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“Gale?” A soft voice pulls the Wizard from his tome. He looks from his desk to Aredhel, who is tucked up with a book on their shared bed. They had settled comfortably into the Elfsong Tavern, thankful to be sleeping in real beds after so many nights on the road. Gale twists a little and smiles at her.
“Yes, my love?” His smile wavers a little at the way that Aredhel’s brows pinch gently. She’s curled up on her side, peering at him over the top of her book.
“Oh – um –“ She pauses for several moments. “Ah – Never mind.” She finishes with an awkward laugh before her eyes quickly go back to her book. Gale’s brow shoot up before creasing in confusing.
“Love?” He calls, now turned full towards her in his seat.
“Really, it’s nothing. Truly!” He notices the flush of the tips of her ears and the way her thin fingers grip the book tighter. Well, now Gale was intrigued, and a hair worried. He places the tome down onto the desk before rising from the chair and making his way to the bed.
“It doesn’t seem like nothing.” He offers gently before sitting down next to her on the edge of the bed. Aredhel scrunches up and tucks her face into her book.
“I said nothing was wrong.” She mumbles.
“And I sense that my lovely Aredhel is lying to me.” Gale coaxes gently, running the backs of his fingers over her arm.
“Lying is a strong word.” Hesitant green eyes peer up at him. She then sighs and places the now-closed book next to her. She then moves to sit up, not quite meeting his gaze. Gale watches as her hand comes to gently take his.
“What’s going on in this beautiful head of yours?” Gale asks softly, running his fingers through the front of the elf’s hair. Aredhel’s eyes flutter closed at his touch, leaning her head into his hand. Her eyes then open, and she looks up at him.
“Am – mm…” Aredhel struggles to form her words. “Am I...doing enough?” Here face flushes in shame hearing her own question, and her eyes dart down to somewhere around his collar bone. Gale’s brows shoot up, taken aback by the question. Once it sinks in, the heavier meaning behind her words hit him.
Am I enough?
Gale makes a soft noise before gently taking her face in his hands. “Aredhel.” He starts. Hesitant green eyes slowly catch warm chocolate. “Of course you are. You’re more than enough. You’re perfect.” He swipes his thumb over her cheek bone. “You’ve accepted me from the very beginning. Where you could have shown me disgust, you’ve given me warmth and love. You’ve trusted me when you should have rightfully been furious. You pulled this lost wizard out of a crystal, listened to me tell you about a literal bomb in my chest, and your first concern was to try and heal me. Not get rid of me, but to help me.” Gale rubs his thumb underneath the soft skin of her eye, and she smiles gently. “I love you. You’ve done everything for me while never asking for anything in return.”
“ – okay.” Aredhel whispers, fingers wrapping gently around his wrist before placing a soft kiss to his palm. Gale leans in to place a kiss to her forehead.
“Did something happen?” As he pulls back. He watches Aredhel’s lips twitch, a quirk that he’s noticed when she’s struggling to find her words.
“That’s a fairly loaded question.” She laughs softly. “Finding the statue of your goddess-ex lovers and all of that…she’s very beautiful.” Gale huffs at her words.
“So are you.” He interjects. “You know what you do that she never did? You hold me after a nightmare. You sit with me a listen to me prattle on while I cook. You collect rocks that you think that I would like. You notice when I need you. You never make me feel small or weak for my burdens.” Gale stares into her eyes. “You do more than enough. And you are utterly everything to me. You precious, wonderful woman.” He kisses the tip of her nose. “I dare say that you do too much and that you care too much of others, and too little of yourself.” He pulls back and grins. Aredhel echoes his smile.
“Okay….i’m sorry.”
“Never. Always tell me when you’re upset.” He leans forward a little, ghosting his lips to hers teasingly. “All right?” He feels her faint giggle against his lips.
“Okay.” She leans forward to bring him into a proper kiss.