Chapter Text
Perhaps it was cliche, or too easy to say that Lauma was like moonlight upon his bed, but it truly was the most apt description of his love. Flins hand began to stroke purple hair soothingly as he thought and eyes roamed over her nude sleeping form. The way her silver tinted veins shimmered under the candlelight, her pale skin only worked to accent her silver blood all the more brightly. If he were less of a gentleman, there were perhaps a couple other comparisons to the moon he could make, but that might have been last night's activities cluttering his brain. After all, he didn’t need to sleep nearly as much as a human, and so he had spent the last few hours of Lauma resting to simply mull over their relationship.
They had been courting for a little over a year now, mostly in secret, although at this point in their relationship at least a few people had to have an inkling of what was truly transpiring between the two. After all, there were only so many “house calls” one could take in the middle of the night to an old cemetery before people began to gossip. But it had been necessary, as much as Flins himself hated this fact. Lauma was still working on bringing a change to the Frostmoon Scions, with of course the most critical element being exposing the secret of their beloved moon. Smaller things, such as changing the laws regarding marriage between a fae and a member of said religion would simply have to wait.
So, he simply had to have patience, and wait for when Lauma was ready, but with every passing day, he found himself more and more impatient.
Flins had thought himself a patient man before meeting Lauma. He had waited in his own grave for hundreds of years before the Lightkeepers disturbed his rest, and has spent hours upon hours dedicated to eradicating the Wild Hunt. He could spend hours on paperwork, and process a stack as big as his torso within the span of one night. Yet, now as he looked down at Lauma as she rested with her cheek on his chest, her chest slowly rising and falling with each gentle breath?
He found he truly was a very impatient man indeed.
His fingers found their way to one of her shorter pieces of hair that framed her face, and began to twist it around his ring finger. Not enough to disturb Lauma of course, or heaven forbid, hurt her. It was merely another thing to admire in the moonlight from the window. Purple like richly dyed silk twisted endlessly between his fingers as he watched it shine in the night. He had never felt closer to her than he felt tonight.
She had given him her name tonight.
Her full name.
Did she know what that meant for the fae?
Of course she did, his wonderful Lauma had such a teasing smile as she “let it slip” from her thin lips at dinner. Flins had been caught offguard, presented with such a marvelous gift, more treasured than any gem in his collection. To give a fae your full name is to give them a part of your life, your soul. Lauma trusted him with her name, and in that exuberant joy one thing had led to another and well, now he found himself playing with her hair and narrowly avoiding being poked by one of her antlers as she nuzzled deeper into his chest. Flins paused his ministrations, and once assured she wasn’t going to wake up, he continued.
Flins was impatient to return the favor with a token of love suitable for humans. He could have one of his most priceless gems cut into a delicate teardrop shape and inlaid on a silver ring, or perhaps find an entirely new and more suitable gemstone? The only issue was picking the gem, only the best could work for the ring he would present his love. Sapphire perhaps? No, the blue could never compete with her eyes.
A blue diamond then? Perhaps, but then that was such a banal choice, and they were not quite your conventional couple. An emerald might provide a nice contrast with the lighter green of her dress, but finding one of sufficient size and grade would prove challenging. Obsidian was an interesting choice, but perhaps a bit too dark for Lauma’s taste, Lauma was elegant and refined, like a smooth gemstone. She liked to have at least some element of light in her outfits as well. But then again, this was something special, and should stand out from the rest of her wardrobe.
Perhaps a small part of his fae mind was a bit…possessive in this way. She had given him her name, he wanted the world to look at her ring and know exactly who was blessed to have such a woman at their side. A ring that would remind Lauma of their union.
Flins eyes flicked open to the ceiling as he knew in an instant which gem he would choose, one he had only read of in books on geology, but somehow knew was right. It would have to be specially ordered from Natlan, but he had many contacts within the children of echos, and they would be able to find the stone for him. It was perfect. The material was delicate, but that suited someone as elegant and graceful as Lauma.
“Hmmm?” Against his chest Lauma hummed, her face moving slightly off of her chest without even opening her eyes.
“Time?” She mumbled, and Flins had to keep back a smirk from the way her purple hair stuck to her lips. Perhaps it was a bit of a comfort to know that even someone as beautiful as Lauma had bedhead in the mornings.
“Early, you should sleep some more.” He whispered, and gently pressed her forehead back down on his chest. Lauma sighed in agreement, muttered something along the lines of “a few more minutes” and then was fast asleep once again.
Flins spent the rest of their early morning planning how he would arrange for this ring to be made. It would take a few months at least, between the letters back and forth to Natlan, negotiations, and of course processing time.
He would have to be patient for a while longer, but then Lauma would have the perfect ring to display upon her hand as she prayed to the moon, or handed out food in Nasha town. A ring that would glitter in the light as she walked through the forest and visited with the deer and other animals that she called friends.
Flins was a very impatient man when it came to Lauma, but in this, he would hold himself together. In just a few months he would be able to gift her a perfect ring.
It was then that a little intruder decided he had waited long enough this morning. Dog came to their bedside and looked up at him expectantly, his white head tilted slightly as if confused as to why having a woman in his bed would ever distract Flins from the ever important task of feeding him. Lauma had suggested Flins finally name the dog that came by with bones at the lighthouse, and so he had, even if she seemed a bit exhausted by his choice of name.
Dog huffed from weary lips as his soft white ears dipped down in a pitiful display of begging, to which Flins was utterly immune. Lauma however? Not so much.
