Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sitting on the edge of her bed, clunking her feet together, Commander Mio Sarovei’s gaze turned from the window to the figure hidden behind the privacy screen in front of the closet. “How did you do that? During the duel, skate on the mist like that?”

Lieutenant Soledad de la Sombra’s head peeked around the edge of the screen, her face unable to contain her grin, her purple eyes bright but giving away nothing. “How did you become a cat?”

Mio puffed out her chest, hints of pride in her voice. “I was a tressym.”

“That’s so much better,” Solei said as she ducked back behind the screen, the faint shadow moving back and forth, tossing dress after dress after pair of trousers. “If I could be an animal I’d be something that could fly. Have you seen the girl from the Coven, one of Alum’s sisters? Hers is all different colours.”

Even though she couldn’t see, Mio nodded in agreement. The Coven lady’s tressym was pretty cool. Having a companion on super secret stealthy missions sounded like a great idea.

Walking out from behind the screen in a set of clothes very similar to Mio’s own, Solei looked at herself in a nearby full length mirror. “Why do I need to try on your clothes again?”

“Sometimes on dangerous missions you need disguises at the ready.” Mio stood up to stand next to her, the two in the mirror’s reflection looking like an almost matching set of bookends. “What if they were expecting me and saw someone without the same hair? Then they’d drop their guard around you. Too bad we don’t have any wigs.”

“And then we strike!”

“No. Well, maybe. It depends.” A frown came over the slightly older girl’s face, bunching up between her dark brows.

The two were wearing almost the exact same outfit, the cream blouse and the red scarf, the matching red trousers instead of Mio’s skirt (she’d grown another inch over the past few weeks and the trousers were getting a little too short for her).

Looking at their reflections side by side, Mio thought Soledad looked crisp and clean, her black hair pulled back in a shiny braid, the sleeves turned up in crisp folds, the trousers lying straight down her legs.

She looked like a professional. Like a Votive.

And Mio… looked like Mio.

A deep, dark knot formed in her chest. “Why do you look better in my clothes than I do?”

Eyes wide, Soledad grabbed hold of Mio’s hands, clasping them close. “No I don’t! It’s only because I’m the lieutenant and you’re the commander. Of course the commander’s clothes would be better.”

Mio wasn’t so sure about that.

Soledad scampered off behind the screen and returned with her arms full of a deep purple dress. “I brought some of my clothes, too! The Sovereign’s got me a bunch of new dresses but I’m not tall enough for all of them yet.”

Still a little crabby in her feelings, Mio silently took the dress and headed behind the privacy screen to change.

The dress was a little big, but it meant Mio could do up the buttons on the back and then pull it on over her head instead of asking for help.

Walking out in the amethyst-coloured dress, Mio stopped in front of the mirror. Solei had pulled over the little footstool by the bed and stood on it just behind her, smoothing the girl’s dark green hair behind her ears and clipping a clear crystal hairclip. “See? I knew you’d look really good in this. It goes great with your hair. What do you think?”

This time, Mio didn’t see Mio in the mirror.

It was almost like a fancy ballgown, the hem just brushing against the floor, but the skirt wasn’t as floofy (and Mio wasn’t wearing any shoes right then). The fabric was so soft, her hands just gliding over it. The sleeves were long, ending in sharp points at the backs of her hands. It was nice that the neckline was a little low and square, it meant the lace at the edge wasn’t poking her in the neck the way her scarf sometimes did. And the shoulders weren’t those ugly puffball shoulders some fancy ladies had on their dresses.

Reaching into the dress’s pocket, she pulled out and slipped on a pair of sunglasses.

This time, Mio saw The Commander.

Chapter Text

There was a cat on her bed.

It wasn’t a real cat, thank the Gods, but it was a cat and it was on her bed.

And there across the double room, peeking over her upside-down textbook from her giant beanbag chair, failing to hide her snickers, was the reason for the cat on her bed.

Closing the door with a quiet click, Aelys set her backpack down on her desk and glared across the small space.

In response, a small squeak escaped from her blue-haired sunshine-personality menace of a roommate as she pulled the textbook up to hide her entire face.

Why why why, why did I miss checking off the ‘Single Room Only’ box on the Student Housing submission form?

It was better than being stuck at home, everything was better than being stuck with her mother telling her where to go to college, what to study, what friends to have.

Moving to stand next to her bed, Aelys reached out and poked at the stuffed cat. It was black with white feet and tail tip, covered in a slightly rough scraggly fur that poked out every which way. Its golden eyes were wide like saucers, the whiskers were all jagged like lightning bolts, and it was somehow sitting tall and upright like one of those dolls with a weighted bag in the bottom.

It was thin and scruffy with big big eyes.

It looked like a cat that had been left out in the rain for a week.

Giving it another poke with her finger, Aelys side-long glanced over at the person still hiding behind her textbook. “There’s a cat on my bed.”

“There sure is, Aelys!” Getting up from her beanbag with an artistic flounce, tossing the textbook off to the side, Synnove reached over to pick up the stuffed cat. “Isn’t it cute?”

“It looks like a drowned rat.”

“No! It’s super cute! I was having lunch with JB today, I told you about him, we met on the train down to campus before the semester started. You should meet him, I think you two would really get along. Anyways, we were having lunch and he said he had to stop at the campus bookstore and pick up some notebooks for one of his roommates. He lives in a house off campus with about 3 or 4 other people and one of them is a big science nerd, he always needs more notebooks, apparently. So we went to the bookstore and I saw this in the window.” She brought up the cat next to her face, rubbing it against her cheek and grinning at Aelys. “I just had to get it.”

Aelys struggled to keep the skepticism out of her voice. “You just had to get it.”

“Of course I did, sugar, because it reminded me so much of you.” Synnove moved the cat in front of her face and started to pantomime it at Aelys, speaking in a squeaky scratchy version of Aelys’ accent. “Oh hello, I’m kitty Aelys! I’m a sassy princess grumpy grump who wears a lot of black and badgers her roommate into doing her assignments, but I also share my lecture notes because the professor mumbles like a drunken gremlin and I read romance novels late at night when I think Synnove is sleeping so she doesn’t see what I’m reading.”

“Oh, really.” Aelys narrowed her eyes at her chaotic sunshine roommate so hard she might as well have been throwing daggers at her in an attempt to pin her to the wall, but all it did was make Synnove grin wider. “I was going to tell you I saw the dining hall unload a bunch of extra slab cakes from a failed pep rally, but I imagine you’d rather hang out with kitty Aelys and talk about all the other times you’ve invaded my privacy.”

“Cake! Oh, no, Aelys, let’s go get cake!” Tossing the cat back onto Aelys’ bed, Synnove reaches for her room keys and a sweater before doing a ‘hopping into her shoes’ dance by the door. “Let's snatch up a whole one and come back and watch movies. Like that one with the blue tiger!”

Making sure she couldn’t see from the door, Aelys gave the cat’s head a little pat before turning around, following Synnove down the hall. “You should really finish your assignments first, Synnove.”

“Oh pffft, there’s always time to do assignments, sugar.”

“It’s due tomorrow morning.”

“Shhhhhhhhhhhh, person kitty Aelys,” Synnove whispered, holding up a finger to her lips. “Cake.”

