Say No To This

@ katahdin

“Thankfully, I just barely managed to escape,” Nyrel chuckled as he smiled down at Aerith. None of the animosity he’d shown the Council members was present, leaving Nyrel his good-natured, teasing himself that was present around Aerith. It wasn’t that he was trying to hide any piece of himself though; if she knew he’d had words with the Council, she’d want to know why, and if she knew why, it would be the same as with the rumors he and Elwin had talked about. He just wanted a chance to make her happy and show her how much he loved her without half the nobility trying to convince her that he didn’t or would grow bored of her. As everyone sat down to eat, he pulled out her chair for her and sat beside her. “And after dinner, Aerith and I have a surprise for you two. We managed to pull together a last-minute wedding present.”

Everyone was seated, each next to their respective spouse, starting to fill their plates with food, when Nyrel mentioned a wedding present. Ceren blinked, glancing between Nyrel and Aerith. “Well, I know I haven’t seen it, but thank you. I can’t imagine how you had time to figure anything out today,” she said, giving them both a smile.

Nyrel grinned. “We have ways,” he said and began eating, his plate now filled with food. Aerith was doing the same next to him and showing considerable restraint considering the plate of honey tarts was so far untouched. He suspected that wouldn’t last too long though. Across the table, Ceren’s and Elwin’s plates looked different enough that he suspected the kitchen had hit the mark in regards to the King’s preferences and Nyrel had remembered his sister’s.

@ sun spirit

Aerith returned her husband's smile, standing on her toes to press a brief kiss to his lips before taking her seat, piling food onto her plate once she saw Elwin and Ceren doing the same. She didn't want to be rude and hog any of their favorites after all, so she thought it best to wait until they'd grabbed what they wanted before helping herself to what remained. She nodded excitedly when Nyrel mentioned the wedding present, grinning over at her friends. "I don't even know what Nyrel managed to do, so I'm very excited to hear where you're going." She said before shoveling a mouthful of roasted vegetables into her mouth.

Elwin raised an eyebrow when they spoke of a surprise, glancing over at Ceren with a grin. "I don't know if I should be worried or not.." he chuckled, obviously teasing. "You didn't have to do anything, Nyrel. Both of your help with today was gift enough." He said, taking Ceren's hand in his free hand and giving it a squeeze, smiling lovingly at her.

"But it's not a real wedding if you don't go on a honeymoon." Aerith pointed out around a mouthful of food, nudging Nyrel excitedly, trying to encourage him to tell them where they'd be going. She wanted to know just as much as they probably did, if not more. "Oh! While you both are gone, does that mean Nyrel and I are in charge?" She grinned excitedly at the idea, knowing how much the Council would hate it.

@ katahdin

The words 'where you're going' stuck with Ceren, and she glanced over at Elwin, smiling a bit as she found him looking at her as well. As he took her hand, she laced her fingers through his. "El's right. And we were going to honeymoon, in a way," she defended as she turned back to Aerith. "We were going to stay here, but there wouldn't have been any working. Just spending time together."

Nyrel chuckled as Aerith spoke around her food, signaling her to stop with a smile. "Okay sweetie, you can eat. I'll talk," he laughed, leaving her to continue chewing her mouthful of food as he turned to Ceren and Elwin. "See, I did it because I thought you'd decide to stay here, and even if you say you won't work, I trust neither of you to hold to that. After dinner, you'll be taking a trip to the mountains for a week. Aerith and I already packed everything, so you don't have to worry about that. Just go up there, relax and all that. There's an empty cabin waiting for you two. You'll be by yourselves and I've been told there's plenty of activities."

@ sun spirit

Aerith simply blushed when Nyrel signaled for her to stop talking so that she could eat, giving him an apologetic look before going back to her food while he explained his plan for their honeymoon. Elwin was surprised when Nyrel explained how he'd managed to arrange for them to stay in the mountains and some noble's cabin for the week, and even though he wanted to protest and say that if they stayed here they wouldn't get any work done, but he knew that that was likely false. Somehow, the King and Queen would likely be wrangled into some sort of work.

Elwin squeezed Ceren's hand with a little smile, chuckling as he looked at his brother in law. "Thank you, Nyrel. We both appreciate it, really. I'm not quite sure how you pulled that off along with helping with the wedding, but I can't say I'm not grateful. And yes, Aer, that means that you and Nyrel are in charge." He chuckled at his sister's eagerness at that news, knowing she'd love harassing the Council during their week away.

@ katahdin

Nyrel felt a little bad at the apologetic look Aerith gave him and reached for her hand, squeezing it, hoping to let her know it wasn’t because he was embarrassed or anything; since she was so hungry, he was just trying to let her eat. Not that he wasn’t eating. He was taking bites in between conversation; he just wasn’t scarfing it down as if he’d otherwise starve. He smiled as Elwin and Ceren both thanked him. “You’re welcome. And the only thing you really asked me to do was arrange dinner, so I had a lot of free time,” he chuckled. “I don’t know if you were too stressed to realize you’d hardly given me a job or if you underestimated the healers.”

Ceren smiled. “Underestimated the healers,” she teased, kissing Elwin’s cheek. “He always forgets how durable we are, plus we’re good at problem-solving and we’re a family, so we’re always slowing each other out. I think everyone’s even adopted Elwin even though he isn’t a healer.” Then again, he could be if he wanted. They’d only had a couple of lessons, but he was started to get the hang of basic first-aid using his magic. She’d have to ask if he wanted to continue after things settled down and if it seemed to help at all with his control.

“Well, the Council is going to be very unhappy by the time you return,” Nyrel predicted with a chuckle, catching the evil glint in his wife’s eyes at the thought of being in charge for a week—the same evil glint he was sure was in his. “On the bright side, they’ll be relieved to have their King and Queen back at the castle.”