And Dog knew this, the little troublemaker. As Flins bone companion began to whimper, Lauma's eyes shot open and instantly softened, despite the rude awakening. Lauma sighed as she finally peeled herself off of Flins chest, the sheet tucked under her arms to keep her chest covered as she cooed to the manipulative old dog.
“Oh you poor thing, you must be so hungry.” Lauma hummed in understanding as the dog barked pitifully.
“You poor thing, having to wait all night!” Lauma listened as Dog barked again, and this time her pale cheeks glowed a slight silver as they flushed.
“Well, yes, you do deserve a treat for doing this, but please do not mention it to the others. Run along now, Flins and I will be out in a minute.” Content now that his benefactors were waking up, Dog trotted out the door and onto the frost nipped grass of the cemetery.
“What did he say?” Flins questioned as Lauma sighed, he was sitting up now and made a perfect prop for Lauma to flop back into, even if sleep was off the table now that she had promised breakfast to Dog.
“He said he expects a very delicious breakfast for all the hard work of keeping the lighthouse protected while we were in here trying to, ahem, make pups.” Awkward silence stretched between them until finally Flins sighed.
“I think I preferred it when I didn't know what every animal around us was thinking.” Lauma hummed in commiseration as the pair soaked up the last remaining seconds of their peaceful morning.
“That must be nice, but not a luxury I have ever been afforded. Still, animals at least are less shy about this sort of thing.”
Flins hummed in agreement before finally getting out of bed to get dressed, he pulled on some simple linen trousers and a matching shirt, his more complicated attire could wait until he had some coffee in his system, and Lauma had eaten breakfast. He himself might not need food in the same way as a human, but he found himself appreciating the taste of the slightly bitter coffee nonetheless.
“Flins, might I borrow a shirt?” Lauma questioned from the bed as Flins tugged on his own, he rummaged for a moment through his dresser before finding a suitable linen shirt for Lauma. It was long enough that even on someone tall like Lauma, it would go to her knees and cover her comfortably.
“Will this work?” He questioned as he offered the garment to Lauma, to which she readily nodded, and similarly began to dress.
“Yes, thank you.” Once the pair were dressed, Flins led the way to the outdoor kitchen where he began to prepare coffee the way his own mother had made it. A copper pot rested over the fire, to which he added what felt like equal parts coffee and water. This he allowed to percolate over the flames, and once it was ready, he poured it into two small cups and allowed the grinds inside to settle.
Lauma fed Dog, cooing and fretting over the beast as he ate his portion of plainly cooked fowl. She even went so far as to kiss his little pink nose, and Flins swore Dog looked at him with an almost smug expression.
Flins was most certainly not jealous of a dog, it was merely that he had yet to be anointed with kisses yet from his love, and yet Dog got them so freely? The world was absolutely absurd. Dog barked softly as if responding to Flins inner dialogue, and Lauma gently hushed the pet.
“Flins, Dog seems to think you might also need a kiss this morning?” Well, yes he would like a kiss, but to have the fact pointed out by a dog? No, absolutely not, his pride would not allow such a thing to transpire!
No, I am perfectly fine, thank you.” Flins did his best to not grumble as he sat down to his cup of coffee, the grinds now perfectly settled. The brew was fragrant and slightly fruity, perfectly balanced against the slight bitter metallic tang left from the brewing process.
“Mhm, myself and Dog do not believe you.” Lauma stood gracefully and slid her arms around his neck, and placed a kiss on his cheek.
“There, much better.” It took everything Flins had to not melt into her arms, and to hold himself up with at least a modicum of dignity. Even though he had been merely jesting (mostly) and not truly in a bad mood, the kiss did wonders to brighten his already good mood.
The rest of the morning was spent in perfect domestic bliss, and as Flins walked Lauma back to the Frostmoon Scions, all he could think was how he wished every morning could be this pleasant. That, however, would take just a bit more patience.
*********
“You have been acting strange all day, Flins.” Lauma said quietly as they rested together on the cliff facing her beloved statue of Kutar. It was close enough to offer a view of the Frostmoon scions, but far enough away that they were alone save for some deer and other forest animals.
“Am I not usually strange?” He offered, externally he was calm and collected, but inwardly he was a mess. What if she didn’t like the ring? Or what if she thought it wasn’t time to show off their relationship to her followers? If she rejected him, what would he even do? He had her name, and he desperately wanted to give her something precious in return.
“Yes Flins, I know when you are acting your normal strange, and when you are being strange strange.” Lauma placed a dainty hand on his knee, her voice was like a balm to his frayed nerves. He believed in their relationship, he believed in Lauma, and he would do whatever it took to stay by her side. He would fight for their love, and in his heart, he trusted Lauma would do the same. If she thought it was not the time, then he respected that choice and would wait with her until it was the correct time. He would wait until the end of time if he had to, though he hoped it would not come to something so drastic.
“Please tell me what is troubling you.” Flins folded his hands over hers, and brought it up for a kiss. He was not afraid of the Wild Hunt, or the darkness that encroached on the periphery of his life at all times, but losing Lauma? That was perhaps the only thing that could scare him anymore. He took a steading breath, and then began.
“Do you remember, a few months ago, when you gave me your true name?” He began softly, only for Lauma to look perplexed and then understanding.
“Yes, I do remember that.”
