Chapter Text
Stefen and Vanyel had left Haven for Forst Reach most definitely not together, and Medren was slowly accepting that they would remain just friends. This situation wasn't necessarily bad, but he'd spent a lot of time planning how to get them to interact. Vanyel had seemed more open lately, and Stef was completely besotted, so he'd been... hopeful.
And then, of course, they came back not only together, but lifebonded.
“You're what?”
“Lifebonded,” Stefen repeated, grinning like a fool.
“How is that even possible? He’s already been lifebonded. Everyone only has one lifebonded in the world, and most of us will never meet them.”
Stefen shrugged, undeterred. “We don't know that for sure,” he countered. “Once you're lifebonded, you don't exactly keep on looking for someone, so who knows if someone could have two lifebondeds at the same time. And Van...” Stefen's voice became low and sad, his face serious. “Nothing about Van is normal, anyway. He should have died when Tylendel did.”
“I guess...” Medren said. “This is still crazy. I'm going to need time to process it, I think.”
Stefen nodded. “I think I should feel the same but... it seems natural, instead. Like it was supposed to happen, and so it did. It explains a lot of what I’ve been feeling about Van.”
Medren remembered the way Stef had lost interest in other lovers after he and Van had started spending time together. He had to admit that yes, the situation made more sense now.
*
Medren often went to Bardic's stables to spend time with the horses these days. He still did some work towards being awarded his Scarlets, but he had already completed the requirements - the real reason why he wasn't yet a Bard was because of the fuss around Stef's promotion; in short, he wasn't as motivated to work on his music as he could be and spending time outside was much more appealing.
He was on his way to the stables when he saw Vanyel waving at him, his Companion walking by his side.
“Are you looking for Stef?” Medren asked.
“No, no,” Vanyel answered, shaking his head. “He's with the king, and for once I don't need to be. I thought I would take the chance to spend more time with my favourite nephew. But – were you going somewhere?”
Medren smiled. “Just to the stables. I haven't been maintaining my equestrian skills, recently. I've walked plenty as a Journeyman, but good riding horses are scarce in the farmland. Do you want to join me?” He asked Vanyel. Then, he realised he was keeping Yfandes out of the conversation, and so turned towards he and added: “You are welcome to join us also, of course, Lady Yfandes.”
She shook his head and made an indignant sound, “I know, I know,” Medren answered, “but it took me years to stop calling Van 'milord' so you'll have to give me a bit longer, still.”
Yfandes moved closer to Medren to nudge his shoulder with her nose.
“She says we should go before she changes her mind about the exercise.” Yfandes nudged Vanyel and must have told him something because he laughed.
“It won't be much of it,” Medren promised her as he started walking. “We'll have to move rather slowly if we're to talk."
Medren didn't have his own horse but he often rode with Starsky, a black mare who had been in the stables since Medren had arrived at Bardic eight years ago. She couldn't go very fast on long distances anymore, so she never left the college grounds. Medren gave her the chance to exercise whenever he had the time.
Before leaving, Medren told the stable boy approximately when to expect them back. They rode fast at first, until Starsky showed signs of being tired, and then they rode slowly next to each other.
“I had ulterior motives about coming to see you today,” Vanyel said by way of opening the conversation.
“It wasn't just for my company?” Medren teased.
“It was,” Vanyel answered quickly. “But there's... there's something I need to talk to you about,” he continued, very serious and clearly nervous. Medren felt himself grow worried instantly. Was there something wrong with his mother? The king? Vanyel himself?
He was racking his brain trying to figure out what was more likely when Vanyel kept on going, “I – Stefen and I –”
Oh, Medren realized, not worried anymore. Does he really think that Stefen wouldn't have told me that they were together? Why would he be so nervous about telling me something like this? Although... I guess his reaction isn't that hard to understand. He's my uncle and he's lifebonded to my best friend. He doesn't know everything I know about Stef's love life, or that I played a part in getting them together...
“In Forst Reach,” Vanyel tried again, more sure of himself, “Stef and I became lovers.” And his uncle looked so miserable that Medren couldn't stop himself from playing with him.
