Say No To This

@ sun spirit

"You'll be queen soon enough. They'd have to listen to both of us. And you being there would mostly be for support. I can't let them push me around in front of my wife." He teased, peppering kisses over her cheeks with a little laugh. When she began to talk about Nyrel being appointed he only shrugged, settling back into his chair with her. "I'm not saying immediately. But in a few years, if a position opened up, I'd let him have it if he wanted. I'm sure that despite our sneaking around, he'll be back on the Council's good side in no time."

---

Aerith giggled a little as he teased her, her arms moving to snake around his neck as he pulled her closer, happily returning his kiss. She rather liked it when he kissed her like this, it made her stomach fill with butterflies and her heart fluttering, even more so when he kissed down her neck. She practically melted in his arms as he focused his attention on a particular spot on her neck, a soft, happy moan escaping her lips as her fingers tangled in his hair. "If you want to see my back so badly, you can take the nightgown off, you know.." she murmured, her eyes closing happily as she smiled.

She pouted as he pulled back to study her, though her fingers moving from his hair to rest on his shoulders as she whined a little. "Teasing isn't funny, Nyrel."

@ katahdin

Ceren giggled as he peppered kisses over her cheeks and pressed a single kiss to his lips in response. "I'm not your wife yet. Or queen." Gods, she still couldn't imagine that, no matter what reassurances Elwin gave her. That thought was swallowed up and pushed to the back of her mind as they circled back to Nyrel though, and she couldn't help but smile a bit. "You're probably right about that. He's probably already planning on how to do it, if for no other reason than to make his and Aerith's lives easier. And since you asked for positions... if you ever need a new ambassador or diplomat or something like that, I'd say go for that. He's good with people."

---

Nyrel chuckled at Aerith's reaction, her offer from just moments earlier hanging in his mind as well. "I'm just making sure," he assured her, leaning in to kiss her. "I know you haven't exactly done anything like this before, and I want to make sure you aren't uncomfortable... although, judging by your generous offer and complaining, it seems like I must be doing something right." He held her close as he kissed her again, letting it deepen and drawing it out so that they were both a little breathless when their lips parted. "I want to kiss every inch of you," he murmured, his forehead pressed to hers. "And I would love to do anything you wanted, but the rest of our clothes are staying exactly where they're at until you promise me you'll tell me if you're uncomfortable or want me to stop. Anything, at any time."

@ sun spirit

Elwin grinned as he heard her giggling, pressing one last kiss to her cheek before sitting back in his chair, running his fingers through her hair. "But you will be in a week or so, so you ought to get used to the idea, your Highness." He said teasingly, peppering a few kisses along her jaw with a laugh. He nodded in agreement when she suggested he be made a diplomat, nodding. "That would work quite well.. Aerith loves traveling, and having her as top General and him as a diplomat would be quite efficient.."

---

Aerith kissed him back, humming against his lips as he drew it out. By the time he pulled back her lips were pinker than they were and her cheeks were flushed red but not from embarrassment, a bit out of breath as she looked at him. "You're doing everything right.." she murmured as he rested his forehead against hers, pressing a little kiss to the tip of his nose, smiling a little as he spoke again. "I'll let you, too, if you ask politely." She teased, pressing another kiss to his lips before she pulled back and nodded, her arms wrapping around his neck. "I promise I'll let you know if I'm uncomfortable, Nyrel. Just because I'm a little nervous doesn't mean that I'm uncomfortable or don't want to. I really, really want to."

@ katahdin

Ceren didn't giggle this time, though she did smile at Elwin. "I think I could get used to the idea of being your wife very quickly," she assured him as she ran her fingers through his hair. "It's the queen part I still can't imagine. I'm just praying it doesn't change things with the other healers or make things strange with patients." She was happy to hear that he agreed with her suggestion regarding Nyrel though. Her only reservation had been how Aerith would react about him possibly leaving for long periods of time, but if she got to go with him... "You're right. I'm sure they'd love being able to travel together, and that way, neither of them would be here, brooding or moody because the other one's gone."