“As you know, for the fae, to hold someone’s true name is a precious gift. And I wish to give you something precious in return. Will you allow me?” He questioned softly as he dropped her hand, and reached into the pocket of his coat. Lauma nodded her consent, eyes wide like a deer as he pulled out the small jewelry box, and snapped it open quickly before he could lose his nerve.
Inside laid the ring he had specially crafted for her, a black fire opal in the shape of a teardrop. Its vibrant green and red flecks inside a black as rich as velvet were offset by the delicate silver band with carefully crafted branching leaves holding up the gem. In front of him, Lauma’s breath caught and Flins carefully extracted the ring to present it to his moonchanter.
“May I have your hand Lauma? I understand it may take time to change your laws, but I will wait for you as long as you need. I just wish to give you something as precious as what you have given me. You have been a light in my darkness Lauma and-” He was going to ramble, and Lauma must have known that, for she quickly leaned forward and kissed him. Only, the force of her excitement knocked them off of the small rock they were sitting on, and Flins landed on his back with Lauma over his chest.
From this angle, she was even more ethereal as silver tears brimmed at the edges of her blue eyes. She truly looked like a goddess as a smile spread across her face, purple hair hung over him and almost tickled his chin.
“Yes, Flins. No matter how long it takes, I will be by your side.” Lauma kissed him, and he could have stayed in that moment forever, only, he had a ring to present. Carefully, Flins sat up with Lauma on his lap, and she held out her hand for him to slide on the ring. It glittered in the light, and Lauma breathed out a soft sigh of appreciation.
“It’s beautiful Flins. I have never seen such a stone.” Lauma tilted her hand left and right, allowing the light to catch on each different shade that appeared as if by magic.
“It’s a rare gem from Natlan, it's called a black fire opal. It can be delicate, but those silver leaves are meant to help support the gem and protect it from danger.” He pointed out the small leaves, and Lauma hummed in appreciation.
“Functional, yet beautiful. A very skilled craftsman made this ring indeed.”
“Yes, I was fortunate to find such a craftswoman within the children of echos, for not many would even attempt to work with such a delicate stone in the first place.” Flins placed his arms above her hips, and drew Lauma close enough that he could rest his chin on her shoulder and admire the ring with her.
“I will take care of it, I promise.” Lauma’s hand began to stroke gently through his hair, and Flins found himself relaxing under her fingers.
“No wonder you have been so tense today, waiting to present this to me.” Lauma hummed as she played with his hair, something that was quite soothing to Flins, as he had discovered the first time she ran her fingers through his hair.
“Yes, well I was worried it might not be a good time. I know how important your followers are to you, and I would never want you to feel as if you have to choose between them or me. But I found that as soon as I got the ring back, well, I had to see how it looked on your finger.” Flins admitted as he and Lauma both admired the jet black stone with its flashes of vibrant red and green. The contrast against her silver pale skin was stark, and only made the ring stand out like a beacon. His more fae side was very pleased with this development.
She could look at the ring and think of him, while everyone else could see that she was engaged. They may not be able to know who yet, but for now it satisfied him knowing people would see she was promised to him, and himself to her.
“It looks lovely Flins.” Lauma sighed softly as she laid her head back down on his shoulder. Seems like she was just as happy as he was to rest on the cool grass of their homeland.
“I am glad that you are pleased, Lauma, I will admit that I was worried that it might not be to your taste.” He blushed just a bit as Lauma tilted his head up to look at her, and he found she had the faintest smirk upon her face.
“When I look at it, I think of you and that dark coat you always insist upon wearing. I do not believe this to be an accident, hmm? You want me to look upon this ring and think only of you, is that correct?” Her eyebrows raised in amusement as Flins could only blush more in shame.
“It would seem…I have been found out.” Flins cleared his throat as Lauma merely laughed, a pale hand pressed to her lips as if she needed to hide her smile from the world. It was a habit he dared not comment on, for it only made the easy smiles she gifted him all the more precious.
“My, my, my. My dear ratnik does have a possessive streak after all.” In order to hide his face, Flins pressed his forehead to her shoulder.
“I mean no disrespect-”
A gentle hand once again lifted his chin up with two dainty fingers and pressed a kiss to his lips, it tasted of berries and herbal tea.
Flins decided that perhaps herbal tea might be his new favorite drink.
“And you did not disrespect me, you cannot control your fae nature as much as I can control my scions blood. I am merely amused by it, is all. You truly are such a timid thing, when someone gets to know you.” Lauma kissed his forehead, and blessedly, relented in her teasing.
“I think I shall begin to tell people slowly. The people I trust the most may know who it is that gave me this ring, but I will wait to tell everyone until you can come with me, how does that sound?” That was fair enough, after all they were still clearing out Wild Hunt encampments, and Flins himself was scheduled to be sent back to the lighthouse for a few weeks. Most importantly, he meant it when he said he did not wish to push her too soon.
“That would be perfect Lauma.” Flins held her close in his arms, his hands tracing lazy circles into her back. He had to be mindful of her dress; however, how she managed to wear such a flimsy thing and keep herself decent was a mystery.
They rested like that for a minute, and just as Lauma went to kiss him again, they were interrupted by a rimehorn deer suddenly sniffing Flins hair as if to look for a new snack. Flins sat up and pulled out his pouch. His time with Lauma had trained him to be prepared for situations such as this, she was constantly surrounded by animals and so he was always ready to gain their affection. The fact that Lauma appreciated his efforts was not lost on Flins.
