A Woman On a Mission

She was a woman on a mission. A mission to be able to spend some quality time with her mate with no interruptions. Easy, you say? No, not easy at all. And she knew this, they knew this when this venture of him becoming Ubar began; however, she does not think he was quite as aware of it as she was. She had watched Fonce, and how he never truly had time to relax and enjoy his people. Someone always wanted his ear, and he was usually gracious enough to give it to them. Ba'atar was the same way. They wanted to speak to him, he was there. No problem was too small, no request went unnoticed. He gave until she couldn't give anymore, if that makes any sense at all.



The demands on him were wearing him down, whether he would admit it or not. She could see it in his face and his eyes that always seemed to be looking into space as he thought on the problems of his people. She wanted him to have some time to relax, to rejuvenate. And in her own way, she was being selfish, which was not entirely in her nature, but she was.



They had just traversed a difficult path that left them at outs with one another, and time was needed to repair the rift that had come between them. Time was needed for them to reaffirm the love they had for one another, to talk of things that were going on in their lives. And they have tried. The Sky knows that they have tried but it just has not worked. Each time that they found a few moments to spend together, there had been interruptions, or he had been dealing with the thoughts or problems of others. It is difficult to find that intimacy and closeness when you cannot be completely tuned in on each other. When you are pulled in so many directions.



They needed time. It was just that simple, and if they did not get it, she feared that what had been between them would be lost, and she would not lose without a fight. So, she worked on her battle plan as furiously as any commander in camp.



Part of this battle plan meant she would have to approach Ayguili for his help and this was not easy for her to do, but she did it. She pulled him away from the fire to talk to him, to ask if for just one evening, if he could take care of the needs of the Tribe and give them a break. She told him that she feared if they did not get this time, that she would lose him, and she was not sure she could survive that loss. He had looked at her oddly at first, the there was something in his eyes that led her to think he understood. He promised to try and keep everyone away from them for one evening, as best he could. That was all she could ask for at this point.



Her conversation with him was pivotal, because if he could not promise to do this one thing, the rest of it was all going to be for naught. The second step of her plan was the boys. Packing them little bags she had taken them to stay with Aamon and Birmmah. At first the woman showed disdain at her dumping her children on her, but Aamon stepped in and told her that Cana never did it, and if their grandsons could not spend some time with them, then what kind of grandparents were they. She could have just kissed him.



The next thing on her agenda was the meal. It had to be more than stew or a tabuk roast. She searched until she found someone that had a freshly killed tabuk and she traded for two steaks from it. Taking them to her wagon, she seasoned them and set them in the cold box in the ground to marinate. Fresh bread was made, along with a dessert made from last seasons dried berries that she macerated in wine to plump them up, then cooked them slowly with sugar to sweeten them. They were then put into a pot and buried in the coals to cook slowly all day with the bits of dough in them, and a top crust dusted with sugar. Later in the day, she would set the iron grill up over the fire and cook the steaks.



She and juneau worked like fiends to lean the campsite, making sure it was swept, the furs beaten soundly and put back down. She even brought up two old saddles, placed them beside the fire and draped furs over them to lean up against. She even had some dried sage and other dried herbs to drop into the fire to give off a pleasant, relaxing aroma. A small copper pot was set near the fire filled with water and dried flower blossoms to steep and allow their scent to gently waft around the area. She then brought out clay pots with tallow candles in them, to be lit instead of the oil lamps and torches. Stepping back, she was pleased at how every thing looked and smelled.



Next was her. She had a long soak in the bath wagon in a tub of water scented with the special oils that Tarra always kept her supplied with. That special mixture that was just for her. Her hair was washed, dried with toweling, then braided in a loose braid that hung down her back. One that could easily be unbraided if he so wished. She then pulled out that special leather dress that had belonged to her mother, the one that she had never really had an occasion to wear. It was so soft you did not even realize that it was leather, and had been dyed to a deep green, that set off the green flecks in her hazel eyes. It was decorated with swirls of matching green beading that had a way of catching the light and almost seemed to be almost luminous in their lustre. Adding her best boots, she stepped out and asked Rook if she looked okay, and an almost shy manner.



The old oralu looked at her, shook his head and asked her, did she not realize how beautiful she was? Her cheeks flushed as she shook her head, and pleaded with him to tell her that he though Ba'atar would be pleased. He grunted and said......if he isn't, then he is blind. That would have to do.



The food was ready, the camp looked lovely in the glow of the candles, and she had full trust in Ayguili that he would keep his word. All she needed now was her mate.