Chapter Text

Most evenings in the Imperial palace are rather quiet, the occasional soft footsteps of an attendant or muffled yawn of a housemaid peppering the silent halls. Some are left completely silent, not even the skitter of a mouse or pounce of a chasing cat to be heard.

And some nights are left to the restless roaming of the empress’s niece.

She can’t be found roaming the shadowed hallways every night, but on the ones they can she follows a rather predictable path. From their rooms, down the hall to the left, past those of other members of the royal family, another left, a right, a left, past the main staircase, an occasional stop in the library, down and down and down some stairs past the kitchens. Up another set of stairs, down a long corridor of tall windows looking out at the expansive back gardens, past a smaller library, then back to where she began.

But this night, with the moon hanging high over the Imperium, is unlike any other.
Because Caska Sarovei is not the only figure wandering the palace hallway this fine evening.

And when the two collide at a corner it’s with soft gasps and muffled apologies, shoulder against shoulder, knee against knee, almost forehead to forehead. Hands grasping just above elbows to keep the both of them from tumbling to the floor.

Reflex has Caska grabbing hold of the strangers’ arms, her slippered foot brushing against theirs as she tries to steady herself. “Oh, my apologies. I didn’t realize someone was there.”

The voice that replies is slightly rougher, deeper than theirs, and comes from a person slightly taller. “Neither did I, I’m so sorry.”

“No, it’s quite alright.” He sounds male but not too much older than herself, and more than a little nervous. “You can let go. I can assure you, I’m no longer at risk of falling.”

“Of course, right,” he says, his hands dropping away. “The nights are getting chilly again, I imagine they were cold.”

Anything but. “They were quite warm, actually.” She could only catch glimpses of him in the dark of the hallway, the swoosh of light-coloured hair, the way his eyes flicked around before dropping to his hands. “I’m Caska, by the way. What’s your name?”

“Lücan. Lücan Serenel.” The addition of his last name and the sudden straightness of his spine made her a little sad. “I’m a guest of Colonel Urso’s, I suppose.”

Caska had faintly overheard something during the day about Monty returning with someone, but then she’d moved away or the conversation holders had and that was the end of it. “And you thought, in honour of your first night in the palace, you would wander through empty hallways in the middle of the night instead of resting after your journey here.”

“Not everyone finds the quiet of night to be restful.”

“Hmm.” He wasn’t wrong, and she certainly wasn’t one to say otherwise.

“And yourself?”

“Sometimes I like walking through the empty halls when everyone else is asleep. More space to think in the quiet.”

He nods but she can tell from the look on his face he doesn’t quite agree. “I think I’d rather be doing something than be left in the quiet.”

She watches him in the shadows, sees the twitching in his hands, the nervousness and the uneasiness. But are they the cause or is it the weight of being in the palace? “Do you know how long you’ll be here?”

“I’m not sure, we only just arrived earlier today.”

“Have you been shown around, had all the important locations pointed out to you? I could show you some now.” They take a step back, gesturing behind herself. “It’ll be easier with less people around.”

Her hopes at conversing with him longer are dashed when he declines, politely shaking his head. “It might be, perhaps, but it would be easier to see everything in the daytime. I’m sure Colonel Urso will be showing me around before too long.”

Caska nods, clasping her hands together. “I’m sure he will. Well, I should be getting back to my room, it is rather late. Unless you’ve lost your way and require assistance?”

“I haven’t gone that far, I remember which hallway to head down,” he says, the dark shape of him moving in a bow towards her. “But thank you, my lady.”

Something about him calling her that made their soft, quiet moment turn sour in the back of her throat. “You can just call me Caska.”

“I’m not so sure that’s proper.”

“We’re standing together in an empty hallway in the middle of the night. I imagine by your reasoning that’s not proper, either. And who’s going to tell, the ghost hiding in the shadows?” When their offhand comment makes him look around nervously, she smothers a chuckle with the back of her hand. “There’s no one there, but I understand. Good night, Lücan. Perhaps I’ll see you again during your time here.” She steps back from him, tips her head, and turns to make her way back to her own rooms.

They don’t look back to see if he watches her walk away, but considering the heat she feels between her shoulder blades, they’re sure he is.

Chapter Text

On the first day of their journey westward through the mountains and toward the Lighthouse of Beauty, Synnove asks a question of Katari: “Could I sit with you tonight when we stop for the evening? I know we’ve only been travelling for today but I think it could be relaxing.”

They nod in agreement, watching Synnove prance away to continue walking and catching up with Aelys.

Of course they said yes. They were more surprised by the asking. What did Synnove think they wanted to do when they stopped?

And so when the sun starts to dip behind the skyline and the group picks a spot to camp, Katari takes theirs and Synnove’s things to a flat space about 40 feet away.

Which clearly has Synnove confused when she walks over with two bowls of stew, if the furrowed brow and furtive looks have anything to say about it. “Is something wrong?”

“No. Why would something be wrong?”

“Oh. No reason, sugar.”

The pair eat quietly in their little nest of packs, bedrolls, and blankets, which is pleasant but doesn’t quite feel normal to Katari. Because usually Synnove would jabber on like a magpie during meals instead of eating quietly and periodically scooting more and more into their side.

Tired of the silence between them, Katari sets their bowls aside and pulls Synnove up into their lap, if a little unceremoniously. “Why did you ask if something was wrong?” They needed to be close, it felt like any distance between them would be wrong.

“Ooof, a little warning next time.” Blushing and flustered, Synnove smooths her skirt back over her knees before glancing back at the group. “You set up our things so far from the others.”

“Yes.”

“Why? Is something wrong? Did someone say something weird?”

Someone always says something weird, and it’s comforting for Katari to know that, even with their… time away from the group, they hadn’t cured themselves of blurting out what they were thinking. “Nothing is wrong.”

Synnove huffs, her bottom lip poking out. “Then why are we so far away from the group?”

“But you’re the one who said, Synnove, that when we stop and make camp for the evening you want to sit and relax with me.”

“I know what I said, Katari.” A hot panic shimmers across Synnove’s eyes. “Did you not want to sit with me?”

“Yes, of course I want to sit with you.” Their chilly huff sends Synnove into a full body shiver, has her tugging the blanket around her tighter. “You said you wanted to sit and relax with me. You didn’t mention the others.”

Blue eyebrows shoot up and green eyes twinkle in the dim light. “... oh! Oh, I see.”

A realization comes over Katari in that moment and their head drops to Synnove’s now quite padded shoulder with a thud. “You meant to sit with you while we ate and made camp with the group.”

Soft giggles escape Synnove as she runs her fingers over their blackened horns, through their long white hair. Tucks their bangs back. “I’m sorry, sugar, I should’ve been clearer.”

“No, I am sorry. It’s just…” They pause for a long moment, another, another, before tucking the blankets tighter around Synnove, wrapping their arms tighter around her. “You were specific in your asking but I didn’t realize you meant within the circle of the group.” They lower their head to bury their face in Synnove’s neck, voice dropping to a low murmur. “I don’t know how you wanted to relax, but I would like to relax with you like this. I realized earlier I need to say more things to you. Ask more questions about you and ask you for more things. Tomorrow when we camp we will sit with the others, eat together and share stories. But for tonight I would like to have this, to be over here with you and sleep in your arms.”

Synnove presses her lips to the side of their head and twirls her fingers in their hair. “That sounds very relaxing to me.”