“Here you go, I know what you are looking for.” Flins pulled out a few choice lakaberries and a midsummer berry, and offered these to the rimehorn deer. The deer sniffed his hand, and upon smelling the sweet scent of the berries, nudged them out of Flins hands with his lips and happily chewed on the treat. But where there is one hungry animal, there is always another, and soon the rimehorn deers mate came peeking from beyond the forest line, its head tilted in confusion as if to say “you dare offer delectable treats to him and not to me?” Flins could only laugh as he shook more berries from his pouch and laid them on his palm, mindful always that his fingers were flat. He didn’t need them getting caught blocking the berries.
“Come here, you as well deserve some of these berries.” Lauma whispered encouragingly, and that was all she needed it seemed, as it slowly lumbered to where they sat on the snow dusted grass. The creature's hesitance was soon made clear, as its swollen belly was now on full display as it knelt delicately to nibble the berries off of his offered palm.
“Ah, I see, it is best to be cautious when one is with child.” Lauma nodded in understanding as the female deer rested heavily, its feet folded under her belly as she relaxed, seemingly comfortable around the moonchanter, despite Flins own fae blood which was sure to be setting her on edge, at least somewhat.
“This is an odd time of year for the deer to be this pregnant, is it not?” Flins whispered, careful to not startle the poor creature. Her mate stood by her side now, surveying the land around them for threats.
“Yes, but not unheard of. Nature will do what it wishes, of course.” Lauma sighed, and examined the snow around them.
“Still, it will be a cold time of year for such a small thing.” Lauma offered a gentle palm to the mother deer, and was rewarded as she nuzzled her nose into Lauma’s hand, and Lauma didn’t even have to bribe with berries for this affection! Oh well, such was the benefit of being the moonchanter. Flins hummed in agreement, and watched Lauma gently caress the deer's face.
She always showed her more maternal and gentle nature around the animals, and children of the sect. She was wonderful with children, as if it were engrained in her to be a bright light to those just making their mark in this world. She was gentle, encouraging, and quick to offer comfort or praise, but she wasn't permissive either. She was a leader, showing children right from wrong, and correcting them if they strayed from the path.
A knavish thought leapt to the forefront of his mind without his having a chance to stifle it out. What would Lauma look like with her own belly swollen with child? His child? What would she look like with an infant in her arms, born of their combined blood? Her skin glowing, her hair shining, and a smile on her face as she looked at their creation-
Flins felt a flush creep over his neck, and he subtly loosened his collar.
One thing at a time, he had just proposed to her, and they still had to wait for Lauma to become comfortable enough to tell her people of their relationship. Then there was the wedding, and of course he had to make sure that Lauma was just as eager and prepared for an infant. She was a busy woman, with many serious responsibilities, so he would have to take time off to care for the infant-
“Flins? What on earth are you thinking about?” Flins started as Lauma pressed her fingers down gently upon his shoulder, and he managed a grin.
“Oh, nothing, it’s nothing.” He cleared his throat, and offered her his hand. She raised an eyebrow, but did not pursue the matter further, blessedly. She stood with her hand in his, and waved goodbye to the deers before walking with him down the cliffside.
“Mhm, perhaps later I can find out what this nothing was all about?” There was mirth in her voice and mischief in her eyes as Lauma whispered near his ear. Flins did his best to keep his composure despite the chill that ran down his spine.
What a woman.
“Yes, perhaps, but I am afraid that this is where I must leave you for today.” Flins bowed deeply, his hand raised hers to place a kiss on the back of it. He smiled as his lips brushed the cool silver of the ring.
“Have a good day my love, I will be busy at Piramida for a few days, but then I will return. Send any of the animals if there is something urgent.” It was a needless reminder, but one he gave her at ever parting none the less.
“And you do the same, be safe.” Lauma leaned down slightly and kissed his forehead as if anointing it with her holy blessing.
“I will see you in three days time.” Flins at last stood up straight, and although he wished to drag this on as long as he could, he knew Lauma had business to attend to today, and he truly couldn’t skip this meeting. Flins waved goodbye as he crested the opposite cliff, and began his trek towards Piramida. A few days of business, and then he would be back home to his lighthouse, and then with Lauma.
**********
The mead halls din barely rang in his ears as Flins stared down his mug of ale which he had barely sipped. He was supposed to already be back on the road back home, but then Illuga said that in order to “blend in” better he should be more sociable, and well, now he was here. He wasn’t late by any means, it was the afternoon of the third day and he had not agreed upon a set time with which to meet Lauma anyway, but she knew how these large social gatherings sapped at his energy and likely wouldn’t seek him out until he was ready, typically a day or two after returning to the lighthouse.
But still, he wanted nothing more but to be home. Home at the lighthouse, home with Lauma.
“Why the long face Flins?” He would recognize that voice anywhere, but still he was surprised to see Nikita sit down by his side. Not because the man wasn’t kind, more so that he understood how Flins was at these sorts of things and tended to give him some space. Perhaps Illuga had also gotten to him? Or perhaps the mead that was tinting his cheeks rose had something to do with the man's eagerness to chat.
“I am merely missing home Starshyna.” At that the older man raised an eyebrow and laughed gruffly.
“And by home you mean Lauma?” If it was possible for his already pale complexion, Flins was certain he went translucent.
“Come now Flins, why the shock? It's an open secret that you take any and all patrols that will bring you even a bit closer to the Frostmoon scions settlement. And you are always seen walking Nasha town with Lauma at your side, it was only a matter of time for people to put two and two together. We were honestly taking bets on how long it would take for you to break and tell one of us.” Nikita sighed and peered into his own mug of lakaberry mead.