---

(We should probably go ahead and skip with these two if you don't mind xD probably just safe to assume Nyrel showed Aerith a good time)

Nyrel chuckled softly, glad to hear that she approved, though he didn't respond to her teasing immediately, waiting until after she'd replied to his request for her promise. "That's good to know," he smiled as he pressed another kiss to her lips, "But I didn't say that because you seemed nervous. I said that to make sure you knew you're in control here. I don't cross any line you don't want." Another kiss, and he pulled back with a grin. "Since we have that settled..." His mouth returned to her neck, slowly tracing its way down towards her collarbone, and he slowly spoke between kisses, making sure to very politely ask her permission to kiss everywhere.

@ sun spirit

"It might be hard at first," he admitted with a little frown. "When I became King everyone treated me differently, but after a while I got used to it, and with some people it's back to the way it was." He explained, kissing her reassuringly. "I'm sure you'll figure things out." He chuckled at the mention of moody Aerith and Nyrel, shaking his head a little. "You're right. It's better that they travel together if possible."

---

(lol of course I'll skip ahead)

After a few hours, Aerith was convinced that Nyrel had kissed everywhere, and she was quite pleased about it. The candles had burned out by then, the moonlight coming through the windows illuminating Nyrel's bedroom, his shirt and her nightgown discarded in the middle of the floor where they'd been dancing, and his pants on the floor a bit closer to the bed. The newlyweds were happily curled up under the blankets in bed, wrapped in each other's arms. Aerith snuggled closer to her husband, not that there was much room left between them, pressing a little kiss to his shoulder as she rested her head against his chest, fingers tracing little patterns across his skin as she stifled a yawn. She was exhausted, but wasn't ready to go to sleep yet, wanting to stay awake as long as Nyrel was awake, not wanting to waste a moment she could be spending with him.

"I love you.." she whispered softly, letting out a content little sigh as she shifted to look up at him, her fingers moving up to brush across his jaw and over his lips as she gave him a little smile.

@ katahdin

Ceren smiled softly, returning his kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I hope you're right. Because while everyone knew you'd be King one day, I never planned on being anything other than a healer." She smiled at the look he had when she mentioned Nyrel and Aerith being moody without each other and stifled a laugh. "Imagine Aerith like she's been this past month, except worse, or Nyrel with his--" her words were interrupted by a knock at the door. Before she could answer, it was being pushed open, revealing Leywyn, the youngest healer in the castle excluding Ceren, whose eyes widened a bit as she quickly backed out before she could say anything, the door closing behind her, and Ceren felt a blush heat her cheeks as she heard the woman explain to someone that the royal healer was attending the king.

It wasn't the first time something like this had happened, but repeat instances didn't make it any less embarrassing to be found curled up in Elwin's lap or so consumed in kissing him that she didn't hear someone knock. She resolved that it wouldn't happen again every time too, but inevitably, any time he was in her office, it seemed to happen. "I'm going to have to take your chair away and ban you from coming in here," she said as she hid her blushing face in his shirt. "I think every healer in the infirmary has caught us now."

---

(Thank ya! -almost said it in German because I'm so used to doing it to my family xD-)

Nyrel held Aerith to him, more than content as they laid together and he gently ran his fingers through her hair. Aerith had seemed determined to squash any worries he might've had about her earlier and to have very much enjoyed herself. He was glad for it, because that was what he'd ultimately wanted, and there was a new relaxation in him with this first time behind them. Given how tired she'd seemed before dinner though, he was surprised when he felt a kiss on his chest, signaling that she was still awake even while he felt half asleep, and he smiled down at her softly as she spoke. "I love you too, Aer," he said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "Even if you do have an odd obsession with my butt." His smile was a little mischievous as he pulled away--though he didn't go far, one hand still stroking Aerith's hair while the other lay wrapped around her waist, holding her close.

@ sun spirit

Elwin couldn't help but laugh after the Leywyn shut the door again, his arms tightening around Ceren as she buried her face in his chest. "Oh no you don't." He told her as she threatened to take away his chair, grinning down at her. "If you do that, I'll send Aerith to bother you, and no one wants that." He teased, kissing her forehead. "It's fine Cer, really. They don't care. Sure, it was awkward the first few times, but this is like the fiftieth, they're used to it by now, and you should be too." He said as he reluctantly released her. "I should let you go attend someone else, though."

