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It had been a long day, one that lasted into the night. The candlelight had died a while ago and the halls of Aretuza had finally quieted. The conclave had been quite a hit, but now it was over and Triss Merigold couldn't be happier.
She had never been one for formal affairs and crowds of people. The redhead was always more content wandering in the woods. She'd breathed a sigh of relief when her begging eyes met Tissaia's and the rectoress had given her permission to leave with a simple nod and a tiny smile.
Now Triss was finally in her quarters, comfy under her blankets. A few small candles burned in the room, illuminating the space enough for her to read the leather bound book in her lap. She was in charge of a lesson tomorrow for the novices and wanted to read up on the subject. Of course, Triss had taught this lesson dozens of times since becoming an instructor at Aretuza. Still, she had her standards and worked hard to meet them.
A slow blink had her head drooping with the lateness of the hour and she started awake in her bed. A tiny jab of adrenaline had her heart beat spike for a second. Sitting up taller against the headboard, Triss lifted the book in front of her face hoping the extra effort would keep her alert.
Just as she was about to give up on the endeavor, a soft knock sounded at the door. Triss knit her brow and wondered who it could be until she sensed the familiar presence on the other side.
Her expression mellowed and she quietly said, "Come in."
The door cracked slowly, revealing golden hair and sharp hazel eyes. Sabrina Glevissig pushed the door open with her elbow and Triss's look further melted. The woman was holding two cups of tea in her hands, dressed in her bed clothes with a thin robe around her, free of makeup, and hair tied up. Steam wafted from each porcelain cup and the sight warmed Triss's heart.
Then, Sabrina's lips parted and she looked a little shy, a strange look on someone so bold. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't think you'd already be in bed."
"It's alright." Triss smiled gently.
"I thought you'd be studying," Sabrina further explained as if she might have done something wrong.
Triss patted the spot on the bed next to her. "I'm trying, but I keep falling asleep."
"Ah," Sabrina breathed, coming into the room and closing the door behind her. "Well, then maybe this will help."
She reached across the bed to hand Triss a warm cup. The scent of elderberry tea filled her nose and she was grateful for the boost, and the company. Gingerly, Sabrina sat next to her, leaning back against the headboard. Triss took a sip of the tea and let out a long sigh allowing her head to drop back.
"Thank you," she whispered. She turned her head slightly to meet Sabrina's gaze. "You looked beautiful tonight."
Sabrina hummed. She moved to lightly slip the back of fingers at Triss's cheekbone. "Nothing compared to you, my fire haired beauty."
Triss glanced away bashfully. Sabrina complimented her constantly. It seemed over the top, but she couldn't deny she loved it. But then Sabrina's fingers brushed her shoulder as she withdrew her hand and Triss was immediately self conscious.
She remembered the thin straps of her nightgown and realized her burn scars were completely visible. Clearing her throat, Triss tugged at the strap, trying to pull the garment up to cover at least a little of the scars. Sabrina caught her hand.
"No one cares about those scars but you," Sabrina said quietly.
Unable to quite look at her, Triss simply replied, "But I do care about them."
Sabrina looked at her sympathetically but released her hand. The scars from Sodden Hill never fully healed, despite the best efforts of some of Aretuza's most powerful healers. Even Tissaia had given it her all, searching and stretching her own magic to clear the scarring. But they could only do so much.
The scars still spread across her chest and shoulder. They were deep in some places and the nerves still hurt on occasion. But Triss wouldn't trade her role at Sodden for the world. She'd helped to hold the line and a part of her was proud of the scars. Though another part always felt like people were looking at them.
Sabrina let it go. She always did and Triss was thankful for that. There weren't many of them left, the survivors of Sodden Hill. She and Sabrina had grown close in the aftermath. They'd both suffered that day. Triss didn't think Sabrina would ever get over the guilt of what she'd done under the influence of an evil magic.
They were bonded by that experience. Both fighting as hard as they could and wishing they'd done more. Both had their nightmares about the battle. That was how it happened, how they came together. Triss's nightmares had grown severe enough to be felt telepathically. Sabrina had been awakened by it one night. Rushing to Triss's quarters, she'd whispered gently to her, hands transferring a tranquility spell until the redhead had been able to sleep. They'd awoken the next morning in each other's arms.
Things moved slowly between them after that. They were both so broken, neither feeling they had much to offer the other. But they couldn't deny the healing that each received from the other's presence.
"I can't believe we danced together in front of everyone," Sabrina said, grinning.
Triss chuckled and took another sip of her tea. "You mean when you forced me onto the dance floor?"
Sabrina laughed lightly. "You liked it."
Triss looked at her. Sabrina was beautiful. They were all beautiful after their transformation ceremony, but Sabrina… she was next level gorgeous. Triss couldn't help being drawn to her.
Smile fading, Triss became serious. "I did like it."