“I hope you’re happy that I lost a thousand mora.” He sighed, and as the shock eased, Flins felt himself ease as well. If there was anyone he could trust, it was the man beside him. Varka was also a nice confidant, but a bit too excitable. If he had told the man about the engagement he would have already tried to usher the two of them to Mondstat to get married under a neutral cathedral that did not care that he was fae, and she moonchanter.
“Never sir, but well, if it is such an open secret, perhaps I can speak to you about it?” Nikita seemed to consider this before laughing at Flins confused expression.
“Of course you can, why else would I bring it up?” Flins acquiesced, and made sure they would be unlikely to be overheard.
“I have given her a ring.” For a moment Nikita stared at him with utter shock in his eyes, before slowly the older man groaned.
“And there goes my other thousand mora.” Flins gave him a bit of a stern glare, but the older man continued.
“You have not yet gotten her pregnant, right?” Flins flushed straight down to his collar.
“Of course not, we are both adults with very busy jobs, I would never-” Nikita held up his hands in defeat.
“Merely another part of the ongoing bet, which I bet against just so you know. I understand with your…condition, as well as that of Lauma’s it would be a bit of a sensitive issue.” The man seemed oddly serious now as he brushed aside his mug and stared Flins in the eyes.
“I truly am happy for you, Flins. This is wonderful news that you won’t be in solitude anymore. We worry about you being alone all the time.” Nikita sighed, and glanced down at the table before clearing his throat.
“Anyway, let me know when things are official. I would like to help you in any way we as Lightkeepers can.” Flins laughed softly at the idea of the Ratniks arranging flowers at a wedding, or something equally absurd.
“I will be sure that you will be the first one informed when things become official.” Flins held up his mug and tapped it gently against the older man's mug. Pale and dark liquid sloshed around in their respective mugs before the two men drank to Flins future. The night passed in more revelry, and quite a few discarded mugs before Flins was finally released from his obligation and was able to start his trek home. Idly walking down the bridge toward the ferry he contemplated picking up some fresh fruit for Lauma, and perhaps Aino. To his knowledge the child had recently had her sugar restrictions tightened by Ineffa, so it would be nice to offer this as a healthier alternative.
The fact that he could coat the berries in sugar was merely an additive to keep them preserved, so Ineffa could not ban them. After all, it wouldn’t do to let Aino get food poisoning. Right, he could pick some berries on his way home and then once he got to the lighthouse he could relax for a day. Perhaps do a few bone puzzles, or tend to the graves. Just a bit of restorative “me” time as Lauma called it.
Flins boarded his ferry after showing his slip, and leaned on the banister as waves lapped against the metal hull of the ship. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled as two Fatui soldiers entered the ferry, but he didn’t turn to face them or confront them in any way, it was more instinct that his body reacted in such a way at this point. With the way the Fatui had treated the Frostmoon scions in the past, he was partial to a less than pleasant opinion of the group as a whole. Still, no one deserved a rash judgement based on the actions of others, and so Flins kept to himself by the rail.
“I can’t wait to get back to base, I was so bored.” Flins did his best to bite back a small smile at the way the younger fatuus complained, much like many Ratnik he had heard at Piramida. Right, these were people, just like him and his companions.
“A bored day is a good day, don’t forget that. Would you rather have been stationed near the Frostmoon Scions?” Flins ears twitched at the mention, and a strange tension filled his stomach. Surely they meant when they were the ones leading the offensive against the Fatui right? Or more, simply defending their holy relics.
“True, poor bastards.” The younger one sighed.
“Do you think they have the Hunt under control finally?” Flins couldn’t breathe now.
“The attack only started this morning, and considering how few of their people have combat abilities, my guess would be no. Not to mention the ratnik has been slow to respond.” The older fatuus sighed as the ferry jolted alive, and all Flins could do was stare deep into the churning water below.
“Who knows how long it will take till this dies out, they said the attack struck in the middle of some sort of ritual- HEY?!” The fatuus cried out in shock as Flins climbed over the banister of the ferry and prepared to launch himself into the sea.
“ARE YOU INSANE?!” Was the last thing Flins heard from the fatuus as he dived over the side of the boat, and into the ocean. A brief chill hit his bones before purple light glowed around him, imbuing him with superhuman speed as he began his frantic swim towards the Frostmoon scions.
Towards Lauma.
*******
He was too late. Already abyssal energy tainted the usually calm and quaint Frostmoon Scions dwellings. Claws over the door frames, purple lines etched into the ground itself, and that familiar smell of rot and ash as the human puppets marionetted by the wild hunt walked through this area. There were only a few bodies of innocents, so Flins could only pray that most had been able to evacuate from the area before the attack spread any further.
There was no sign of life, or the hunt, so they must have pressed further inland. There was no time to waste, and so Flins spun on his heel and began to follow the tracks of that black energy, until a soft sound froze him midstep. It was the crying of a child.
Flins quickly turned towards the sound, and followed it to its source, a small hut with its door broken off of its hinges. Flins entered quietly, polearm drawn as he approached the sound that became a bit distorted as the child seemed to have heard his footsteps and now stifled themselves.
“It's alright, I am a Lightkeeper, I am here to help.” Flins spoke into the darkness of the hut, but there were no reciprocated calls. It was natural, of course, that the child's survival instincts would be telling them to hide so strongly. That was the way of the world, that children be defended from darkness, while the adults dealt with said darkness.