Chapter Text

Racing through the palace halls, pushing open the door to her bedroom and tossing herself onto the bed. Squeezing the pillow to her chest.

I’m home.

~~~~

Running up the stairs chasing after Caska, trying to reach the top before they did, getting caught up in the stair runner and their skirt and their too big shoes. Scraping their knees on the carpet, fighting back the urge to cry. Caska whispering in soothing tones, knuckling away the tears, gently chucking her chin. Pressing a handkerchief to one knee and pressing her lips to the temporary bandage.

I love you.

~~~~

Eating dinner with Caska and Auntie Ron, talking about funny things and sharing stories. Eating delicious food. Getting embarrassed when Caska started telling stories about finding a toy chest full of acorns and walnuts.

Flinging peas across the table with her spoon as Caska cackles and Auntie Ron hides a laugh behind her napkin.

I’m home.

~~~~

Being called into Auntie Ron’s study, which she didn’t usually get to go into but clearly this was important because they weren’t alone. Sitting across the desk from them, seeing Lücan in front of a window looking outside.

Listening to Auntie Ron talk, and it was clearly important because it got her hands to stop twitching, her feet to stop swinging. Her heart to start racing.

Looking over at Lücan at the window, watching him turn to look back at her. Standing so tall, shining sun behind him. Nodding, smiling at her.

Nodding, smiling back.

I can do this.

~~~~

Laughing and racing through meadows, sweeping her arms through tall grasses and flowers. Picking daisies and weaving them into flower crowns. Playing checkers with Caska using pebbles and walnut shells. Trying to play against Lücan and losing every time.

Napping in sun patches, splayed out on the quilt like a star while the two of them walked and whispered under a tree.

Flinging peas at the two of them with her telekinesis.

This is the best time of my life.

~~~~

Pushing the hair from her face, wiping the sweat from her brow. Walking over to the training dummy to pick up the wooden daggers she’d thrown at it.

Lücan off in a corner of the training space watching her, giving her tips and suggestions. Raise her arm up higher, sweep the dagger more horizontally. Stop using her eyes to lead them. Trust her instincts.

Breathing slow, deep breaths.

I will make you proud.

~~~~

Hiding away with them on a tucked away part of the roof, the two of them sitting nearby, leaning back against the wall, against each other’s shoulders. Mio following the path of tiles along the edge, one foot ahead of another. The two of them talking, whispering, laughing, Mio privately smiling to herself as she goes back and forth.

Looking up at the sun beaming down on them and beaming back.

This is where I belong.

Chapter Text

Something was tickling Synnove’s nose.

Refusing to open her eyes, because she didn’t want to wake up, because once she woke up she would have to think and be and not be a magical space princess with blue hair and glittery gold swirls like she was in her dream, she proceeded to scrunch her face and blow and try and wipe it away on her pillow.

tickle tickle Nose scrunch, squirm away. tickle tickle Nose scrunch, roll over.

tickle tickle Nose scrunch.

Heaviest ever sigh of defeat. Farewell, magical space princess.

Rolling over again she opened her eyes only to grin up at her biggest favourite person. “Nor!”

Lenore crouched at the side of the bed, smiling down at her and whispering, “Hi, little bluebird.”

“Hi, Nor.” Synnove brought a finger up to her lips, copying Lenore and quietly giggling. “Why’re you awake? It’s after bedtime.”

Her older sister’s face was soft and smiling, faded pink hair tucked behind her ears. “I know, sweetie.”

“I was dreaming I was a space princess with magic and gold swirlies and lots and lots of friends.”

“That sounds wonderful. You can go back to sleep after but first I need to show you something in the kitchen, okay?”

Synnove frowned, confused. She looked back at Verline and Mirielle, still asleep and somehow curled around each other like puppies, but still took Lenore’s hand and slipped out of bed.

She followed Lenore out to the kitchen, one of her sleep socks lost in the sheets so her footsteps made soft swssh-thwap swssh-thwap sounds on the linoleum.

Climbing up into her chair at the table, Synnove yawned and laid her head down on her curled up arms. “Why’re we sleeping out here, Nor? It’s not soft.”

“Because of this.” Closing the fridge door, Lenore walked over with a plate covered by a little cardboard box. She set the plate down on the table, then whisked away the box. “Ta da!”

Sitting neatly, perfectly, on the plate was a cupcake topped in blue icing with a twirly unicorn candle on top and little sun, moon, and star sprinkles.

Synnove’s eyes went as wide as dinner plates. “Ooooooo! So pretty.”

From the other side of the table, Lenore beamed down at her. “Happy birthday, little bluebird.”

All Synnove could do was look at her, dumbfounded.

Chuckling softly, she moved around the table to her side, reaching out with a disposable lighter to light the candle. “That means it’s all for you.”

“FOR ME?!” Lenore’s eyes went wide and Synnove quickly clapped her hands over her mouth in an attempt to muffle her scream. “For me? Just for me?”

“Of course just for you, silly. It’s your birthday.” Lenore raised her hand up to her face and Synnove thought she looked like a pirate on a ship looking for a treasure island, searching far off into the distance. “I don’t see any other birthday girls here.”

Excitement built up in Synnove like the time Kasamir and Nikola got hold of a big bottle of pop and dumped a pack of mints in it, the foamy bubbles building and building until they burst out of the top straight into the sky. She thought she was going to do that, blast off into the sky. Her heart certainly felt all bubbly and fizzy.

Just for me.

Lenore walked around to stand behind Synnove’s chair, dropping down to rest her head on her shoulder. “Make a wish, bluebird.”

“You too, Nor! Make a wish with me!”

Chapter Text

Stella!

Hi! How are you? I know I haven’t written in so long but I’ve been so busy with classes and homework and more homework and Aelys (I told you about her, she’s my roommate) pestering me to do my homework. I’m doing it, I promise. There’s just so much of it!

Anyways, I had to write because something amazing and wonderful and absolutely humiliating happened today.

So I was rushing to my early afternoon class (no, I wasn’t rushing because I was late, shush your face), looking super cute, clearly, because everyone was watching me. Not because I run like a drunken sailor prancing across a beach. *frowny face drawn in glittery red gel pen

I was racing across the courtyard, looking super epic and cool as always, and when I started rushing up the steps to the lecture hall the heel of my shoe got caught. I started tipping back and forth and squeaked in surprise and got all twisted around and fell backwards all the way down the stairs!

Or I would’ve (I didn’t, I’m ok, I promise) if I hadn’t been saved by the most stunning person I’ve ever seen in my *words scribbled and smudged and maybe damp and dried* years of life.

As I was falling backwards, someone next to me grabbed hold of my wrist, spun me around so my foot slipped out of my shoe, and caught me so I was cradled in their arms.

Stella. It was like all those old black and white movies we had access to back home, the ones we’d copy and pretend to do, the ones with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and all the fancy ballroom dancing.

I was dipped, Stella. And it felt AMAZING.

My heart was just pounding in my chest. I’d lost my big hair clip in the spin and my hair was just everywhere, falling down behind me, over this person’s arm that was around my shoulders with their other one around my waist.

And when I looked up at their face I saw the most gorgeous person I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

Long white hair tied back in a long braid, red eyes shining bright like fire coals, with strong arms and huge muscles. And tattoos! So many tattoos. They smelled like a fresh snowfall. And they’re soooo tall. I felt so tiny, Stella! I never feel tiny! And I’m 6 foot!

It felt like I was touched by sparkles.

And I know I thought they were gorgeous, because the first thing I said to them, after I caught my breath, after they asked me in their wonderful voice (it made me shiver!) if I was okay was, “Hi, can I just stare at you forever?”

And you know how I remember exactly what I said? Because someone TOOK A VIDEO!

Aelys was down in the dining hall grabbing us some snacks (she’s so nice) about 20 minutes ago and overheard people talking about it. Someone was recording their friend for a different thing and caught me slipping on the stairs and focused in right as this person caught me and I just blurted that out right in their face.

And then! And then she scowled at me, set me back on my feet, and headed off down the steps without another word.

IT WAS SO EMBARRASSING!! I didn’t even get to say thank you for saving me!

I don’t think I can leave the dorm ever again. I’ll have to leave the school. I’ll travel the country as a wandering minstrel.

Maybe I should learn an instrument first.

Sigh.

I’m not leaving the school, but I am going to have to avoid ever seeing this person again. Which sucks because… I thought I felt something, you know? And it’s not just that I wanted them to be my friend. Obviously I wanted that.

Maybe… maybe I wanted them to be someone, you know?

So that’s what happened to me today, wonderful and terrible. What about you? How are you doing? Tell me everything!

Love, Synnove *heart heart XOXO little doodle of a sun

*sent two days later, scribbled on a postcard in heavy block letters

STELLA YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.

AELYS KNOWS THIS PERSON. AND JB. THEY’RE ONE OF HIS ROOMMATES.
I WAS HAVING LUNCH WITH THE TWO OF THEM AND THEY WALKED UP AND STARTED TALKING TO THEM.

AND WHEN THEY SAW ME THEY MADE A FACE. A FACE! I WAS MORTIFIED.

AFTER THEY LEFT AELYS AND JB TOLD ME THEIR NAME AND IT’S TERRIBLE, IT SOUNDS SO PERFECT FOR THEM.

Katari

Chapter Text

Sleep and Aelys had a… complicated relationship. After what happened the previous year back at home, and after the last six months, sometimes they were on speaking terms and sometimes they weren’t.

And sometimes on their journey to the Lighthouse, Aelys woke up early, far earlier than the rest of the group, which felt lonely but it gave her time to talk to someone.

Quietly rising from her bedroll, being very careful not to disturb Maravix sleeping nearby, she moved past the faintly flickering fire toward the plateau they’d just crossed the night before.

She found a wide, flat rock to sit cross-legged on and settled in to spend the quiet moment smiling up at a very familiar constellation.

But it wasn’t long until Aelys heard quiet but heavy footsteps in the dirt and gravel behind her, caught a large shadow at the edge of her vision, and felt a very, very tall transformed Isskari sit down behind her.

Aelys softly snickered to herself when she realized her head was right in between Katari’s shoulders.

“What’s so funny?”

Shaking her head, Aelys looked back up at the stars, the western edge of the sky turning a paler shade of indigo and blue. “When we get back to the dune hogs and the raft we’ll have to install a bigger table.”

A snort echoed out across the open space. “If we get back.”

“I’m sure we’ll see it again.”

The quiet stretched out between them, around them. It became something like a moment encased in glass or crystal. Keeping it all contained, still, preserved.

Nothing to worry about. No crises on the horizon. No building storm over the forest. No growing force in a tall blue tower.

Just two friends. Scion and Pariah. The revenant and her harbinger. A Herald and the Endbringer.

With the stars above as their table.

Katari took in a deep inhale and blew it out just as slowly, Aelys hearing, feeling, absorbing the slow slow thud-thump of their heart against the back of her head. “When I came back I realized how lucky I was to know you, to know all of you. If she hadn’t bothered me, hadn’t angered me so, if you all hadn’t dragged me along. In a number of ways, for a number of reasons, I would not be here if it weren’t for you.”

The brightness of the stars above could no longer hold her gaze. Instead, it was the ichor stains on her hands and arms that pulled her down. She could feel it inside of her. Inside of them. Awake but quiet. Searching. She wanted to talk, to say something, anything, but all her voice wanted to be in that moment was a whisper scraped over broken glass. “Katari–”

“If you ever apologize to me, Aelys, I’ll kill you.”

The laugh that burst from her throat was heavy and wet with tears but it dried out soon enough. “You’re welcome to try.” Aelys laughed again at Katari’s satisfied snort, finally leaning all of her gangly weight against their back. “You know, it’s probably best there’s no table here. There’s no way either of us would fit.”

They huffed a laugh in response. “We’ll find one big enough.”

Chapter Text

One of the great mysteries of life, æther, and the universe itself, is the Tressym Distribution System. No one really knows, try as they might, how it always seems to know when someone is in need.

But maybe there’s some things that should stay unexplained.

Where would the magic go if we understood how it worked?

~~

It was a day like any other day in the Coven. Bright sun shining down on her people, neighbours chatting, sharing stories. Children playing with dolls, with toys. With magic.

Except for one little girl in particular.

On that day, the second daughter of the third most powerful family in the coven, a granddaughter of Dulcamara, Voice-Eater, pushed the front door of her house open with such force it nearly snapped it off its hinges.

Hair a wild nest, face bright red and damp. She was sobbing, breathing in harsh, uneven gasps, struggling to suck enough air into her lungs.

But she couldn’t tell, didn’t care.

She was too angry to care, too fueled by the unmitigated, overwhelming, unstoppable rage that only a little girl could experience.

Especially when she was told ‘no’.

She ran into the house wailing, flinging her arm back, slamming the door hard enough the window in its centre cracked with a squeal. For such a little girl the sound of bare feet pounding up the steps was like a boulder being dropped from a mountaintop.

smack smack smack smack smack smack smack smack smack SLAM

Her bedroom door rattling in its frame, she threw herself onto the bed, burning her face in the pillow.

And proceeded to fill it with shrieks, screams, and all the frustration that could ever fill the universe that lived inside a 4-year-old. Old tears and fresh ones, screaming herself hoarse, all the while pounding her fists into the mattress, kicking her feet, kicking the blankets off the bed.

Not fair! Not fair! She’s not fair!

Just wanna play! LET ME PLAY, MEL!

NOT FAIR!

~~

She never heard the door open and close, never felt the dip of the bed. Never noticed she’d cried herself to sleep.

But she knew that scent anywhere, the soft, comforting smell that was her mother, Belladona, Wyrd Seer.

Her hand ran gently down Dulcamara’s hair, smoothing out all the fury that crackled like static, sending it away from this space and back out into the world. “My darling Amara, have all your tears finally run dry?”

“Mama.” Dulcamara climbed up into her mother’s lap, arms tight around her neck as her tired little body soaked up as much as she could from a warm and familiar embrace. “She’s– hic such a meanie meanie, Mama. Just wanna play. And Mel said no! Said– hic ‘no Ama go away’ and ran to go play with– hic without me!”

“Dearest, we’ve told you before, she’s allowed to say no.”

“Mel big hates. She’s– hic a big meanie meanie.”

Belladonna’s hand moved in big, slow, circles, soothing, smoothing out all the rough edges as she guided her youngest daughter back down onto the bed. “She doesn’t hate you, darling. It’s the nature of siblings. You are both so much of each other and made up of so many different pieces. One day, Amara, you will see her love for you when it truly matters. Now have yourself a little nap,” she said, shushing Amara when she sleepily grumbled that she wasn’t tired. “You’ve had all your explosions for the year, it seems. Sleep it off, sleep it out, and everything will feel better when you wake.”

“Need pillow, Mama.”

“We’ll get you a new one, my love. It’ll do you no good to sleep on all the rage you’ve poured into this one.”

~~

mrow. mrow-prrrrt.

Dulcamara’s eyes flew open.

Her mother was gone. Her pillow was gone.

And there was a calico-patterned tressym sitting at the foot of her bed.

She sat up gasping, grinning, waving her hands at them. “Hi! I’m Ama. I gots a big name but can only say Ama. What your name?”

The tressym blinked at her before proceeding to groom themself, rubbing their paw over their head and face. mlem mlem brrrsh brrrsh brrrsh. mlem mlem brrrsh brrrsh.

“You pretty.” Giggling to herself she crawled down the bed, plopping her chin in her hands, kicking her feet up in the air. “Most beauty pretty kitty-bird.” The tressym tossed a glare Dulcamara’s way, presumably at being called a ‘kitty-bird’, before continuing their grooming.

Amara smiled, troubles forgotten, sorrows pushed to the side to be carried away by the wind. “Will you be Ama’s friend, beauty pretty?”

The tressym stopped, stood up, and walked over to butt their head against Amara’s cheek.

The room soon filled with the sound of squeals and giggles, she sat up and hugged the tressym, thrilled beyond belief but somehow not squeezing so tight as to get scratched. “Ama’s new forever friend.”

Chapter Text

boomrmblrmblrrmblrrr

Whether it was a sound outside or inside that woke Maravix, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was she was sitting upright in bed in the middle of the night, her breath caught in her throat, and rain tapping against her window.

Another bad dream. She hated bad dreams.

Nothing looked out of place in the shadows. Desk, chair, bookcase, closet.

A flash of light from outside pulls her gaze to the window, pulls her from her bed to look outside.

boomrmblrrmblrr

Hand pressed against the glass of her window, she looks out at the dark and wet, wondering what could be looking back. “Just a thunderstorm.”

whaaaaaaaaa!

Sighing, Maravix heads out into the hallway, wondering why everything was making so much noise.

And almost walks straight into her brother, Garavellir.

Rubbing his forehead from their collision, he looks at her with sleepy eyes under a wild mess of dark blond hair. “Mare? Why’s it so noisy?”

“It’s just a thunderstorm, G, go back to bed.”

“Yeah, I know it’s storming, but what about the–”

BOOMRMBLRMBLRrmblrrr

WHAAAAA! WHAAAAAAAAAA!

“–the baby.”

Maravix glances down the hall and doesn't see the door to their parents’ rooms open. “Are they not home yet?”

At Garavellir’s shrug she stalks off down the hall to the baby’s room, him close on her heels.

Inside she finds Aelys, alone, sitting up in her crib. Her soft dark hair mussy from rubbing against the mattress in her sleep, her face wet from the fat tears and snot dribbling down her face. Her fists are like two little wrecking balls, waving around in the air and smacking the bed because it was all she knew what to do to vent her utter frustration with the world around her.

The two older Viraan siblings stand at the side of the crib, both of them reaching down to wipe at their baby sister’s face with tissues and sleeves, smoothing her hair and patting her back in an attempt to settle her. Garavellir glances back at the open door before turning to his older sister. “What do we do, Mare?”

A flash of lightning outside illuminates their faces, both full of varying degrees of confusion, concern, sleepiness, and worry, while the following ckkcrash-BOOM sets off another round of frightened cries.

With a frustrated sigh and a shake of her head, Maravix reaches down into the crib to pick up Aelys, settling her against her hip as she walks out of the room.

Finally in a pair of warm arms, big gasping sobs changing into heavy, watery hiccups, Aelys leans all of her weight into Maravix as if to say ‘hold me, don’t let go, I’m lonely and scared’.

Garavellir follows his sisters back down the hallway, tugging at Maravix’s sleeve. “Mare. Mare. What’re you doing?”

“Taking care of the baby, obviously.” When she reaches her door she stops and looks back at him, jerking her head. “Get in, Garevellir. We’re all sleeping in here tonight.”

“What? Why?”

“So Aelys knows she’s safe, that’s why.” Another flash lights up the bedroom but the thunder takes longer to crash than previously, the sound more muted and muffled. “Get in.”

Garavellir’s face does not move away from confusion even after everything is set into place and he and Maravix are lying on top of her bed, Aelys between them with a pillow above her head as a barrier and everyone underneath Maravix’s extra blanket. “What if she needs changing?”

“Then we’ll change her.”

“What if I roll on top of her?”

Maravix pauses her rubbing slow circles on a drowsy Aelys’ tummy to glare at her brother. “Don’t. Now go to sleep.”

He curls up even more under the blanket, eyes closed for long minutes before reaching out to take hold of her sleeve. “Thanks, Mare.”

Opening her eyes to look across the bed at him, head resting on her curled up arm, Maravix’s hand alternates between Aelys’ big baby belly and Garavellir’s back, moving in slow, soft circles. “Just hold onto me, I’ll keep you safe.”

Chapter Text

Standing in front of Y’thael Kosima, Talis handed over a portion of the group lunch for the day with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry it’s not soup again, but we’ll have more time when we stop this evening to make some.”

They sighed so loudly and so deeply, Talis was sure every person across the entire Dragonspine Mountains heard them. “What is this?”

“It’s more hardtack but this time it’s got some cheese on it. We found some in the supplies pack from the monastery.”

They brought it up to their face, their freckled nose sniffing rather delicately at the mysterious orange chunk. “It’s very pungent.”

“It is, yes, but it tastes good, I promise. Or at least I think it tastes good.”

Y’thael Kosima’s eyes darted back and forth, from cheese to Talis, cheese to Talis. It wasn’t soup, so they already weren’t sure, and they’d had the hardtack before and it tasted of nothing but dry crumble. But Talis said he liked the cheese and Talis wouldn’t lie to them.

Steeling themself, they took a bite of the hardtack with cheese on top.

It wasn’t soup.

The hardtack was dry and took a few bites to chew through, and the cheese was soft but filled their nose with a sharp tang. It was like combining the flavours of nothing and everything. It was… interesting.

But it still wasn’t soup.

When they finished their portion, Y’thael Kosima brushed the crumbs from their hands and tunic very matter-of-factly. “It was acceptable.”

Talis chuckled, pulling his waterskin out of his pack. “I did say. It’s okay, though. Not everyone likes strong flavours.”

“I did not like the smell of the cheese, Talis, it was quite pungent.” Standing with him, they took their staff in their hands. “You are also pungent.”

A spray of water shot out of Talis’ mouth causing them to flinch away and him to start coughing. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, it’s not a bad thing. Everyone has a particular smell. It’s actually a good thing because it’ll make me find you more easily if you ever get lost.” They scoffed. “But I’ll never lose you.”

“Right. Of course.” Wiping his face dry, Talis tucked the waterskin back into his pack and slipped it over his shoulders. “Now you have me curious. Is it a good smell?”

Y’thael Kosima paused in the readjusting of the flowers in their hair, patting them and making sure they weren’t going to lose any of them on the afternoon journey. “Can smells be evil?”

