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The night is cold, chilled by the touch of autumn, but Laudna is surrounded by the warmth of the Sun Tree and of her friends - no, her family.
On her back, she can see the stars peaking between the lush leaves and thick branches of the Sun Tree. Here nestled in the warmth of her family and under the coverage of the tree, she is safely hidden from the ruddy light of Ruidus, but not from the darkened haze that creeps in her periphery.
Beside her, Imogen yawns and shifts closer into Laudna’s side. Since Laudna awoke from the boughs of death, Imogen has been there, a steady and unwavering support. Always there with a touch to the small of Laudna’s back, a gentle caress of fingers through her hair, or a strong hand grasping hers. Never letting go, not even for an instant and for that she is grateful.
She feels…untethered, grounded only by the feel of Imogen.
Laudna pulls the other woman closer so that Imogen’s head now rests on her chest, a comforting weight to keep her from floating away into the ether. “Is this alright, darling?”
“Yes,” Imogen breathes as she nestles her head under Laudna’s chin. “Better than alright, actually.”
Laudna ducks her head to bury her face in Imogen’s hair, closing her eyes against the darkness that is painted against the edges of her vision. The scent of lavender fills her senses as she inhales, but it does nothing to stop her nerves alighting.
Her other hand comes to rest on her stomach, fingers twitching and shaking with the sudden rush of nervous energy. She hates how her body betrays her, how it trembles and quakes in response to the buzz of anxiety that fills the empty spaces between her bones.
As if sensing the shift, Imogen’s hand automatically comes to rest atop Laudna’s quivering one, scarred fingers reaching out to grasp pale marble, squeezing as if to imbue… something.
At least, Laudna is pretty sure it’s supposed to mean something. Her head’s been a mess since she woke up. A constant roar of unbidden sound and images, of screaming, of children’s laughter, of blurred visions of ropes just out of the corner of her eye. She wonders if this is what Imogen feels with her powers, if it’s all just a constant buzz, a haze of shadows and whispers.
Laudna doesn’t know.
But the warmth of Imogen’s hand, of her scarred fingers rubbing small circles against the back of Laudna’s hand… it means something. She’s sure of it.
A gentle warmth spreads beneath Imogen’s touch, moving into Laudna’s hand, up her arm, and into her chest where it sits. A light in the darkness.
Laudna wants more than anything to be consumed by its radiance.
It tethers her, grounds her back into reality. It’s a promise, not unlike the one Imogen made to her.
Yes, Laudna remembers. She remembers a lot of things that happened in the inbetween.
She remembers the feeling of Otohan’s blade as it pierced through her chest. How it felt when the darkness dripped through her vision, how it consumed her entirely.
She remembers Matilda. Quiet, shy, reserved, but full of heart and imagination.
She remembers the kind woman, the one who was there but not. She remembers her warnings, the whispers and pleas. She remembers the promise of home.
She remembers Imogen. How Imogen pierced through the darkness, unforgiving and righteous in her fury. She remembers soft words and sharp promises and the crack of thunder and the splitting of wood. She remembers the light.
She remembers, she remembers, she remembers--
We're going to get you. We're going to get you home, okay?
We're here now. We'll help.
Just know that I love you…and I’m here.
“Did you mean it?” Laudna whispers against the chilled night air, against the invading haze that threatens to consume her.
Imogen shifts so that her legs entwine with Laudna’s. “Did I mean what, honey?”
“That you love me?”
Laudna hears Imogen swallow, the sound audible against the quiet of the night. She can feel the muscles of Imogen’s throat tense against her chest.
“‘Course I meant it, Laudna.” Imogen toys with the serpent ring she’d gifted to Laudna what feels like so long ago now. She caresses the metal as she twirls it around Laudna’s finger.
Laudna is quiet for a long moment, soothed by Imogen’s gentle touch. She surprises herself when her own voice breaks around the still night, “Even if…even if I’m different?”