Still, it meant they were wasting precious time. Flins tilted his head and allowed his fae ears to pick up on the subtle rapid beating of the child's heart, like that of a bird in a snare.
“I do not mean to frighten you, but this area is no longer safe.” Flins approached the cupboard where the heartbeat grew faster, and gently opened the door to see exactly what he expected, a wide eyed terrified little girl who stared at him in horror before recognition flicked in her eyes.
“You’re-” Flins nodded, and offered his hand to the child, to give her the courage to leave her hiding spot.
“Yes, I am Flins, a Lightkeeper, I am sure you have seen me around here before.” The little girl nodded slowly, her eyes suddenly shot open even wider as she all but shoved her way past him into the hut.
“Ms. Lauma! She made me hide in here, b-but she said she was going to draw them away, we have to-” Flins grabbed the child's arm, but even in his utter panic he was sure to not cause the child any pain. Lauma hated to see children in pain.
“Where did she go?” The girl glanced at the open door as if determined to chase after the monsters herself, but this moment of foolish bravery was soon displaced by solemn resolution.
“Towards the shore, she wanted to get them as far away from here as possible, please you have to go help her! There were so many and-” Flins nodded and squeezed the girl's shoulder gently.
“I will. Now run towards Nasha town, the way there is safe. Run as fast as you can, and get help. Ask for the Lightkeepers, the Traveler, Knights of Favonious, it doesn’t matter who, just send them here.” The little girl nodded, and without another word, tore down the path towards Nasha town as if the Wild Hunt was on her heels. Flins watched her long enough to ensure she made it over the ridge, and then turned down the opposite track, towards the water.
The sounds of battle soon reached his ears, and urged his feet faster. Just one more second his soul pleaded, just one more second and he would be there to help Lauma, just wait for him. Bright green light reached his vision, as it offset the murky dark purple and black of the Wild Hunt. Flins could hear the sound of galloping footsteps, Lauma in her half deer form then, and as he skidded down the small hill towards the sand he could see Lauma fighting valiantly against the Wild Hunt. She was tearing past monsters, a prayer on her lips as her Dendro vision fired off of her hip.
She truly looked like a goddess, sweat on her brow, and only concentration in her eyes as she fought off monsters that swarmed around the glow her presence cast over their rotten forms.
He wasn’t too late, she was safe. Flins readed his polearm, and tapped into his rarely used fae strength. These creatures had destroyed his lovers home, and scared her people, they deserved the full strength of his wrath. The crackle of his energy seemed to snap Lauma out of her intense concentration as her head jerked towards him and her silver eyes lit up at the sight of him with his fae energy surrounding his human shell. Their eyes met, and Flins smiled despite the current danger. He would aid his beloved in this fight, and win back her home together. He held his polearm aloft, and allowed his vision to spark and imbue it with energy, every muscle in his body was tensed and ready to join the fray.
But things change so suddenly in this world.
One second he was looking into Lauma’s eyes, wide and full of hope, and then the next they were filled with fear. That was wrong, why were they full of fear? She was winning-
Purple flames poured out from behind Lauma as a silver stained spear protruded from her abdomen.
Flins ran.
It was like watching a child play with a rag doll, the way Lauma's body sagged over the spear as the creature swung her off of the spear, like slinging off a bit of unwanted meat from a skewer. Lauma crashed limply into the rocks beside the abyssal rift, and Flins held up his lantern and allowed every bit of his fae power to engulf the land around him.
Purple flames licked the grass around them, and then spread in a powerful burst, the fire smothered the flames of the Wild Hunt. Nod Krai’s soil pulsed with his light as it spread rapidly across the ground like lightning, glowing with almost divine light.
Faster.
He had to work faster.
Flins brought his flame to the forefront of his mind, and allowed it to become wild and untamed. Raw power poured from him as his polearm whipped around like the lightning that flashed from his vision. He barely felt it when he sliced through the enemies, he might as well have been slicing through bread or butter. Raw adrenaline made it so that those “obstacles” were hardly a hindrance in his path to Lauma.
Even still, he wasn't fast enough, he could hear Lauma's strangled breaths, and gasps of pain.
Finally, the last creature in front of him was the one whose spear dripped with silver. Silver was wrong, the only silver that belonged in this world was the silver that Lauma willingly shed to heal her people, or the silver that tinted her cheeks when she found him amusing or alluring.
This thing did not deserve to live after robbing them of Lauma’s precious silver.
Silver that Lauma needs to survive, a small voice whispered in Flins mind, silver that was slowly draining out of Lauma’s wound, he could see it starting to stain the ground around her out of the corner of his eye.
The monster didn't even have a chance to whisper before Flins polearm was upon him, over and over again Flins slashed and stabbed, nothing but pure rage fueled his attacks. No gentlemanly form, no proper posture, no practiced sparring.
Flins fought as a man possessed.
It took him a few seconds to finally realize that the creature had faded to ash and all that he was attacking was the husk of the monster as it faded back to the abyss where it belonged.
Flins heard a weak cry from behind him and his polearm was dropped in an instant, in a second he was at Laumas side and truly examined the damage.
Flins fingers trembled as he hesitantly gathered Lauma into his arms and braced a hand on her wound. Warm silver pooled under his fingertips and glistened in the light.
“Lauma?” He whispered as his eyes stared in disbelief at that warm silver blood that poured from her abdomen and soaked into the green of her skirt. The stain would be horrible to get out later, and this was her favorite dress. It was such a gauzy thing, how would they ever repair the rips and tears?