Then Sabrina's look followed suit. There were times like this, times when it was just them and all of Sabrina's pretense fell away. She was always cocky and self assured, looking down on everyone else. But Triss knew the truth. That was all a mask. It was a front designed to throw people off kilter. She wasn't like that with Triss. They'd been through too much together.
Sabrina scooted closer and Triss felt her heart skip a beat. She wanted the blond to kiss her. With all the activity around Aretuza lately, they hadn't been able to be together in too long.
As if reading her thoughts, Sabrina leaned in. Their lips met gently. Despite the lightness of it, Triss felt it down to her toes. She slipped a hand to Sabrina's cheek and kissed her again, more solidly. It felt so right when they were like this. Sabrina snuggled against her and the two women sipped their tea a little bit.
"How do you think it went tonight?" Triss asked.
Sabrina huffed, not responding for a moment, thinking. Then she asked, "Does it even matter anymore?" She swallowed thickly and Triss could feel her discouragement. "Even if this gamble works, what then? We unite and Nilfgaard still wins eventually. Feels like putting off the inevitable. You know how I feel." She looked at Triss. "We should be preparing for what happens after the war. We can no longer stop it from coming."
Triss nodded slowly. Sabrina had strong feelings about the war, ever since Sodden. She slipped her hand to interlace their fingers and felt her companion relax.
Sabrina sighed. "Sorry."
"It's alright." She wanted to say something to make the blond feel better. There was a cloud of stress over her. "Besides, I was talking about Geralt."
Sabrina indeed laughed aloud at that. She looked at Triss happily, thankful for the distraction. "He is certainly as handsome as you said."
"Hmm," Triss hummed. "I saw you flirting."
"Don't be ridiculous." Sabrina took another drink of her tea. "I did have my fun with him though." She squeezed Triss's hand. "Jealous?"
Triss glanced at Sabrina with a tilt of her head. "No." She pulled her hand away only to lift it to the blond's sharp jawline. "I know your heart is true. I have no reason to be jealous."
Sabrina gave her a tiny smile, a sincere one that not many people got to see. She shifted to pull the thick book from Triss's lap and pushed it to the foot of the bed so she could properly cuddle with her. Nuzzling into the redhead, a leg hooked over Triss's, Sabrina lay her head at the woman's shoulder.
Triss grinned against her hairline. She was falling in love with Sabrina. First it was only comfort, now it was something much deeper. Dependency, but not in a bad way. In the way when you know you can count on someone like you can't count on anyone else. When you know that person will always be there, and you'll always be there for them. When you want only them in your time of need, but you also want them all the other times.
She wrapped her arms around Sabrina and lightly asked, "What about the way Yennefer and Tissaia were fawning all over each other?"
Without hesitation, the blonde replied, "I wish they'd just fuck already."
Triss chuckled loudly while Sabrina giggled against her. The laughter had them settling further into one another. Eventually, Sabrina slid the large book off the bed. It fell to the floor with a thud.
Triss groaned. "I need to study."
"No you don't." Sabrina sat upright again. "You know those lessons backward and forward."
Triss cocked an eyebrow. "You've got something else in mind?"
Sabrina looked at her mischievously. "I do."
She stood up from the bed, looking at Triss intently. Slowly, she reached both hands to the knot of her robe. Pulling at it until it came apart, she took the garment off, letting it slide seductively down her toned arms. Triss's lips parted as she watched. Then, Sabrina made her way around the room, blowing out one candle at a time, each time making pointed eye contact with Triss. The redhead began to feel a thin layer of sweat forming at her brow.
Finally, all the lights were out and there was only the smallest silvery illumination from the moonlight at the window. Sabrina made her way over to the bed. Like a lioness stalking, she crawled up the bed and along the length of Triss's legs until they were face to face.
Then, Sabrina did something unexpected. She lightly kissed Triss's lips before coming to lay on the bed beside her.
"You need to get some rest," she breathed out as she settled into the mattress. "Mind if I stay here tonight?"
Triss stared at her, mouth agape. The sensations in her belly began to cool as she watched her lover lying peacefully, a small smirk on her lips. Triss shook her head slightly and slipped down to lay next to her.
"Tease."
Sabrina smiled and her eyes closed. "I'll have my fun with you, too."
"Indeed," Triss whispered. She leaned down to kiss Sabrina's temple, lips lingering, nose nuzzled at her soft hair. "Goodnight, darling."
Sabrina only hummed, already at the edge of consciousness. Triss was on her side, facing the woman, watching as the muscles of her features relaxed and her tight fingers slowly splayed across the sheets as she drifted off. Triss moved closer and took Sabrina's hand.
Once she was confident the woman was asleep, she said, barely above a whisper, a sure, "I love you."
Only then did her own eyes finally close and both women were lost to much needed sleep.