Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Lyn held her bowl to her lips, soaking up the warmth of her breakfast and the conversation around her. She listened with an anxious ear, waiting for someone to mention Kaladin. Despite her recent breakup with him, so far the other Windrunners weren’t treating her any differently. If anything, they were giving her a respectful distance. Still, she worried.

Laran sat down directly beside her, so close that their hips touched. “They’ll give you a spoon if you ask nicely,” she teased.

“Shuddup,” Lyn mouthed around her food. She bumped Laran with her elbow and jutted her chin towards Rlain, who was in the middle of teaching some new recruits about listener customs. He made a habit of educating, hoping to spread tolerance and understanding. Lyn admired it. Besides, this morning he was talking about taking forms, and she loved to see people squirm when he taught them about mateform.

“Mateform's heat can be intense, and mates have eyes for just each other,” he was saying. "Cold and dripping from the rain, are good excuses to undress…" Suddenly Lyn was picturing Laran, soaked to the bone from highstorm rains, with all her attention focused solely on Lyn. She fumbled her bowl, and Rlain glanced at her.

“Oh! I am sorry there, Lyn. I can change what I'm talking about,” he said, changing to a gentle, singsong rhythm. “I don’t want to reopen a wound.”

Little did they know Lyn wasn't the one with the wound. “No, it’s okay, Rlain! Go ahead! I’m enjoying your lesson,” she said, and Rlain nodded, then turned away again to focus on the new recruits.

Laran clucked her tongue and leaned in close. “Drinking your breakfast straight from the bowl. Listening to a talk about mateform without even having the decency to look ashamed,” she joked, low and soft in Lyn’s ear. “You are Alethi, right? You’re not a listener in disguise?”

Lyn giggled. She turned her head fully towards Laran, who tilted her ear down. “Of course I’m Alethi,” Lyn whispered back. “But if I don’t have a boyfriend to talk about mateform with, who else can I talk to?”

Laran rolled her eyes towards Renarin, sitting quietly beside Rlain. “Well, I think Rlain’s taken,” she whispered back, and Lyn could feel the curve of her smile against her ear.

Lyn glanced up at Laran, the firelight reflecting off her eyes like the joined spanreed to her own eyes, passing on a message that wrote itself on her heart. And other places. Lyn smiled, then looked away, trying to smother her feelings.

This is too fast, she thought. What will the others say about us if I jump into a new relationship so quickly? How would Kaladin feel? Would he think I never cared about him?

She said nothing. The moment passed, and the conversation moved on to more practical matters.

As they walked together to return their empty bowls, Laran made a disgusted noise. “Ew, I got stew on my glove!” she complained. “Cover me, will you?”

They ducked to the side, and Lyn took Laran’s bowl, avoiding the wet spot. She used her body to block Laran from the others, and Laran pulled off her soiled glove and pulled a new one out of her back pocket.

Lyn glanced.

Laran saw, and winked, wiggling her fingers suggestively at her.

Lyn screamed internally. She crossed her arms and resolutely looked away, biting her lip. Her spren, Euradori, flew over. Of course her storming spren saw. "If you like her hand so much, why not just tell her?" she asked, then tapped her finger to her cheek. "Oh! Do you want me to tell her?"

"No!" Lyn whispered fiercely. "Storms, she knows anyway." She'd tried to explain to Euri why she'd broken up with Kaladin, and why she couldn't approach Laran yet, but Euri had made it very clear that she thought that was stupid. To her, Honour dictated being straightforward, not sparing the feelings of others over what was right. Lyn disagreed. Stormfather knew Kaladin already felt bad enough. She didn’t want to add to his pain with her happiness. She scanned the area, making sure no one else saw, but the heat in her face made her feel like a glowing sphere, sure that everybody could see.

Laran stood, putting a hand to Lyn’s shoulder. Lyn didn’t know which hand, and tried to shake the thrill of intimacy she felt.

The hand drifted to the end of her braid. “You kept this?” Laran asked with a chuckle. On a whim Lyn had asked Laran to braid her hair a few weeks ago, and Laran had tied it off with some string. Of course she'd kept it. Of course Laran recognized it.

Lyn's face burned. I'm giving her mixed signals. I really do need to talk to her.

Blessedly, Sigzil interrupted before she could think of an answer. He walked to the edge of the group at a fast clip, holding a half-page. That meant orders were coming in.