Pressure, they needed pressure to stop the bleeding, and so Flins laid his love back down upon the hard ground, and pressed heavily on where the most silver blood pooled. Only, it wasn’t slowing, why was it not slowing? Had the spear nicked an artery? Flins was not the most informed on anatomy, but even he knew the severity of abdominal wounds, depending on where the injury occurred. There were so many vital organs within your abdomen, so much that could bleed, so much that could fester and become infected, so much that could die.
Flins pressed harder to the wound, even as Lauma gasped in pain, her lips were twisted into a grimace. He had sworn to never hurt her, and here he was-
No, he must. He must, it was the only way to save her. Flins pressed harder on the gaping wound, even as blood continued to pool around his gloved hand, and even as his love squirmed under the pressure. It wasn’t slowing down, what else could he do?
“Hold on Lauma, hold on. Help is on the way.” Flins spoke softly, almost faintly within his own mind.
They would have to soak her dress in cold water to get the blood out.
Gods why was there so much blood?
“Flins-” Lauma gasped, and he held her closer to hear what she wanted to say.
“I'm sorry, the ring…I broke your ring.” She held up a hand stained with silver blood, and with a haunting grimace Flins realized her hand was broken, the bones twisted. Her ring finger only held an empty silver band now, which was crushed tight around her ring finger, misshapen and surely cutting off circulation.
She had so many injuries, so much to heal, where did he start? Lauma’s voice broke him from his concentration.
“I’m scared ... there's so much not…. not done- so much I need to…want to do-” Laumas voice broke off into a sob as Flins shook his head emphatically.
“No, no. Lauma you are going to be fine, please believe me-”
“Flins…the blood.” Lauma whimpered, and only then did he notice that her silver blood was now tinged with abyssal black, like that of the Wild Hunt. A rare sensation crept into Flins body, and settled down in his chest and began to squeeze.
Helpless, consuming, panic.
“No….NO!” Flins looked around, but they were alone. He had to find help, the abyssal power of the Wild Hunt….the Traveler could purify this, yes?! Flins glanced around, the girl he had sent to Nasha town, surely she had reached her destination by now!
“TRAVELER?! INEFFA? VARKA?!” No one answered, they were alone. Why were they alone? There had to be someone, somewhere who could hear his cries for help.
“Flins, am I….the Wild…Hunt?” Lauma whimpered as more black blood oozed from under his trembling glove.
It wouldn't stop.
Make it stop.
“No, you won't be Lauma. I won't allow it, you won't join them, you're going to be fine-” He was cut off by cold fingertips, pressing on the skin right above his glove. They tried to move his hand, but he couldn't let them. He had to hold pressure! Lauma was bleeding and-
“Let go….let go Flins.” Lauma begged, her eyes bright with silver tears, even as the wound in her abdomen shone hopelessly black like the night.
“I can’t-” Flins admitted weakly.
“It hurts….and I'm scared.” Lauma took a deep breath, and forced a serene smile on her pale face.
“….But you'll stay, right?” Lauma's hand trembled as slowly, she eased his hand off of her abdomen and held it within her own.
“And when I…turn into one of them.” She stopped talking as a few silver tears rolled down her cheeks. Her eyes flicked to the polearm that lay abandoned only a few feet behind them.
Black blood stained her pale hand.
Flins looked into her eyes, and nodded.
“Yes, I will stay with you. You are my light Lauma, to have and to hold, in darkness and in light, in sickness or in health.” He grit his teeth as her breathing slowed and grew ragged.
“You are my life Flins…Through richer or poorer, till death do us part.” Their vows complete, Lauma’s eyes cast towards the night sky as a dim sadness filled them.
“If the moon…is fake…where will I go, Flins? Where will my soul rest?” Lauma whimpered as her tears began to slow upon her tear ducts.
“I don't…want to dis-appear.” Her voice was barely a whisper, but his love, she looked so scared.
Flins had no choice.
He had to comfort her.
“Rest now Lauma.” He choked, cleared his throat, and continued, Lauma’s chest was slowing down, the time between breaths was growing longer.
“It’s time for sleep now, don't cry.” He bent forwards and kissed silver tears from her cheeks.
Cheeks that no longer moved with breath.
“I will follow you into the darkness my love.” As gently as he could, Flins laid Lauma down upon the soil and closed her dull eyes. He took care to wipe the blood and tears from her face, and to make sure her dress was properly arranged. It would not do for anyone to find Lauma's body in a distasteful position, not if he could help it.
So, he made sure her dress was properly aligned, her jewelry straightened, and blood wiped off of cheeks and limbs. Still, he grew restless.
“You will have to forgive my impatience my dear, I am sure you did not expect till death do us part to be fulfilled on my end so soon.” Flins whispered as he pressed one final kiss to Lauma's forehead.
“But I have been alive for more than six hundred years. I think most would agree that is plenty of time. There is no reason to be sad, after all, there is nothing sad about joining the one you love on a long journey.” Flins smiled bitterly as he set his lantern down next to Lauma's shoulder. Whoever found her body would find his extinguished lantern, with no trace of the man who once owned it. Perhaps the Traveler would guess what happened, but by the time anyone found them, it would be too late. They had been too late to save Lauma, why should they now save him?