---

Aerith hummed happily as she felt his fingers in her hair, looking up at him with a smile as he teased her. She giggled a bit as she shifted a bit to get more comfortable as he moved, her toes nudging against his leg. "I'll remind you of where your hands were most of the night, Mr." She teased, her nose scrunching up as she stifled her laughter. "I also distinctly remember you pressing many a kiss to certain areas of mine, which you seemed to like very much." She laughed, returning his kiss as she moved to lay on her stomach, propping herself up on his chest as she looked down at him, grinning a little. "I'm not the only one with odd obsessions."

@ katahdin

"Maybe I'd like having Aerith around," Ceren argued without moving, and while what he said made sense and she knew she should be used to this, she just wasn't. "I know they're fine, but I just feel like I should be able to act professionally and be able to be alone in a room with you for more than five minutes without somehow ending up in your lap or so focused on kissing you that I don't hear someone knocking on a door. Someone's going to walk in one day and you'll be shirtless or my dress will be half off or something." He was right about her needing to leave though. If Leywyn had tried to come in with someone, they'd either requested to see her or needed to see her. She sighed, then kissed him and stood up. "You're welcome to work here if you'd rather stay than go to your office, but I'm enforcing a no-touching rule as soon as I come back," she warned, then slipped out into the infirmary to see what she was needed for.

---

Nyrel chuckled as Aerith shifted to lay on top of him, and he tucked his hands behind his head as he looked up at her. "Well, you certainly didn't seem to be complaining about my odd obsessions earlier, ma'am," he returned, lifting his head to give her a kiss. "Although if you feel like complaining now, I suppose I'll just make a note for next time and remember not to indulge in my obsessions next time."

@ sun spirit

Elwin frowned a bit as she spoke, releasing his arms from around her almost immediately, standing as he cleared his throat once she was off his lap. "I understand.. I apologize, Ceren, it's my fault, and it won't happen again." He promised, pressing a brief kiss to her cheek before he moved to follow her out of her office. He knew he'd overstepped, and as much as he wanted to argue, he knew for the sake of her being treated with respect as the Royal Healer he needed to stop, even if it hurt a bit to do so. He knew he shouldn't be taking it so seriously, but having Ceren not want him to touch her felt like a rejection, and even though he understood her reasoning, he was still a young man, and so he headed back to his room to sulk. It wasn't like he had anything better to do, anyway.

---

Aerith giggled a little as she looked down at him, returning his kiss before pouting a bit when he said he wouldn't repeat his actions next time. "No, I wasn't complaining. I like when you indulge, I promise." She pouted, pressing a little kiss to his lips, fingers dancing along his collarbone as she looked at him, laying her head against his chest. "...You want there to be a next time?" She asked after a moment, looking up at him curiously. She hadn't been sure if this was a sort of 'one-and-done' thing, that she'd get pregnant and they'd have a child and that would be that, or even if he'd want to do this again with her. She very much wanted to do it again with him, and so she hoped he'd want to indulge again, but she wasn't going to push him if he didn't want to.

@ katahdin

Something about Elwin's reaction didn't quite seem right, but they were out of her office and away from privacy before Ceren had a chance to respond, and she could only watch as he left the infirmary, then turn as Leywyn called her and summon up her friendliest smile as she went to great an older man.

By the time lunch came around, Elwin still hadn't returned. Not wanting to bother him, Ceren ate with Leywyn and Taliesin, then went back to work until it was time for dinner. She still hadn't so much as heard from Elwin, hadn’t seen him since that morning, and she found herself unsure of what to do. Was he angry with her? She mentally went back to their conversation that morning and tried to figure out what she said wrong and if she should apologize, but... sometimes this happened. He’d get upset and disappear for a little while, and he always showed up once he was fine again. And even though she’d see him eventually, and it would be like nothing had happened, she couldn’t help but wish he’d talk to her and explain what she did to upset him so much, instead of making her wonder and worry.