They both stood straighter, and Laran removed her hand to stand at ease beside Lyn.

Sigzil scanned the group, then walked over to them. “Lyn, you said you were ready for another mission, right?” he asked.

Yes, she had said that. She thought she wanted to get out back into the field as soon as possible after her breakup, but now…

She glanced at Laran. Tall, pretty, lovely Laran.

No, maybe it was better to get out, and save Kaladin from hearing any rumours that might start if she stayed. Lyn nodded at Sigzil.

“Vamah’s scouts report a Fused, maybe two, checking out the new farms in the Unclaimed Hills,” Sigzil said. “We need a small strike team to go scare them off. I'd like you to lead it. I thought it would be a good fit for you, since you know the area.”

She sighed internally, but agreed, taking the orders from Sigzil to read them herself. Shanay-im. She had months of experience fighting them by this point.

“I’ll go with her,” Laran said, “if it's okay with Lyn.” Those dark violet eyes again, sending the spanreed, we need to talk about what’s happening between us.

Lyn’s face heated. They could have an entire day or two alone. She ducked her head, failing to suppress a smile. She was so screwed. "Yeah, that's fine," she said.

Euri flew up and grabbed Lyn's chin. "Yes!! Does this mean you're gonna tell her?"

Sometimes it's better to fly with the wind than against it, she thought, and her heart skipped a beat. "We'll see," she whispered back.

Sigzil, Heralds bless him, simply nodded. “Very good then. You two head out as soon as possible.”

Chapter Text

Lyn and Laran stepped out onto the Oathgate platform at Narak, all shiny boots and brilliant blue uniforms, wooden spears in hand, and brimming with Stormlight. With a light, synchronous hop, they soared upwards together, heading southeast. Lyn watched Laran sculpt the air around her, laughing at the sheer joy of flight, and in her own joy, Lyn felt the urge to take her hand. Laran looked back at her and smiled with delight, and again Lyn could feel the connection between them. While they flew, the wind was too loud, but she would tell her. I’ll say I like you. I want to court you…in a couple weeks. You understand, right? I just want to protect Kaladin.

Flying together under a bright sun, the hazy Plains laid open before them, Lyn couldn’t help but wonder whether Euri might be right after all. Why should she be so preoccupied with what Kaladin would think? Because I know what he would think. He’ll get down on himself about it, and that’s the last thing he needs, with how he's been lately. With her worries chasing her through the sky, it felt like scant minutes before they reached the Unclaimed Hills. The rockbud fields existed in the shadows of natural laits, and the two Windrunners started cancelling their lashings to scout closer to the ground.

Laran pointed with her spear–-there was a shanay-im ahead in the near distance, their violet carapace covered by a long robe of white and light blue, presumably to blend into the sky. As the Windrunners approached, the Fused ascended to their level, but kept a safe distance. This one was tall, with broad shoulders and a slim waist–-Lyn thought maybe a malen. With a powerful white-and-red arm, more striped than marbled, he raised his spear towards Laran, indicating a request for a one-on-one fight.

It was to their disadvantage today, but they understood it was best for the war.

Lyn and Laran shared a glance. Lyn nodded to defer, and Laran grinned.

Lyn bit down a surge of frustration. As usual, assuming they were both squires, the Fused chose the tallest opponent.

Let him underestimate me, she thought angrily. She knew Laran burned to prove herself to a spren, and she would want this chance to fight, should any spren be watching. For Laran’s honour, Lyn wouldn’t reveal herself as a full Knight.

Accepting the challenge, Laran raised her spear. As was custom, Lyn drew back, keeping an eye out for other Fused, but also wanting to watch the deadly match.

They engaged with a crack of wood against metal. The Fused was brilliantly fast, but Laran easily defended and countered, gaining ground. Well, sky. Lyn smiled with pride as she watched. Laran was just about the fastest they had. The Fused grunted in staccato bursts of fury, timed to Laran’s attacks. He backed off quickly, unwilling to take risks. Strange behaviour for a scout, but maybe he’d needed time off the battlefield or something. The shanay-im retreated again and again, forcing Laran and Lyn to chase him further east.

In her focus on Laran’s duel, Lyn missed the signs of an Everstorm approaching from the west.

