Work Text:
Gale was certain that this year would be the best Midsummer celebration yet.
He would surely top last year, the year of the allergy attack. Neither he nor Yrelia had realized she was allergic to geranium, so when she went to take a bath with the orange blossom and geranium soak he had gifted her, she had a most unpleasant reaction, leaving Gale begging for her forgiveness. She had laughed, as if her skin wasn't burning her, and said she would be alright and that he could make it up to her by rubbing the medicated cream onto her skin.
Then there was the year before that, when they went on vacation to a nice cottage by a pleasant lake. There were trees, flowers, privacy, and bees. A lot of bees. Too many bees. Yrelia was incredibly concerned for him as she searched for more stingers stuck in his skin. He did receive many kisses after that, though.
Truly, in the four years of their marriage, they only had one truly wonderful Midsummer. He had yet to provide a better one, despite his efforts. Yrelia deserved to be spoiled, pampered, and have everything she desired happily presented to her. Surely he could do so! Providing for his beloved was his most important task!
Gale turned towards Yrelia as she woke up, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her towards him. Their bodies fit together perfectly, contouring together as if it were meant to be. She hummed; a sleepy little hum to let him know that she was still waking.
She threaded their fingers and tangled their legs. Gale buried his face in her curly hair, breathing her in, the dulled scent of her shampoo filling his senses.
"My love," he murmured. "Good morning."
"Morning," she yawned. "You're up before me. That's rare."
"I've been meticulously planning our morning."
She chuckled. "I hope breakfast is involved."
"Most assuredly, darling."
Yrelia pulled from him and turned. She smiled at him, reaching out to his face. Her rough fingers brushed against his cheek. He let out a soft breath, staring at his wife. "Wife." It could still be so hard to believe that he had married the love of his life. That almost every morning, he woke to her face, and those mornings when she woke so early to go hunting alone, he was waiting for her with a hot bath and lunch.
"I love you," she said, her voice so soft. "I've told you every year, but you need not do anything for this holiday."
Gale chuckled. "Lia, we both know that's an unreasonable request." She grinned at him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "Never doubt that I will do whatever is necessary for my darling wife on a holiday meant to celebrate romance."
"Oh, and you've always done a marvelous job."
He scoffed. "There's no need to pity me. I am well aware of the mishaps from last year."
She snorted and kissed his lips. "Sure, but I was still so happy you thought of me." She kissed him again. "You're the best husband I could ever ask for."
He hummed. "Flattery," he warned, and she grinned.
He slowly brushed his lips against hers. She relaxed against him with a contented sigh. She wrapped her arms around him, her fingers tangling in his long hair. He could feel her smile against his lips, and a grin spread across his face. Mornings like this, tangling in each other's arms, tasting each other's lips, nothing could compare. No spell, no tome, not the thrill of battle, could ever compare to being in his lover's arms.
"Was that all part of your plan, beloved?" Yrelia asked with a teasing smirk behind her coffee cup.
He grinned at her and the amused sparkle in her eyes. "Oh, darling, I believe you know me well enough to know the answer to that question."
She giggled, a happy flush on her cheeks. "Oh, I adore you," she said fondly. "And I appreciate the wonderful breakfast you have made me. I especially like the cranberry orange muffins you have made, despite cranberries being out of season."
"Darling, simple food storage is an apprentice-level trick of the Weave. I've told you so countless times."
"And every time, I am still very impressed with my beloved wizard's capabilities." She reached out and scratched his chin. "No need to be humble, Gale, just because you have many other lovable qualities doesn't mean you're not a brilliant wizard."
He proudly puffed out his chest. "Of course I am. I've been brilliant since the day that Morena birthed me."
Yrelia giggled again and kissed his nose. "I believe it." They kissed. "So, my darling, brilliant, wizard husband, what do you have planned for us today? A picnic? Flower picking? Some beach activities?"
"All of those options are handsome," he agreed. He spun her around and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder. The familiar tickle of her curls made him smile. "However, all are options that other couples would have chosen for this very special occasion." He kissed her cheek.
"I guess that rules out most restaurants, too."
"Clever as always," he murmured. "So," he began again, "where to take my darling wife for the holiday of romance? Some place she will enjoy, be relaxed, and be reminded of just how much her humble wizard husband adores her?" She snorted. "I had noticed that your hunting bow is showing some wear and tear. Why don't we pop on over to the fletcher and let her have a gander at it?" She shifted against him, that tiny bit of discomfort that appeared when she didn't want to spend that type of money on herself. She opened her mouth. "It is necessary." She clamped her mouth shut. "And I believe I am allowed to present you with any gift I desire, am I not?"
"You are," she mumbled.
"And have you not been out on a hunt in too many tendays because of the state of your hunting bow?"
"Yes."
"Then I believe this is the perfect opportunity to repair such important equipment." He kissed the back of her head. "As much as I miss you when you leave early to hunt, I miss your proud smile when you return to me with dinner far more."
She pouted. And she pouted because she had been avoiding having her bow repaired. Not because she was lazy, or depressed, or anything of the sort, but because she still had some…anxiety about spending a certain sum of money. Despite Gale assuring her multiple times throughout their marriage that she would never have to worry over such a silly thing, old habits seemed to die slowly.
And he was sure she was a bit ashamed of her bow needing repairs. Even on their adventure, she had been so careful with her equipment—never needing to repair most items. She was a proud and cautious hunter; he knew she must feel embarrassed that she had let such disrepair happen.
He pulled away from her and turned her to look at him. He took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. "Shall we go?"
She smiled at him, her eyes soft. "After you, love."
It was almost comical, walking onto the streets of his beloved city. How many times had he walked these streets, with no partner on his arm, while surrounded by ample passion and love? Never had he spent a Midsummer Day with a lover by his side. Mystra never did, that's for certain, and before Mystra, his relationships were barely even considered as such.