Maybe he was fine though. Maybe he’d just fallen asleep again and was running late. Ceren held onto that as others went to get dinner or go home, and she went back to her office and waited, continuing with her paperwork as she did. It kept her distracted at least, until it somehow ran out, and when she looked up, her candles were burning low, nearly spent, while everything outside of the candle’s light was dark as pitch. She knew how late it had to be, that the time for dinner had long come and passed, and after rejecting the idea of going back to her room, she laid down on the cot in the corner of her office and went to sleep there.

---

Nyrel chuckled, kissing the top of Aerith’s head as she laid it on his chest and wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him. “I was hoping you’d say that,” he murmured with a smile, though he paused at her question. She didn’t look self-conscious or anything, though he couldn’t imagine any other reason why she’d ask that, and eventually he responded, “Of course. Preferably many next times....” He reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Do you... not want there to be?” He was sure she’d enjoyed herself, but maybe there was some reason... His mind snagged on something and he continued quickly, “If you’re worried about children, I’m not sure what all you talked to Ceren about, but there’s an herb; I’m sure we can ask about it tomorrow.”

@ sun spirit

Elwin returned to his room and made himself busy by working through the large pile of paperwork on his desk, despite most of it being unimportant. He was upset with himself for upsetting Ceren and putting her in an unprofessional position, but it had hurt him terribly when she rejected him, even though he knew why she did it and that it was reasonable for her to do. But, he was barely outside the realm of being a teenager, and because his taking the thrown at a young age had kept him from getting to be a real teenager and learn how to deal with his emotions and problems, he resorted to sulking whenever he was upset instead of talking it out. Although, until a year ago it wasn't like he had anyone to talk to about these sorts of things, and so he hadn't even considered talking to Ceren as a possibility.

By the time the candles burned out in his room the pile of papers was gone, and even though his hand ached from writing he wasn't tired enough to go to sleep, so he decided to wander around the hallways until he was. He stopped by Ceren's room to see if she was there, briefly thinking it might be helpful to see her, but when she wasn't there it meant that she must still be in the infirmary, which she'd made clear was a no contact zone. With a sigh he returned to his room and crawled into bed, staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours before he finally drifted off to sleep, feeling more stressed than he had when the Council was breathing down his neck.

---

Aerith snuggled close as his arms wrapped around her, shaking her head as she looked up at him. "No, I want there to be next times, too.. Lots and lots of next times." She said with a faint blush, looking up at him again when he spoke about children. "I'm not worried about children.. Are you worried about children?" She asked softly, a small frown on her lips. "I.. Everything has been so rushed, and I don't want you to feel like I'm trying to rush into doing this stuff or having children if you don't want to. I don't mind waiting, I really don't. I just want you to be happy, and if you're happiest with no children, then I won't have any." She reassured him quickly, snuggling closer as she pressed a kiss to his cheek, her arms wrapping around him securely as she stifled a yawn.

@ katahdin

Ceren woke later than she normally would the next morning, stretched out on the cot in her office. She blinked at her office a couple of times as she woke up, the events of yesterday coming back to her and reminding her of why she'd slept in her office. She sat up, looking at her desk and the paperwork she'd stayed up so long to finish, her eyes eventually drifting to Elwin's chair, empty and unused. Was he upset because he thought she didn't want to spend time with him? She'd just show him otherwise.

Ceren stood up, picked up Elwin's chair and walked out of her office, letting it drop onto the ground outside the doorway, then went back for the cot. If she moved that out, there would be room for a second desk, which could be Elwin's, and that way he had his own space when he came to visit. He couldn't possibly think she didn't want to spend time with him if she put a desk in just for him.

(I may or may not be setting things up to where Elwin could easily just walk in and see that Ceren's thrown his chair out)

---

Nyrel held Aerith close as she quickly tried to explain herself and then claimed that she wouldn't have children if he didn't want any. "No, Aer, I just thought... I was trying to think of a reason why you might ask if I only wanted this to happen once, and that just popped into my head," he attempted to explain as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'd love to have children with you. Like you said though, everything has happened so quick, and I kind of realized that I wasn't sure how you felt about it. I mean, we got engaged yesterday and married today, so maybe it would be smart to wait, even if we both wanted it. But it's also really hard for elves with magic to have children, so I don't know." Whereas he'd been halfway asleep before this conversation, Nyrel was beginning to feel pretty alert with the change of topic.