“What a question.” Talis’ face turned thoughtful, contemplative. “I was thinking more if it’s a smell you like. Does it make you happy, does it remind you of good things?”

“It makes me think of you, Talis, and you make me happy.” As the group around them continued their journey through the mountains, Y’thael Kosima did what they usually did: follow the path to the Lighthouse with Talis at their side. “So yes, it’s a good smell.”

“Good.”

With a smile they took a deep breath of the mountain air around them, breathing in. “You smell like salt and water, like all the leaves I’ve given you and the flower you gave me.” They reached out and took Talis’ hand in theirs. “You smell like the journey forward, Talis. And of feathers.”

He squeezed their hand tight. “At least it’s nothing terrible.”

“Oh, no, Talis. They are all terrific smells.” Grinning wide, they swung their hands between the two of them, pleased the path forward was wide enough that they could walk side by side. “Which is why I hope you know that both Katari when they were still Endbringer before they turned into Katari and Aelys when I thought her name was Worse were wrong about what I smell like.”

Talis looked at them, the confusion on his face very obvious. “I’m sorry?”

But Y’thael Kosima was oblivious. “I smell like earth and stardust and growing things, not like regular dust and certainly not like corpse.”

Remembering when the Endcrafter said this to them back at the Distortion, Talis nodded. “Don’t worry, I don’t think you smell like a corpse. To me you smell like flowers, but I’m sure that’s because of all the ones you’ve got in your hair.”

They grin as he flicked at one with his finger. “And the one you gave me.”

“And the one I gave you.”

“Yes. This is why I’ve told you you smell of good things. You should know so you don’t think you smell bad.” A sudden flash of worry streaked through them and they pulled Talis to a full stop. “Please tell me if I ever smell bad on our journey, Talis.”

At that moment, Y’thael Kosima tugged Talis close to their face, closer than they’d ever been, both their expression and tone the most serious they’d ever been in their few short weeks of living on the Prime. “I want to know if I ever smell bad.”

Chapter Text

.if you could see
.wh-what i see
.wHen i look at you

.potential
.determination
.companionship
.stu-stubbonness

.humility
.fragility
.the inab-b-bility to kee-keep your mouths SHUT

.sorrow
.rage
.despair

.ho-hope

.understANding
.empathy
.practicality oo-ooops, i forgot, you goobers don’t have this ability
.self-preservation also this one

.trying
.and trying
.and trying

.if you cou-could see
.what i-i-i see

.endless posssss-s-s-s-s-s-ssibility

.they are waIting for you
.find them

.find them all

.good luck
.my sENtinels

.addendum
.due to unforeSEEN circumsTances you will n-n-not be receiving a year-end holiday bb-bbbonus
.any comPlaints must be directed to-to-to UPper MaNagemENt

Chapter Text

After a day and night of taking part in a big group study session in which Aelys and JB attempted to study, Katari mostly attempted to study, and Synnove barely studied, doodled all over her notes in glittery gel pen, and continued her very bizarre out of nowhere bicker feud with Katari, Aelys woke up with the brilliant idea of making everyone breakfast.

Ignoring the fact that she’d never really made breakfast beyond instant oatmeal packets and cereal. And that she had no idea what was available in the kitchen (they’d held their study group at the house JB and Katari rented rooms in for more space to stretch out and a pull-out couch for Aelys and Synnove to crash on.

And that she also woke up with Synnove wrapped around her like a boa constrictor squeezing all the air out of her lungs.

Finally free from the chaotic sunshine, finally in the kitchen, she takes stock of a fridge half-full of greasy delivery pizza and half-full of actual food like fruit, vegetables, and eggs.

Eggs. Milk. Butter. Pancakes!

Aelys could make pancakes. Maybe. The internet was bound to have easy recipes for people who’d barely cooked and/or were fumbling college students.

And so Aelys goes about attempting to make pancakes, pulling things out of the fridge and rifling through cabinets.

Until JB walks in through the back door, his hair damp and a gym bag hooked over his shoulder, and sees Aelys in the pantry with a 10 pound bag of flour in her arms. “Good morning, Aelys.”

She barely has a grip on it. As unmoving as it is, she feels like she’s holding a squirming puppy. “Oh. Hi.”

With a soft smile and a chuckle, he sets his bag down and takes the flour from her, hands brushing against hers. “Are you stealing our flour?”

flip

“What? Oh, no, I was just looking for things. Ingredients.” Aelys brushes the flour from her hands and turns back to the pantry, cheeks slowly warming at being caught searching through the kitchen. “I was thinking I’d make pancakes as a thank you, you know, for the study space and letting us stay over. I didn’t know you’d gone out.”

JB sets the flour on the counter, returns to his bag. “The gym is quiet early in the morning. Gives me time to think, review notes, listen to past lectures.” Pulls out a couple of water bottles. “You might want to try it, it would give you a chance to study without Synnove in your ear.”

Aelys scoffs, shakes her head, moves over to crouch and look through some of the kitchen cabinets. “But then she wouldn’t do any of the readings, or the assignments, or even bother with office hours if she had questions.” She sits back on her heels. “Maybe I’ve been coddling her or something.”

“From what Synnove told me when she and I first met, I believe she can take care of herself.” He stands just behind her at the sink, rinsing out bottles and whatever dishes they’d used the night before. “But it would not be a bad idea, doing something just for yourself that is not related to coursework.”

Aelys nods and goes back to her searching.

She used to take sparring classes with Maravix back before Mare left for college and moved away. Maybe she’d take it up again. Give her mind the chance to turn off once in a while.

Digging around in the back of one of the cabinets next to the stove she finally finds something she was looking for and stands up.

Not knowing how close JB was, not knowing he’d turned away from the sink.

They bumped into each other, both of them only slightly losing their balance so it wasn’t that they both ended up on the floor.

But they did end up with Aelys backed up against the counter, his hands braced on either side of her, and the cake tin in her hands up at her chest.

flip

“Sorry about that.” JB immediately backed up, that usual soft smile now apologetic, and looked down at what was in her hands. “Aelys, why did you take out our cake pan?”

“For the pancakes? You guys only have the one.”

He let out a breath that was part laugh, part exhale, the smile growing. “How do you think pancakes are made?”

The sudden realization has her face turning bright red and her hands ice cold.

Shaking his head, he takes the pan. “I can help you with the pancakes, Aelys. Just give me a few minutes to change. Maybe take out some of the other items we will need. Sugar, baking powder. A frying pan, perhaps. And wear this.” He grabs a hoodie off a hook by the back door and, without warning, pulls it down over her head. “It can get quite chilly in the mornings and even standing at a hot stove will not help.”

“Frying pan, right. Ok. Thanks.” Her whisper-quiet response is heard by no one, finally leaving her lips well after he leaves the room. Swimming in the hoodie he shoved her into, she reaches out for a chair and sits down hard, hands clenched in the sleeves.

It smells clean, faintly of fabric softener and fresh air.

flip

Oh.

Oh.

Chapter Text

To my most favouritest cousin (it is too a word, shush your face),

Now that I’m Lucy’s ward–, *crossed out

Now that I’ve been named ‘the most official and most promising Ward of the illustrious Lücän Sërënël (that’s how he spells his name, right?), the Golden Flame of the Imperium’, I’ve decided to start writing my letters to you more officially. As befits my new position.

