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Little could lift Tailtiu's spirit as she laid on her bed, eyes staring listlessly at the ceiling. It was not like her to shut herself inside her room all day like this, and her behaviour likely had roused some worry from her compatriots, but she cared not. The only thing she could think about these days was Father Claud – and that pesky woman that had stolen him away.
She didn't want to accept it, but there was no denying the way he looked at that woman – yes, Tailtiu had lost her chance with the man she'd risked everything for. She didn't want to come off as entitled, but by the gods, if it didn't hurt being so easily replaced.
At times like these, she wished she'd learned the art of healing instead of thunder magic. But she suspected that even those with Bragi blood were not skilled enough to mend a broken heart.
Before she could suppress another sob, there was a sudden knock on the door. At first, she thought of ignoring it. But as the knocks continued, loudly might she add, she found just enough energy in her annoyance to rush to the door and swing it open.
- WHAT?! She exclaimed. - Can't you just leave me alo---
She was interrupted when a strong arm swept her into the hallway. She may have protested, had she not recognized her solicitor.
- Took you long enough, said Lex, a childhood friend of Azelle's and by that merit a sort of friend of Tailtiu's too. - That's enough of brooding, I think. Time you go get some fresh air.
- Lex, I'm not in the mood, Tailtiu huffed. - Just let me go back to my room!
A quirk of Lex's eyebrow was all the warning she got, before being scooped up in Lex's arms and thrown over his shoulder.
- Whu---?! LEX!! Tailtiu shrieked. She wasn't sure if she should be impressed or terrified at how easily he'd managed to pick her up. - What do you think you're doing?!
- Stubborn as always, aren't you? Well, too bad, I know you too well to quit so easily, Lex replied. - I've got something to show you, and I ain't leaving till you do.
- But...!
- Look, I've got a whole thing planned out, so I'll make you wager. If I can't have you smiling within the hour, you're free to leave. Heck, fry me with some of that lightning of yours for all I care. But until then, you gotta at least give me the chance, alright?
There was a strange conviction in Lex's voice Tailtiu'd never heard before. She'd only ever seen the brash and carefree side of him, which she didn't mind for the record, but for him to sound so serious... Tailitu ceased her protesting, and allowed Lex to carry her outside. She supposed that after all these years of friendship, an hour of her time wasn't too much to ask for.
It was the beginning of December, and the winter was already far fiercer in Silesse than anything Tailtiu had experienced back home. There was a heavy blanket of snow everywhere, illuminating the night and making it easy to see ahead as they marched through the snow. The furs did their job in keeping them warm, but Tailtiu had to wonder where Lex was taking them. To her, it looked like they were just walking out in the open in the middle of nowhere.
After a while, they reached the top of a small hill, when suddenly, Lex told her to stop.
- Wait here. I'll be right back, he said. Although it was dark, Tailtiu swore she could see excitement in his eyes. - Keep looking at the sky that way, alright? Oh, and just in case, try covering your ears.
Before Tailtiu could ask, Lex had already ran ahead. Confused, Tailtiu turned to look at the sky. The stars were out tonight, without a single cloud to obstruct them. Had Lex taken her stargazing? Tailtiu frowned. A sweet gesture, she supposed, but there was nothing there she couldn't see on any other night from the castle. And why had he asked her to cover her---?
Suddenly, a whistling sound broke through the still night, and Tailtiu's eyes were drawn to a spark of light that traversed at high speed through the air and towards the heavens. And just as that spark had become just another among the stars, it exploded with a mighty sound, causing Tailtiu to yelp in fright, before her eyes widened in awe as a myriad of fiery lights erupted in the sky. Another whistle through the air heralded the coming of another, as the night sky was suddenly alight as bright as day with a fantastical array of red, orange, and yellow sparks. It was unlike anything she'd seen before, like flowers of pure light blooming in the sky, and all she could do was watch absolutely spellbound.
When the show ceased, she blinked as her eyes struggled to readjust to the darkness, but she did see well enough to spot Lex's figure down the foot of the hill. She dashed towards him, practically stumbling into him in her excitement.
- Lex! What on earth was that?! She asked, barely containing herself. - Ohmigosh, that was... I've never seen anything so pretty before...!
- You liked my surprise, then? He asked, grinning. He then waved his hand at the small tubes propped against the snow. - These are called 'fireworks'! I got them from some merchant that was in Sailane a while back. Had to slum it in the arena for days, but man, was it worth it or what?!
- You... What? Tailtiu looked at him stunned. - Wait, Lex, how much did this...?
- Ah... Lex scratched his neck. - Don't worry about it, it's nothing really. More importantly...
He brought his hand up to her face. His glove smelled like leather and burned sulfur, and his touch was surprisingly gentle as he laid his hand over her cheek.
- You're smiling, Lex said, and chuckled. - Looks like I won our wager, girl.
A little childishly, Tailtiu felt her own face. It was true. Her face was almost aching from just how wide she was grinning. She hadn't smiled this wide for a very long time.
The same went for Lex, come to think of it. Even if he was always smiling, there was something different about it now, the mirth, the tenderness... So different from the haughty boy she remembered from her childhood. The way he was looking at her now, had him looking downright gallant.
Before she could think about it more, Lex had withdrawn his hand, instead pointing at the fireworks still left unignited.
- Here, did you want to try lighting up a few? Come, I'll show you how! The night's still young after all.
With an excited grin, she nodded, and soon after the sky was alight once more. Tailtiu stood by Lex's side, laughing and gasping in delight together with him as each of the fireworks would explode in their own unique patterns and turn the canvas of the night sky into their masterpiece. And with every burst of light, Tailtiu felt her soul growing lighter, too.
And by the end of the night, once the fireworks had died out and left behind only the distant glow of the stars... As Tailtiu snuggled closer against Lex's arm, she knew the warmth on her cheeks was not just from excitement.
Despite not being a mage, Lex was still capable of magic of his own.