Flins carefully unlatched the door on his lantern, and reached in for his flame. His heart shuddered as the first flickers hit his skin, though he felt no burning. A base fear seized him, the innate organic need for survival. Calmly, Flins weighed this innate fear against the fear of centuries more of loneliness, of being separated from the one who had taught him what it was like to truly live again.
The choice was simple.
His chest continued to ache as he pulled the flame out, and rested it gently in his palm. He examined his life, his heart, and calmly began to curl his fingers to smother the flame, even as his heart seized and he felt all breath leave his chest-
“FLINS?!”
Suddenly, his hand was wrenched open, and his flame quickly secured within the gloved hand of another before being shoved back into his lantern. It all happened so fast that he didn’t have time to even blink before the Traveler was suddenly upon Lauma, trying to purge the abyssal powder and resuscitate her.
But for once, the hero of Teyvat was powerless.
No one could defy Death.
“Flins?” Paimon’s weak voice squeaked from behind him where the little creature floated, taking in both the weak flame that rested back in his lantern, and Lauma’s silver and black coated body.
“What happened? Lauma isn’t…you weren’t trying to-” Paimon's voice choked up, and suddenly she was hugging his arm with all of her might, as if her tiny body would be strong enough to drag him away from the edge.
“Please don’t go Flins.” She whispered, as the Traveler soon joined her, instead merely kneeling in front of Flins. Their hands went to take his lantern away, but quick as lightning, Flins grabbed it away from them and held it within his own numb fingers. Like placating a wild beast, the Travelers palms went up in calm defeat.
“Flins, let me hold the lantern.”
Flins shook his head, his own voice sounded so weak.
“She was so scared. With the moon so far away…where will she go? She needs someone to guide her way in the darkness.” Distantly, Flins was aware how dissociated he must sound, how frankly, mad he sounded. But the Traveler merely nodded in understanding.
“I hear you Flins, but you and I both know Lauma wouldn’t want this for you.” Flins hands shook as he continued to clutch onto his lantern.
“I told her I would help her, that I would follow her into the darkness. I am not scared of the darkness, but she is, Lauma is so used to the light.” Flins paused as a strange choking engulfed his throat, and hot tears began to roll down his cheeks.
“How can she survive the darkness without a light to guide her? How can I survive the light without her here?” His voice gave out as he looked down into the flickering purple flames of his lantern.
“I know how much you love her Flins. She told me about the ring, about everything.” The Traveler's voice was calm and slow, while Paimon’s hands only tightened around his arm, as if her feeble strength could stop him should he decide to reach into the lantern, and extinguish his light. It would be so easy, not passive in the way of his past of simply waiting for the soil of Nod-Krai to claim him, but a real, forceful act.
Would Lauma be disappointed that his timid soul had failed him in the end?
Tears rolled down his cheeks as slowly, his fingers loosened around the lantern, and the Travelers hand slowly inched forwards, until finally his lantern fell out of his own cold hands and into that of the Travelers.
“I’m so sorry, Lauma.” Flins whispered, but Paimon only spoke with an odd wisdom so rarely seen from the creature.
“She would be happy Flins, she wouldn’t want…We don’t want another friend to…” Here her voice trailed off, and Flins spoke for her. It was so odd that as humans and even fae, they could find it so hard to speak the truth. They waltzed around the topic like a graceful couple upon the dancefloor, never once stepping on the truth.
Pass away, eternally sleep, rest in peace, move on, go to the next world, leave, close their eyes forevermore, begin their afterlife, rejoin their long lost relatives and friends that have gone on before them-
“To die Paimon? You do not wish me to die like Lauma?” Flins looked over at Lauma’s still warm body, that would rapidly be cooling.
“Traveler, please if you can, purge the abyssal energy from her body. I do not wish for her to join the Wild Hunt.” The Traveler nodded, and set down his lantern next to Lauma as they held forth their hand and began to purge the energy from Lauma’s body.
Suddenly, their eyes grew wide, and they dove their hand into the tendrils of dark energy that suddenly pulsed from her core.
“There’s something else in here! The Wild Hunt, the abyssal energy, it must trap the peoples souls within their body, if I can just-” Suddenly, a light flashed from Lauma’s body, and the Traveler’s hand emerged from her chest with a faint wisp of blueish/silver light that seemed to blink and glow.
Flins fingers twitched.
“There, now she can-” Before he could even think, before the Traveler or Paimon could react, Flins grabbed the light away from the Traveler, and held it within his hand. It pulsed with such a familiar warmth, and he knew it was Lauma he held in his hand.
It was almost funny, how he knew exactly what to do.
Flins opened the door of his lantern, and placed her light within it, alongside his. Everything became quiet around him, as he whispered three soft words, Lauma’s true name which he kept close to his heart.
Purple and blue met, and even though his chest stung, even as Flins body tried to reject the new energy, he pushed forward. Sweat appeared on his brow and his muscles shook, his vision reacted to his distress and pulsed energy around him, the air crackled with electro as he watched the flames dance sporadically within the lantern.
Faintly he could hear the confused shrieks of Paimon as she begged him to stop, the Traveler grabbed his arm, but he yanked them off with a flick of his shoulder as his true fae strength came out for the second time that day.
Purple and blue finally melded into one, and relaxed into a sickly silver glow within his lantern. He realized that he was trembling, his breath came in fast pants as if he had just run a mile, and his chest ached like a heart attack. Quiet engulfed them now, and as Flins tilted his head up to the pained and shocked eyes of the Traveler, he found that he had no answer for their question.
“What have you done?”