And I know you’re right down the hall and I could just go tell you all of this in person. But sometimes you’re busy, or you’re not there. And maybe I should actually use this stationary and pen set that Auntie Ron got me for my birthday. *smudged and scribbled out are the words ‘last year’

I’m so excited. Aren’t you excited? I’m going to learn so much. I’ll finally be able to use my telekinesis properly, not like when I try to read your mind and all I can hear is a cook down in the kitchen going, ‘Och, we’re out of neeps and tatties for tonight’s dinner, wha’ else am I gonna serve with all this haggggggggggggis I’ve just made?’.
And yes, I totally spelled that word correctly.

I’ve never been named a Ward before, does it come with a special prize? Like a cool sword? Or daggers? Are me and Lucy going to get matching jackets? I hope it’s not like those jackets with the big dinner plate shoulders, they are SO ugly–

A knock at Mio Sarovei’s door pulls her from her letter writing.

With a huff, she stomps her way to the door and swings it wide, glaring at the person on the other side. “Yes? I was doing something very important.”

The servant, extremely familiar with the Sarovei family and with Mio, just nods and bows. “Apologies, young miss, but a package has just arrived.” And they hold out their hand toward Mio, a small box with a bow in the middle of their palm.

“A package? For me?” At their nod she takes it, looking down at the little green bow and smiling at it. “Thank you.”

Once the door is closed Mio wastes no time, pulling the ribbon free and shoving it in her pocket, picking at the wrapping and tearing the paper off.

Inside the wrapping is a box.

Inside the box is a little scrap of paper and a small enamel pin of a white and black tressym in flight, their wings spread, their green-gold eyes glittering.

And on the scrap of paper are three words:

Good luck.
Lücan

Mio immediately rushes to her mirror to pin it to her blouse, looking at her reflection and feeling all kinds of happy and excited and official. “I get it, Lucy. It’s a pin, but it isn’t just a pin. It means I’m going to be the best ward and student and Votive there ever was and I’m going to make you so proud of me. Promise.”

Faint, faint hints of a translucent glittery magic curls up from the floor at Mio’s feet, stretching up and out toward the mirror. And when it hits the reflective surface it stops short, fluttering outward and disappearing.

*letter from Mio Sarovei, delivered to Caska Sarovei the following morning

To my most favouritest cousin (it is too a word, shush your face),

*most of the letter is scribbled over but is still legible

It’s all going to work out great. I can feel it.

Love, Mio *small doodle of a tressym’s paw complete with pink toe beans

Chapter Text

When Maravix was in high school she would often read late into the night. Partially because she liked reading so much, was happy to lose herself in the pages of a book, and partially because she enjoyed the peace and quiet of everyone around her being asleep. It made everything feel cozier and the odds were good that no one was going to knock on her door at 2am and ask her for something.

Except for one night when she heard the horrendous sound of someone coughing up a lung in the hallway outside her room.

Confused, worried, she went to the door and found an exhausted-looking dark-haired blanket-encased lump on the other side. “Aelys. Is something wrong? You look terrible.”

“Sorry, Mare, I didn’t want to both–” She was able to turn away in time but the coughing that came from Aelys’ small body was rough, thick, and would’ve forced her to the ground if Maravix hadn’t caught her.

She’d barely touched her sister’s forehead before turning her and guiding her back to her own bedroom. “You’re burning up, go back to bed.”

“No, no, I’m– cough I’m fine. I’ve just had a headache all day and fell asleep after dinner.”

Maravix rolled her eyes so hard she thought she pulled something. “Aelys, you sounded like you were hacking up a lung just now. To bed.”

“I’m fine, Mare, I just–”

She pushed the blanket burrito that was Aelys up against the wall. “I swear, you tell me you’re fine one more time, our next sparring class I’ll beat you so hard Garavellir will feel it. Now stop being so stubborn.”

What little energy Aelys had Maravix could see just melt away as she nodded, walking back through the door to her room. “I was just looking for Mother and Papa, I couldn’t find any cough medicine up here.”

“I’ll go look downstairs,” she said, pushing the dark, sweaty strands of hair out of Aelys’ face. “Do you have the energy to go have a quick shower? It might help with all the crud in your chest.”

When Aelys nodded, Maravix quickly pressed their foreheads together before rushing downstairs.

Once in the kitchen she found frozen soup portions in the freezer, sticking one in the microwave to defrost and cook as she raided the downstairs bathroom of its cold and cough medicine.

Walking back into the kitchen she found Garavellir leaning against the kitchen island, calmly eating an apple as if it wasn’t half past two in the morning. “What are you doing down here?” Pulling out a meal tray, she notices he’s still in his jacket and boots. “Did you just get home?”

“Band practice.” He nods at the tray and beeping microwave, the crisp crunch of the apple sharp in an otherwise silent house. “Late night snack?”

“Aelys has some kind of vile cough and possibly something fluish. Best to steer clear if you’ve got anything important coming up.”

He nodded, watching her fill the tray with soup, a mug of tea, spoons, cold medicine, and a small bowl of grapes. “What about you?”

“When was the last time I got sick?” Tray in hand, Maravix headed back upstairs to their sick sister, pushing the bedroom door open with her shoulder and kicking it closed with her foot.

Sitting up in bed and surrounded by a wall of pillows was Aelys, hair damp but still looking exhausted and stuffed up. “Thanks for the soup, Mare.”

“Of course, Lys” She set the tray across Aelys’ lap, handed her a spoon, and sat with her while she ate everything. The soup and the grapes, the entire mug of tea. The cold medicine.

After Maravix took the tray back down, washed up, washed her hands about 50 times, and on her way back grabbed her laptop in case Aelys wanted to watch something to help her fall back asleep.

But when Maravix arrived back at Aelys’ room, she saw Garavellir sitting on the edge of the bed with Aelys smiling at him, blankets pulled up to her chin.. And so she stood there, half in the doorway, listening to him sing a song she recognized from their childhood.

A song their mother would sing when they were sick, when they couldn’t sleep, when something was wrong.

When he finished, Aelys sleepily smiled at him, blinking like it was a struggle to keep her eyes open. “Again, G. Sing it again.”

But he shook his head, humming it instead as she fell asleep.

Maravix tiptoed into the room, stopping next to her brother, hand on his shoulder. “You’re really good at that, you know.”

“Shut up.” He brushed it off, shaking his head, but he still leaned back against her, continuing to hum the little song.

Chapter Text

*a homemade scrapbook titled ‘Our Totally Awesome Congrats On Passing Midterms Camping Trip! (also with Lenore!)’

*photo of Aelys and Sal standing next to a truck, Sal taking supplies out of the back
“So. You’re their other roommate. Sal.”
“That’s right.”
“For fuck’s sake, Eralan–”
“Hush, don’t spoil all my fun, princess.”
“Wait, Aelys really is a princess?”
“No, I’m not, Synnove!”

~

*photo of Synnove, blue hair in big space buns on either side of her head, kneeling on the ground, instruction pamphlet in her hand, staring at a pile of tent poles, Katari standing behind them with their arms crossed
“I could’ve sworn the packaging said multiple tents.”
“Right here, it says ‘multiple people fit in one tent’, issala. It’s a tent for a family.”
“Oh, like us! We’re like one big family.”
A growling sound can be heard from Katari’s general direction.

