand gripping the leather of his vest, seeking his skin.

"Acknowledge me."

He has murmured those words in a voice so low it's barely audible but it's enough for her to pull back too, staring at his face.

He has known all along it wasn't him she seeked those too rare nights. He has known since the first time he was but a lie, an elaborate lie she was telling herself, that he wasn't and never would be whoever she sees behind her closed eyelids but he has enough, suddenly, of those deceptions.

In his mind he is screaming at her, screaming to have her finally recognise who he is, what they have together, to stop those lies and tricks that only prevent her from finally letting go, from finally healing. She is clinging to the ghost of a memory, to something that will never come true and they both know it.

"Princess... Look at me."

She blinks away her tears as her hand reaches between them, as she cups the lines of a jaw so different from the other one, as she looks at the face of a man that has promised her he would never betray her, never abandon her.

She is afraid, terrified even. She remembers the pain. She remembers the betrayal. She remembers everything.

She wants to believe his words. She needs to with the same fiery, burning hunger someone dying of thirst would hope for a glass of water, something fresh and comforting to appease the fire burning in her soul.

She reaches for him, eyes open.

"Sugeru."




Lines by PotemkinBuster

Colours by me. 8 hours with Paint Tool sai on a tablet. Since I am a real beginner on colouring, there must be blatant errors but I do my very best.

Characters, story, by me spadiekitchenqueen

More art on those characters and the world of Derkomai : iconchendie: