"Have you already eaten?" the Commander wondered.
"I have," Irene responded. "It felt wrong eating something so heavy in front of you. However, this is for me."
As she placed the tray down on his lap, she took off the larger mug of ale.
"And here I thought they were finally being a little bit nicer to me," he admitted with a sigh. "Haven't had anything strong in a long time."
"When you're healed, we will drink something strong together," she promised. But then she quickly added, "Within reason, of course."
She had to add that last part because he knew firsthand just how out of control she could get when she drank too much. The last time the two of them had been on equal terms and drinking plenty at the Winter Solstice Banquet, she remembered all of the liquid confidence she had. How something about it made her unable to stop wondering what it would be like to kiss him.