~

*photo of JB, Theagus, and Sal crouched around the large cast iron cooking pot over the fire pit, all three holding spoons
“Theagus, this is amazing.”
“Oh, thank you. I call it fish drop soup.”
“Have you ever made it before?”
“Oh no, never cooked a day in my life.”
“... wait, what?”

~

*photo of Synnove, Lenore, and Aelys sitting around a campfire with hotdogs on sticks, Aelys looking very unsure
“So, you just hold it over the fire and it cooks.”
“Yes, that’s how you cook food.”
“Unless you like them–”
“Synnove, no!”
A mixture of coughing and cackling.

~

*photo of a dark path through a slightly wooded area with a single light in the distance
“Why do I have to be the one to take you down to the toilets, Synnove? Why not go with Aelys or your sister?”
“What if someone tries to steal my bag?”
“Who’s going to steal your bag? A bear?”
“Sugar, why on earth would a bear try to steal my bag? You really need to learn about wild animals.”
Katari starts muttering to themself in a foreign language.

~

*photo taken in the dead of night of a blurry shape surrounded by trees
“Ok so… it was a dog?”
“No! I swear it was a horse with a thing on its head.”
“A unicorn? Synnove, you’re not a child anymore. You know those don’t exist.”
“No no, like a whole bunch of them!”
“Like a cantaloupe?”
A hush goes across the entire campsite before Aelys claps her hands. “No no no. One at a time, people. One at a time.”

~

*photo of Katari and Aelys sitting shoulder to shoulder at the campsite picnic table, the two of them looking down at an open book
“So this is what you read.”
“I mean sometimes, when I’m bored. You can’t be reading textbooks all the time.”
“Then how do you learn anything?”
“Oh, I’m sure you can learn a lot from what Aelys reads when she thinks no one’s looking.”
“Synnove!”
Aelys proceeds to chase Synnove around the campsite while Katari flips through the pages.

~

*photo of Theagus sitting alone on one side of the campfire and everyone crowded around the other side, staring at him
“You’re dating a professor?”
“Really?”
“Wait, those rumours are true?”
“Aren’t there rules in place to prevent that?”
“Well, I wouldn’t necessarily say we’re dating, per se.”
“Then what would you call it?”
“Okay, perhaps we are in a relationship of some sort.”
“But you’re part of the same department.”
“I’m not a teaching assistant for any of her classes so everything is fine.”
“For now, but what about next semester? She teaches a lot of intro classes, right? Don’t hers get randomly assigned?”
“... what?”

~

*photo of the interior of the tent, most of the sleeping bags filled, some empty, a head of blue hair poking out of the tent flap
“Aelys? Where’d you go? Pss pss pss.”
“She’s not a cat, Synnove. Go back to sleep.”
“Sure she is. Oh, person kitty Aelys? Pss pss pss. Come back to bed, it’s too early.”
“It certainly is too early, issala, for you to be shouting so much!”
The sound of multiple pillows being thrown across the tent, not all of them hitting their intended target, and then a pillow fight ensues.

~

*photo of a sunrise over a lake surrounded by trees and an inlet off to the side, two figures in shadow in the distance, one helping the other step over a fallen log
“So you pretend you’re a box?”
“Yes. Well, no. Well, yes and no.”
“Shrödinger’s meditation technique. Got it.”
“It would fit you then, wouldn’t it? Person kitty Aelys.”
A surprised scoff. “Oh so you do know how to make jokes.”
“Not really, but I do know some limericks.”

Chapter Text

When I said you’re the only person I want to spend my life with,
You asked me why.
The chance to breathe in sunlight every day?
To witness every sunrise and every sunset?
To bask in your light?
To follow the sun across the sky with all my days?
And so I ask you, hummingbird:
Why wouldn’t I?

For what had to be the 100th time that day, Decima took the notecard from the vase of flowers and read it. And read it. And read it again.

They’d met the year before at a holiday party, she a top executive and legal investigator, he a singer/songwriter/self-proclaimed wandering minstrel and troubadour. They never, realistically, would’ve met under any other circumstances if not for his family connections and her firm’s own aspirations.

A fool he was but utterly foolish he wasn’t. Which intrigued her, confused her, and frightened her. Intrigued her because different, confused her because different. Frightened her because all it took were a few words, a hand in hers, and a dance before she could feel the ground beneath her start to crumble away.

And crumble away it continued to do after months of calls, texts, and e-mails. Late-night deliveries of dinners and desserts to her office. Lunches when he was in town. Small, intimate music showcases at bars and clubs in the evenings. Brunch at his apartment on weekend mornings before walks along the lakeshore so he could skip stones and she could… attempt to skip stones. An early dinner at her apartment, once, only once, before a flight to go assist a younger sibling with a cross-country move.

And crumble away it still did with every brush of his hand against hers, every chair he held out. Every easy, effortless smile he sent her way. Every time he draped his coat across her shoulders. Every time he invited her to play chess online. Every time he swore one day he would win.

So quick to smile, to listen to others, to sing or play a tune. So quietly devoted to his family. Like a bright star in the sky.

She put the card back in between the flowers and stared at the vase across from her. Elbow glued to her desk, chin in her hand.

You’re the only person I want to spend my life with.

Decima’s attention was so captured by the flowers, by the card, the knot in her stomach and the storm in her heart, that she never noticed when her office door opened and her boss walked in, a hefty stack of papers in her hands.

“Oh, good, you’re still here. We’ve got the review back and I think we have to– Decima?” Walking over to stand at her side, Beatrix gently pressed her palm to her shoulder. “Decima, are you okay?”

Startled, blinking to clear it, she nodded. “Yes, sorry, I’ve been rather distracted today.” In an attempt to clear her head she took the papers, flipping through them. “The review, you said?”

“Yes, but it’s almost 7pm. You can work on this tomorrow.”

Eyes wide, Decima turned in her chair to look out at the skyline, the sun setting off in the distance. “I’m so sorry, Beatrix, I didn’t realize it was so late.”

Beatrix shook her head, patting her shoulder in silent support before turning to the vase on her desk. “Those are rather lovely. Do you know what they are? I don’t think Ygritte and I have anything like them in our garden at home.”

“They’re a kind of heliotrope.” Her mind on the note, the note, the note, her eyes on the changing colours outside her window. “Through the day the flowers will follow the sun across the sky.”

~~

knock knock

She thought she’d know what to say, what to do, when the door opened, but she didn’t. Not even when Garavellir smiled at her, in no way expecting her but clearly pleased to see her. “Good evening, Decima.”

“I received your flowers.”

To follow the sun across the sky.

“I know.”

“And your note.”

Something in his face softened. “I know.”

To bask in your light.

She pulled a small rectangular box from her purse, a travel chess set she’d found and left to sit in her apartment for weeks. “Now you can learn to play properly while you’re on the road.”

He took it with a nod, either not noticing or ignoring when her fingers twitched like she wanted to take it back. “I’ll be sure to.”

Could she do this? Could she do this? Could she share the pieces of herself the way he’d given his own to her, slowly, carefully, secretly until the point when she realized she held most of his heart in her hands?

They stood there in the doorway, neither one saying anything for long minutes, before he looked down with a half-smile and she realized she’d taken hold of his sleeve between her fingers. “Is there something else, Decima?”

To witness every sunrise and every sunset.

“Can you see the sunset from your apartment?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

And her heart lurched toward his, pulling her out of the dark hallway. “What about the sunrise?”

To breathe in sunlight.