Now he had Yrelia, his darling wife, his beloved partner, the sun in his sky, and the balm for his soul. He could happily walk into town on such a romantic holiday with her hand in his. His union ring on his finger felt as comfortable as ever. Yrelia understood that the day was so important to him; it was why she never complained about the romantic antics he played. Now, not as nearly as important as her mornday, of course. That was far, far more joyous! But this day, he could afford the joy of being loved.
Before they had walked to the fletcher, Gale had stopped them to buy a pastry for her. She had laughed, but didn't complain when the baker presented her with a strawberry turnover. They had both learned that Yrelia loved strawberries, and it was the easiest way to agree to enjoy something sweet.
She was humming by the time she had finished her pastry, swinging his hand back and forth. He opened his mouth to (pridefully) ask how she enjoyed her pastry, but she pulled him in and kissed him before he could. He tasted her strawberry kiss, and there was nothing sweeter.
"Hmm," Yrelia grinned against his lips. She pulled away, and her grin grew, no doubt amused by her starstruck husband. "What were you going to say, love?"
Gale blinked and closed his agape mouth. He cleared his throat. "Nothing, dearest," he placed his hand on the small of her back, "let's carry on." She giggled lightly with a confident smile as he led her away.
There was always magic in the air in Waterdeep, but today seemed like there was an ample more. Probably because many people wished to buy Weave-touched trinkets for their loved ones, filling many a wizard's pockets with coin. The many enchanted items were quite coveted; even Gale had offered his services once in the past, but now that he had Yrelia, he no longer cared to do so. Why waste precious time on other couples when he could focus on his partner?
They arrived at the fletcher, where Yrelia hesitated to give her bow to the woman. They knew each other, of course. Yrelia often bought strings and other supplies from the fletcher, but this time was for repairs. Even the fletcher mentioned how she hadn't seen Yrelia in a while. It wasn't meant to bring shame to her, but Gale saw the wavering in her eyes.
"Thank you," Gale stepped in, pulling out his coin purse. Yrelia's brows twitched, as did her lips. "When shall we have it back?"
The fletcher examined the hunting bow that Gale had gifted Yrelia four years ago. She squinted at it, closed one eye, then opened it and closed the other. She felt the weight; she ran her fingers across the wood. "Give me a tenday," she finally responded. "I'll work on this double-time. Don't go spreading it around that I play favorites, though," she winked at Yrelia, who finally cracked a smile.
Gale took Yrelia's hand after he paid. He led her out of the shop and onto the streets of Waterdeep. He heard her hum, as if she just realized something.
"Lia?" he called.
She was looking up at the sky. "I think it's going to rain," she said thoughtfully.
"Truly?" She nodded in response. "Well, that does change our plans. I was thinking we could find a casual restaurant to eat outside at, but I'd rather us not become soaked."
She smiled at him. "Why don't we return home before we do get wet? I'd like to give you the gift I have for you."
He smiled. "A gift for me?"
She laughed and pulled him forward. "Of course! You are my favorite husband, after all."
"Oh! I'm finally the favorite!"
They both laughed as they started to rush home. Clouds started to grow, there was a soft thunder in the distance, and the smell of rain started to fill his senses. They ran, hand in hand, back to their warm home, the tower he had welcomed her into, that she graced with her footsteps every day. The sky grew more grey, sporadic raindrops started to fall, and they were both red in the face from laughing.
They managed to step onto their porch right as it began to pour. They stood on their porch, the rain falling quickly and pouring onto the street, and grinned at each other, so absolutely in love that he could hardly believe that he had never felt something so intense before.
He leaned in and kissed her, her grin growing on her soft lips. He told her he loved her in the kiss, that he adored her, that he couldn't imagine his life without her. She had changed him to be a better man; he repaired relationships, made new ones, and was so damn happy that sometimes he still had to take a moment to realize that this was his life now. That this content life was his.
"Come," she breathed against his lips before kissing his bottom one, "let's head inside before an awkward wind causes the rain to spray us."
"Hm, after you," he kissed her forehead.
And it was nice returning home with her. He could see her in every inch of it: the tidiness, the taxidermy, the wool blankets, the many paintings and portraits that he and every member of his family demanded they have of each other. His home had been graced with love, joy, comfort—with her. His life before was nothing compared to this. True joy, true love, there was nothing better.
She made them a light lunch, paired with some tea. They ate, speaking of small things: his students and studies, her family and friends, their next vacation. Simple things in their daily life. After they had comfortably filled themselves, they both changed into their lounge wear before returning to their favorite spot: the couch in front of the hearth.
Yrelia lay against him, with his arm wrapped around her as she lay her cheek against his shoulder. He lay with the new tome she had gifted him. The expensive one he had been eyeing for two months now, but hadn't had the chance to purchase it. Mostly because the shopkeeper would tell him it was always sold out. Now he realized it was because he and Yrelia had schemed to keep Gale away from the book, so that she could gift it to him. How silly and sweet of her.
"Gale," Yrelia murmured as she teetered on the edge of her nap.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
He smiled, his heart filling with warmth as she said those three special words that he couldn't get enough of. He turned his head and placed a long kiss on her forehead, breathing her in. "And I love you. More than anything."
She let out a tired giggle before falling into silence, and presumably to sleep. Gale sighed softly, caressing the tome that his wife had given him. His eyes became misty, thinking of how fortunate he had become. He grinned, quickly wiping away the tears before opening his book, chuckling softly at the heated love letter his wife had placed in the book, and started to read.
Love was far too simple a word for his feelings, but for now, it would suffice. And as Yrelia slept by his side, he knew that was enough for her.