First, Lyn smelled ozone, and then her ears registered the continuous crackle of hundreds of lightning bolts, striking the air over and over. Ash and dust blew past her, and darkness quickly enveloped her. She coughed and wiped her eyes, and when she opened them, she only saw swirling black clouds and blinding, unending flashes of red lightning.

She’d lost them.

Storms!

She flew upwards, needing to get above the lightning. She spun and dodged, knowing intuitively that this was not her storm. She was unwelcome here.

Lyn said a quick prayer for Laran to get out safely.

A dangerous thought popped into her head. What if this was it? What if that was the last time she’d seen Laran? She’d never even told her how she felt, let alone her intentions… What if she never got the chance now?

As she burst out into sunlight, Lyn cursed herself for one of the ten fools.

She almost flew back down into the storm to look for Laran, but a smarter head prevailed. There was no point killing herself over a mistake. She would live with the outcome, whatever it was. Besides, Laran was resourceful. Skilled. Quick as lightning herself. She could do this.

A shift of the wind below her, and Lyn sensed something approaching fast.

Laran?

The moment of hope almost killed her.

The Fused burst upwards out of the black clouds, and Lyn only had a second to deflect his spear with her own. He rushed past her, just inches from her body, and she kicked off him and spun in a tight ball. The advantage was to limit the area of attack, but the disadvantage was that it was disorienting.

She stabilized, shook the dizziness, and her heart hammered in her chest as she spotted the shanay-im streaking forward. This time she wasn't so lucky. The Fused had the advantages of strength and reach, and managed to knock her wooden spear from her with a crack that set her palms stinging.

They both watched the spear fall, and their eyes met, glowing blue against red, the enemy approaching her slowly with a murderous rhythm.

The Fused lunged forward and struck, catching Lyn in the shoulder. She grimaced with pain, but getting hit gave her the reach she needed to summon Euri as a shardblade, and she sliced the shanay-im through the neck.

Red eyes turned black, and the body trailed a line of smoke as he fell down into the clouds. Lyn spared a moment for the singer body that was sacrificed, then breathed in more Stormlight to make up for the Light she lost to heal her shoulder. She looked around her for signs of a figure among the clouds.

Where is she?

Lyn's stomach churned. She tried not to think about why the Fused came for her. Maybe he’d just gotten disoriented in the storm.

"Euri, can you look for Laran?" she asked, trying not to sound shaky.

Her spren sped downwards as a streak of light, and Lyn realized the black clouds had given way to grey. The Everstorm had passed, and a gentle rainshower was following.

Hovering above the clouds, Lyn looked side to side. Not down. She couldn't bear to look down yet.

I am the Knight. I was in charge. I should’ve insisted on taking the duel myself.

I should’ve protected her.

I should’ve…

I should’ve…

After a few minutes' searching, she accepted that Laran wouldn’t be joining her above the clouds; so, Lyn and her heart sank into them.

These weren't the usual black icy clouds of a highstorm, the ones that threatened to drown you with waves of shocking rain. These were grey upon grey, layers of damp cloud that were still somehow impossible to see through. The rain was surprisingly warm and drizzly, slowly soaking her through, the dew on her face hiding her worried tears. Soon Lyn descencded below the clouds, and she gritted her teeth, committing to look at the ground.

She saw a body lying among the undersized rockbuds, almost lost under masses of eager, thirsty vines. Lyn floated closer, a knot in her chest. She blinked rapidly to clear her vision, and realized it was the body of the Fused she had defeated, broken and abandoned.

A streak of blue. "Incoming!" Euri yelled from above, and joined Lyn, spinning around her in close circles.

Lyn looked up to find that even the gentle rainshower had broken. The late afternoon sun shone into her eyes. Shielding them with a hand, she saw a silhouette approaching, tall and willowy, a spear on each side.

It was her. It was her. It was her!

"LARAN!" Lyn cried, and flew almost as fast as Euri, who burst around her in ecstatic swirls.

"Lyn! Thank all the Heralds you're okay!" Laran's voice was strong, clear, and full of joy.

Nothing mattered more than Laran is safe! Lyn threw her arms around Laran's neck and held her tight, laughing and sobbing.

"Laran, Laran," she whispered into her uniform, and squeezed her harder.

Lyn heard the clattering of wooden poles on stone, and then strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her in even closer.

