Chapter Text
Raine’s mouth hung ajar, one foot glued to the ground, the other knee starting to shake under their weight. They could not believe the words coming from Eda’s mouth. Sure they were always the worrying type, always over analyzing things that should be plain to see and understand. But this was a little too far beyond comprehension and Raine was already flustered from the start.
“I’m sorry Rainestorm, I was young and… and I thought I loved him,” Eda explained.
Raine felt a pit growing in their gut. They felt wobbly kneeling like this, painfully unaware that they could just stand or sit normally at this point. Their proposal was a disaster.
“But I’ve always loved you more, I just… after what happened on the, this hill. I pushed you away and I thought you’d never want to see me again. And Stan it was just, it was supposed to be a spring fling. But he saw right through me, I even caught him writing about me in his journal. I should have been angry but in a way I felt flattered.”
Raine wrung their hands to try and soothe over their disbelief. They knew Eda could travel to the human realm, but never imagined her falling for a human. Especially before they became close with Luz.
Eda saw the growing worry on Raine’s face and stooped down to hold it between her clawed hands. Up close Raine could see feathers peeking out from beneath the collar of her dress. Eda was nervous too.
“It’s not a no honey. Of course I will marry you, I just need to sort this out first.”
Raine’s shoulders relaxed and they tilted their hand into Eda’s palm and kissed it.
“You had me worried for a second there.”
“Sorry I was just shocked is all. Not at us getting married, just the memory that I’ve done this before and never officially ended that one on paper.”
“Does it even matter on the Boiling Isles? You’re married in the Human Realm, not here.”
“Titan I wish. Now that our people have made official contact and so many people are traveling back and forth there's been a hell of a lot of regulations put in place. Gus told me all about it one morning. Though I only got bits and pieces, I don’t think he noticed that I may have overdone it with the Apple Blood the night before.”
“Don’t worry Raine, I’ll have this fixed in no time. And then we can celebrate! I love you.”
“I love you too Eda.”
Raine stood to get up and heard a thud on the ground.
“Oh right, I completely forgot about-”
“Oh my Titan!” Eda’s pupils widened and sparkled with delight as Raine scooped the box from the red grass and opened it to reveal a golden ring embossed with tiny grooves circling an orange oval jewel which gleamed and twinkled in the sunlight and almost seemed to emit a sunlight of its own.
“It’s actually from the Human realm, I think it's called a fire opal. It reminded me of your dress and your stone. And when I heard the name it struck me as very you.”
“I’m fiery,” Eda smirked, her eyes flashing owl-like for a split second.
Raine blushed and handed her the ring box. She delicately placed it on her ring finger and examined it close.
“So how do I make it light on fire?”
“Oh no it doesn’t-! Careful it's a soft gem!”
Eda poked and prodded the jewel, careful not to scratch it with her talons.
“Hmm maybe if I…”
She took King’s new fire glyph from her pocket and smacked it on the ring. It erupted in a pillar of flames, far larger than a glyph the size of her palm should produce, causing both witches to step back.
“Wow, it actually worked,” Raine exclaimed in awe, their face illuminated by the firelight. It was about dusk by now so the light of the sunset mixed with the fire made Raine’s skin glow golden and warm. Eda was enraptured by the sight of them so bright upon the hill. But she also felt a shadow of guilt crawl over her. It made her shiver despite the warmth of the flame. Once it dissipated she embraced Raine in her arms, wings sprouting from her back to engulf her fiance in feathers.
“I will make this right for you. I promise.”