@ sun spirit

(omg so cruel)

Elwin woke later in the morning than he usually did, still feeling awful. He needed to talk to Ceren and straighten everything out with her, hating feeling like this. He ordered a plate of strawberries be brought to his room, and once they had been delivered he set out to bring them to Ceren's office, wanting to surprise her and apologize for not being professional yesterday.

However, when he turned the corner and saw his -or what was formerly his- chair out in the hall he froze, frowning deeply as he stared at it. He knew Ceren had been upset and instituted a no-touching rule in her office, he hadn't known she disliked him enough to kick him out of her office, enough to not want him to sit with her anymore. He glanced down at the plate of strawberries in his hand, walking over to set them down on the chair before turning and heading back to his room, promptly tossing the chair that Ceren usually sat in out into the hallway. If she didn't want him working with her, then he didn't want her working with him.

---

Aerith frowned a little as she listened to him explain everything, looking up at him worriedly when he mentioned it being hard for those with magic to have children. "I want to have children with you.. Lots and lots of children. And when I woke up yesterday morning, I never thought that I would see you again, or that we'd be married today. I certainly never imagined that I would be having children anytime soon, but.. but if it's hard to have them, do you think it's better if we start trying now?" She asked, snuggling closer as she pressed a few little kisses to his jaw. "I mean.. If it's really hard to have them, what are the odds of us having one anytime soon, right?" She murmured softly.

@ katahdin
(Have I ever mentioned I'm slightly evil? xD)

It wasn't until Ceren had pulled the cot out of her office, was helped in setting it up in the infirmary, and was heading back that she noticed the little plate of strawberries in Elwin's chair. She tried to stop herself from jumping to any conclusions and asked around the infirmary first to see if they belonged to someone else, but it was the same answer from everyone: no. Which meant Elwin had been here, with strawberries, but then he'd left for some reason.

Ceren set the strawberries down in her office and went to find him, checking his room first, and when she discovered he wasn't there, heading to his office. Before ever going inside though, she saw a familiar chair laying in the hallway, where it looked like it had been carelessly tossed aside. Ceren felt her heart drop into her stomach, but she forced herself to walk over and pick up the chair, then open the door to his office. "Hi... I, um, found this laying in the hall and thought I might return it."

---

Nyrel smiled softly as Aerith claimed to want lots of children, though unfortunately, it wasn't likely that she'd be granted that wish, with them both having magic. It took nearly ten years of trying before his parents had had him, then another five for Ceren. He'd be grateful just for one. But... "What if it did happen though, by some chance?" he asked softly, turning to meet her eyes. "No matter when it happens, I'd consider it a miracle, but we're both young. There's not a rush, and I don't want you to regret it if we just decide to see what happens now."

@ sun spirit

Elwin was seated at his desk when she showed up, barely even looking up at her when she entered. He glanced up when she spoke, though when she spoke he did look up, frowning a little when he saw the chair in her hands, before looking back down at the paperwork he was working on. "I put it out there. You can take it, if you want." He said with a little sigh, putting aside the paper he finished before grabbing the next.

"Although, I doubt you'd want another chair cluttering your office, when you're getting rid of my... that other chair in your office." He commented, glancing up at her with a small frown.

---

Aerith curled up on her side, fingers gently tracing over his chest as she listened to him, meeting his eyes with a little frown as he asked if she would regret it or not. She shook her head, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips as she moved her hands to cup his cheeks. "No, no no no, I'd never regret it. I'd never regret anything with you." She reassured him, pressing another kiss to his lips before looking at him again. "Would you regret it?" She asked softly. Out of all the things that worried her about her and Nyrel's relationship, that was the one that scared her the most. That he'd regret being with her.

@ katahdin

It hurt that he hardly looked her way, almost as if he were dismissing her as he continued to work through the papers at his desk, his words clearing for her what was happening. She set the chair down beside her, frowning. "So you just tossed my chair out because you saw yours sitting outside my office?" she asked. "El, if you'd bothered to look in there and see what I was doing, you'd have seen I was moving that cot out of my office to make some extra room, and if you'd talked to me, I would've told you I was making room so I could put a second desk in there for you."