“Even if you’re different,” Imogen promises. “I meant every word I said, and still do. I…I don’t know what’s gonna happen in the - in the long term. I don’t think any of us do, but I do know that no matter what, I plan to be here as long as you’ll have me. We can figure out the rest later.”
Imogen quiets after that. Her fingers slide up Laudna’s palm until their hands are pressed together fully, palm to palm, digit to digit, pulse to pulse.
She wants to believe Imogen. She does, but the screams are so loud now. The echoes compound against her skull. Against the wind she sees the ropes swinging on the tree--
Laudna squeezes her eyes shut for a moment against the shadows that are edging forward once more. Suddenly the feeling of Imogen around her isn’t enough, she needs more.
“Would you,” Laudna chokes out, throat tight with anxiety, “would you lay on me?”
Imogen shifts, sitting up on one elbow to look at Laudna. Her eyes are round, shock displayed so clearly on her face. “You want me to do what?”
Even through the darkness, Laudna can see the faint blush cresting Imogen’s cheeks. Any other time it would be endearing, but now - now she needs--“Please.”
Hesitantly, Imogen extricates herself from their embrace and Laudna almost protests at the loss of sensation before Imogen moves atop her. Leaning against her hands, Imogen remains straddling Laudna with too much distance between their bodies.
That simply won’t do, Laudna thinks as she reaches up to grasp at Imogen’s shoulders. She tugs gently, trying to bring Imogen down to her but the other woman won’t budge.
“I don’t…I don’t want to hurt you.” Imogen admits. The light of Catha shines through the leaves and casts a soft glow around her. The sight is entrancing.
In response, Laudna curls her arms around Imogen’s neck and pulls. This time, Imogen relents and she lays the entire length of her body against Laudna’s, arms wrapped around each other and their legs entwining and pulling taut against the blankets they took from the de Rolo’s.
Laudna draws in a shaky breath as she pulls Imogen tighter against her. The weight is a comfort. It’s almost overwhelming how good it feels to be pressed together, yet it is not enough. Even with the new weight, Laudna feels as if she could float away at any second.
“C-could you perhaps…oh, nevermind.” Laudna trails off, suddenly feeling ashamed. Guilt eats away and festers in the cavity of her chest. She’s already asked too much, has been nothing but a nuisance to--
Imogen shifts so that she’s leaning once more on her arms, this time placed on either side of Laudna’s head. Their faces are so close that Laudna with her darkvision can make out each freckle that dusts the other woman’s cheeks.
“What is it? What can I do?”
“I was hoping that…could you…” Laudna motions a hand to her head, hoping to convey the unspoken meaning.
Imogen, for her part, seems to understand as she moves her right hand to caress Laudna’s cheek and rests their foreheads together as she makes the connection.
I’m here.
Laudna exhales, deep and long until there is nothing left in her lungs.
And then she breathes.
For the first time since she awoke to the commotion of dozens of armed guards, to the de Rolos pointing their weapons at her heart, and to the knowledge that she’s in Whitestone, she feels like she can finally breathe again. She feels full. She feels here in this moment, with Imogen and her family surrounding her.
The darkness bleeds away, the hazy roll of shadow drifts to the outskirts of her vision. Not gone, but neither here.
I love you too, Laudna projects into Imogen’s mind.
Imogen shudders as a quiet sob wracks her body. Tears fall, fat and wet, onto Laudna’s cheeks. Distantly, she realizes she’s crying too.
I’m here, I’m here, I’m here, Imogen murmurs into her mind over and over again.
Laudna’s arms, wrapped around Imogen’s neck as they are, pull the other woman closer. Imogen’s scarred fingers caress through Laudna’s hair, against her brow, until they cup her cheeks.
Laudna pulls Imogen closer still until their lips meet in a gentle brush.
Imogen gasps at the contact, but doesn’t break their embrace.
I’m here, I’m here, I’m here.
I love you, I love you, I love you.
I’m home.
If the rest of the Bells Hells notice Imogen and Laudna wrapped together upon waking under the Sun Tree, well, no one comments.