“What?” He exclaimed, his tone too dramatic to be believable, not that Vanyel would be able to tell in his current state of mind. “He's my best friend!”
Vanyel winced. “I know. And I'm sorry he’s – I never wanted to meddle with your life. But I'm not sorry I met him.”
“He's half your age!” Medren continued. “He's younger than me.”
“Yes, he is. I tried – I swear I tried to stay away but... Medren, we're lifebonded.”
Vanyel looked so serious and afraid that Medren cracked and started laughing.
“Medren?”
“Great gods Van, did you really think I didn't know already? Stef has been telling me about –” He interrupted himself before he could start talking about Stefen's sex life, which would have been very inappropriate in the situation. “Stef is my best friend. He tells me when he becomes lifebonded to someone. It only happens once in someone's life – if that.” He paused. “Except... for you?”
Vanyel shook his head. “I can't explain it anymore than you can.”
“But it's good, right?”
Vanyel grinned. “Yes.”
“And you don't have to be afraid that it puts him in harm's way, because he'll know to run away if faced with danger. He's not a Herald.”
Vanyel chuckled. “He told me the same thing.”
Medren shook his head. “I can't believe you really did talk about this. It must have been a romantic conversation.”
“Oh, now! I won't let my nephew tease me in this fashion.”
“It's too late for that,” Medren replied.
They both laughed and Yfandes shook her head and said something that made Vanyel laugh even louder.
After they had calmed down, Vanyel said, “I'm hearing talks that you'll soon be promoted.”
Medren shook his head. “It won't be right away. They're waiting for the dust to settle about Stef and it's taking longer than they thought it would.”
Vanyel winced. “I'm sorry. It's my fault.”
“What? How would it be your fault?”
“I'm the one who introduced him to Randale.”
“No.” Vanyel opened his mouth to answer again and Medren shook his head. “No,” he repeated emphatically. “He's helping the king, which is of his own doing, not yours. And Shavri was the one who insisted that he was to make the jump to Bard if he was going to work in the court. If anything, it was your duty to make all of this happen.” Medren paused. “You feel guilty about the most bizarre things. You should work on that.”
Yfandes' body language changed, indicating that she was talking to Vanyel, and Vanyel eventually sighed loudly. “Yes, all right, if you are to gang up on me like this, I guess it might mean you're right.”
“Yes, we are,” Medren said lightly. “And I'm not that eager to have my Scarlets. With everything happening in Haven, I don't think I would leave right away. As long as I'm a Journeyman, I can stay at Bardic free of charge, while having access to one of the biggest library in the kingdom. Not to mention I can use the stables whenever I want.”
“Do you often go riding?”
“I try. I'm getting used to it again, really, now that Stef is busy so often. He used to complain that I was abandoning him whenever I wanted to go. Do you know – oh, I guess you must know now, with the travel to Forst Reach, that Stef can't ride at all. He is completely useless at it, and he won't practice, so I can't see him becoming any better.”
Vanyel suddenly looked away, Yfandes snickered, and they stayed in complete silence for a few seconds until Vanyel muttered “Shut up, horse” while blushing furiously.
Medren didn't need to be told what had just happened and he felt himself flush in return. “Lady Yfandes! Did you –?”
Yfandes bobbed her head proudly.
“Stef must love you, with that dirty brain of yours,” Medren told her, not feeling the blush fade away.
“He does. I'm spending half my time disappointed that Stef can't understand her enough to sustain a discussion, and half of it relieved that it means at least they can't spend too much of their time pestering me relentlessly.”
*
When Medren came back to his room later in the evening, he was only half surprised to see Stefen there.
“Where were you?” He asked. “I had the worst day and I couldn't find you or Vanyel.”
“We were together.” Medren answered. “We went riding.”
“Of course you did. I still don't understand how anyone could spend time on horseback for fun.” He paused, and grinned. “There are other kinds of riding that are much better ways to use one's time.”
Medren grimaced. “You and Yfandes, I swear... You do know that you can't keep on sharing your love life with me now that your love life involves my uncle, right?” He asked, hopeful.
Stefen laughed. Medren could only groan and hide his face behind his hand in defeat.