---

Though he would've been okay if Aerith had said she needed or wanted time, that it was too soon, it was warming to receive her reassurances. Nyrel kissed her back and pushed her hair from her face as he met her eyes. "Never," he promised her softly in response to her question, leaning in to rest his forehead against hers. "Whatever comes our way, whether it's a baby or trouble or whatever, I could never regret any of it because I get to experience it all with you."

@ sun spirit

"You made it clear yesterday that you don't want me there. I won't bother you anymore, if that's what you wish." Elwin stated as he looked up from his paperwork when she set the chair down, a frown on his face. "It's your space, I never belonged there in the first place. You're the Royal Healer, you can't be entertaining me all day." He said, standing with a sigh. "We're both busy, I don't belong in your office, just as you don't belong in mine."

---

Aerith smiled faintly as he rested his forehead against hers, closing her eyes happily as her nose brushed against his. "I love you and whatever children we have, whenever we have them." She murmured, pressing one last quick kiss to his lips before she tugged the blankets closer. "As much as I love talking to you, I want to go to sleep now.." She murmured sleepily, stifling another yawn as she snuggled into his arms. "Goodnight, husband.. I love you." She murmured with a content little sigh as she began to drift off to sleep.

@ katahdin

Ceren frowned at Elwin. "I never said I didn't want you in my office. Is that what you were so upset about yesterday? You could've just talked to me. I would've told you I didn't think that way at all." She didn't make it more than a step towards him when he stood up though, looking like he was ready to ask her to leave, but she stayed where she was at, lips pressed together. "Just listen to me. You can't keep getting upset and hiding from me and assuming you know what I'm thinking."

---

Nyrel smiled as he returned her kiss and let his arms relax around her again, chuckling softly as she mentioned sleep all while pulling the covers over them and all but snuggling into him like he was a pillow. "Good idea," he murmured, kissing the side of her head. "Goodnight, wife. I love you too." Exhausted from the events of the past two days and more than content with Aerith in his arms, Nyrel fell asleep quickly despite their conversation having made him a little more alert.

@ sun spirit

Elwin frowned at her. "The first thing you said to me after Leywyn interupted us was that you'd take my chair away and ban me from coming into your office. That's what you did. You don't want me there, and that's fine, Ceren, but I like being able to kiss my wife when and where I want, and it hurts to know you rejected me so quickly and easily." He frowned, picking up a pile of finished paperwork to carry it over to the door to be picked up, setting it down where a courier would be able to get it easily. If he kept himself busy, it would help him keep from getting upset, despite how much his heart hurt as he spoke to Ceren.

---

Aerith slept soundly through the night curled up in her husband's arms, not even waking when the sun rose as she usually did, too content in bed with him. It was mid morning when she finally did wake, rolling onto her back to stretch out with a little groan, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before she turned to look at Nyrel with a little smile on her face. She rolled onto her stomach and propped herself up with her elbows, nudging him to try to get him to wake up. "Nyrel.. Nyrel, it's morning."

@ katahdin

“El, stop. Stop!” Ceren grabbed his arm to get him to stop, willing him to look at her instead of just walking around doing work while they talked. “Would you just stop and listen to what I’m saying to you for once? Gods, I said that because I was embarrassed, Elwin! And I didn’t reject you. I’m still only 16, and while things have gotten better in the last year at the infirmary, I still have to worry about being professional and making sure others take me seriously. What do you think is going to happen if rumors start spreading around the castle that I’m fooling with you in my office instead of working? When I asked you, after I said I’d marry you, you told me you still wanted me to be a healer and I wouldn’t have to give it up. I’m not going to.”

---

Nyrel slept deeply and soundly, his body more than willing to catch up on its rest, and even once mid-morning came, he showed no signs of waking anytime soon. After a few seconds of Aerith’s nudging and calling to him, he started to rouse with a little grumble, but then he turned away from her, his body curling up a little as he pulled the covers over his head. His intentions were clear: back to sleep.