For a blissful moment, it was just them and the sky, the sun warming Lyn's head, and Laran's arms warming her body.

"I see you got the enemy," Laran said casually. She pushed Lyn backwards, holding her by the forearms. Now Lyn could see her face, spattered with red blood and violet ichor, her wet hair sticking to her cheeks. Her expression was calm, but confused. "Are we…celebrating?"

Oh storms, Lyn had been jerking her around. No wonder she was confused. Why did I wait?

"Laran I'm so sorry," she said roughly, emotion threatening to choke her words. "I should've told you a while ago. I, um…" She tried to lay out her worries. "I really want to court you, Laran. I know it's really new, and it's really soon, but…"

Laran laughed and pulled her back into a hug. "Soon for you, maybe,” she said, and Lyn could feel that Laran was lashing herself against Lyn’s body, which started floating backwards. “I thought I'd lost my chance when you started courting the Highmarshal. Kind of hard to compete."

Lyn counter lashed, matching the pressure into a crushing hug. "He…he was never happier than when he was one with the sky,” she said into Laran’s ear. She swallowed. "I think…I'd never be happier if I was one with you."

"You're serious." Laran laughed, clapped her rain-soaked back, laughed again and hugged her close. "I thought so! I knew you liked me. There's only one kind of woman that gets flustered by a safehand."

Laughterspren erupted around them as Lyn joined Laran, overflowing with the idea that she hadn't lost her chance, that Laran was alive and here and they were together.

She cancelled her lashing and leaned back, taking in Laran’s bright smile, outshining the sun behind her. Lyn breathed it all in, the smell of wet leather and fresh rockbuds punctuated by moldy ichor. She heard the rushing of water somewhere below. She felt the heavy dampness slowly turning warm, lifting off her skin and swirling joyfully in the afternoon light. She saw Laran’s gorgeous dark violet eyes, gazing meaningfully at her.

Her heart swelled in a way that only a kiss could release, and she finally gave in. Laran held her face with both hands, and met her kiss with an urgent enthusiasm. Lyn’s eyes fell closed and she relaxed, letting Laran guide her into the bliss of sharing Stormlight as their breath mingled. For a few seconds or a few minutes, all Lyn knew was Laran’s chapped lips, her soft ‘mmm’s and ‘yum’s as their mouths met over and over in overlapping rhythms of passion and happiness. “Are you sure you’re Alethi?” Lyn asked when they finally parted. “Because I’m pretty sure we just took mateform together.”

“I’m sure. Besides, Rlain never said anything about how beautiful the mate was,” Laran said, brushing some wayward hair out of Lyn’s face.

“Well he was never lucky enough to have you as a mate.” Lyn paused. “Will you? Will you have me?”

“What, right here in front of the rockbuds?” Laran said with mock surprise. She reached her hands down and tried to grab Lyn’s ass through her uniform.

Lyn yelped and squirmed in response, giggling herself silly even though really the uniform was too thick for a proper grab.

There was a place she could get one, though…

“We should finish this mission quick, so we can get back home and, you know, clean up,” she said with an eyebrow waggle. "After all, we are all cold and wet."

Laran grinned. “That sounds like a great excuse to get warm and wet.”

Euri giggled.

First, they had a sombre task--they had to deal with the Fused’s discarded body. After a brief discussion of how to dispose of it properly (listeners leave their bodies alone, but this singer wasn’t a listener. Had they been Alethi? But the two Windrunners didn’t have the materials or time to burn it either), they lashed it and carried it into a chasm at the edge of the Shattered Plains, where it was taken away by the rushing stormwater. Somehow, even the burial by water hadn’t weighed heavy on Lyn’s heart. She'd laid other burdens to rest in that chasm, too, talking through her worries with Laran.

With the long lost singer, and with Kaladin, she’d done what little she could. Now, on the other side of the storm, that thought gave her a measure of peace. She could move on.

They took to the air, and this time they flew freehand in safehand.

Lyn laughed as the wind buffeted them upwards. Laran lashed them harder, faster, racing the windspren to Narak, and they smiled like idiots at each other the whole way. I can be happy, Lyn thought, her heart as light as a sunbeam. I’m allowed to be happy. Flying above the clouds with the woman she loved, Lyn felt like she was breathing freely for the first time in a long time.