@ sun spirit

Aerith squeezed her husband's hand back, soon finishing the food that she'd piled onto her plate, managing to wait a few minutes while Nyrel and Elwin talked before reaching for the plate of honey tarts, humming happily as she bit into the one she'd grabbed. "Nyrel and I would be a good King and Queen. But being Queen sounds boring, so we'll only be King and Queen while you're gone, El, then you have to be King again forever." Aerith decided, reaching across the table to grab Elwin's crown, which he'd taken off to eat, and place it on Nyrel's head. She would have put it on herself, but she knew it was too big and it'd look silly on her, while it just made Nyrel look very handsome.

Elwin could only laugh at Ceren's teasing and then Aerith's statement that she and Nyrel would take over as King and Queen while they were gone, grinning across the table at the two of them. "I'd never dream of tricking you into being Queen, Aer, don't you worry." He chuckled, squeezing Ceren's hand as he finished his meal, waiting until she'd finished as well b fore grabbing one of the fruit tarts that were on the table, breaking it in half and offering the other half to Ceren.

@ katahdin

As Aerith plucked up the crown and set it on his head, Nyrel chuckled—not bothering with removing it even though he was sure it would be blasphemous to any Council member or other noble if they’d seen it. “Don’t go giving me too much in one day,” he teased as he leaned back. “Being made an advisor and then temporary king all in one day is a lot. I might decide I like the way a crown looks on my head.” Not that he could see how it looked now, and after a moment of internal debate, he picked it up and placed it on Aerith’s head, laughing at the way it sagged.

Though Nyrel had gone a long way in regaining her trust, Ceren still couldn’t stop herself from watching him as Aerith put the crown on his head, but it was hardly there before he’d passed it on, joking about it all the while, and she felt a prick of guilt for paying any particular attention to it in the first place. “Advisor?” she asked her brother, glancing from him to Elwin, and smiled as her husband—the thought that he was her husband now still seemed surreal—offered her half a fruit tart. “Thank you,” she said as she accepted it, accepting the half he offered. Were it summer, she’d be eating strawberries instead, but though tarts weren’t her favorite, she still liked them.

“I forgot today’s been so busy no one knows anything,” Nyrel admitted sheepishly, also taking a fruit tart. “I was talking to the Council, trying to calm them down so they wouldn’t interrupt the wedding or crowning ceremony, and Elwin decided to offer me a position as his advisor. He basically told them that I was going to be the mediator between him and them,” he said, leaving some parts out with the suspicion that Ceren wouldn’t appreciate how they’d both essentially strong-armed the Council. “Between that and being Baron again, it’s beginning to look like I’ll have plenty to keep me busy while Aerith is training and being a general.”

Remembering a conversation she’d had with Elwin about positions Nyrel would be good for and would keep him busy, Ceren glanced over at her husband with a smile, glad he’d apparently come around. “Congratulations,” she said to her brother, and then leaned in to kiss Elwin as thanks.

@ sun spirit

"I think you look very handsome in a crown." Aerith pointed out with a grin, although she blushed as he placed the crown on her head, nudging him sheepishly as he laughed and shooting a glare across the table at Elwin when he too started laughing. "Mama always laughed too whenever I'd wear it. Papa was the only one who took me seriously." She pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest as she pouted. She wasn't really upset that they were laughing at her, but she also wanted to be taken seriously, and with the crown sagging on her head she felt like no one did. Not that anyone took her seriously when she wasn't wearing the crown.

Elwin pressed a kiss to Ceren's cheek as she took the half of the fruit tart from him, smiling sheepishly as she asked about Nyrel becoming his advisor. He was happy the way Nyrel explained it, especially when he left out them both threatening the Council on more than one occasion, knowing Ceren would not approve of that in the least. "I'm just happy that Nyrel will be using his political talents to help me, and not the Council members." He teased, returning his wife's kiss before noting the time on a clock on the wall. "I suppose that we ought to get going, if we want to make it to the mountains by morning. Ceren, do you want to change out of your dress first before we go?" He asked, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he finished his fruit tart.

@ katahdin

With Aerith sitting there, looking adorable as she pouted, Nyrel couldn't help but lean in to press a kiss to her lips. "It's just a little too big and looks funny. It kind of sagged on Ceren's head too during the ceremony; we just didn't laugh because you can't really laugh when someone's being pronounced queen," he reassured her softly, and to further aid in putting the pouting behind her, he picked up a honey tart and offered it to her. Hearing what Elwin said though, he glanced back with a smile. "I'm considering myself a neutral party. I'm saying it'll happen often, but I'm bound to agree with at least a little of what the Council has to say."

"You'll be great," Ceren assured her brother with a smile. "You've spent your entire life studying all this, and you're terrifyingly good at it. I'm glad you're going to get to really put it to good use." She turned to Elwin as he suddenly mentioned leaving though, and she followed his gaze to the clock, realizing he was right. "Oh, you're right. We both probably need to make sure we put on something warm, since it'll be even colder there," she said, smiling and squeezing his hand as he kissed her forehead. "Come change with me?" They'd hardly had any time together since their reunion yesterday, between exhaustion yesterday and wedding preparations today, and even though they were about to have a whole week together, she was a little unwilling to leave him again just yet.

@ sun spirit

Despite still wanting to pout at her husband and brother, she couldn't prevent the little smile that spread across her lips when he kissed her. Any remnant of her pout completely disappeared when he handed her a honey tart, happily accepting the offering with a smile, eating it while Elwin and Nyrel discussed whether or not her husband was going to be on his side or not. "Nyrel's always going to take my side, Elwin. It's the rules because we're married." She pointed out around a mouthful of honey tart, looking over at Nyrel as she innocently batted her eyelashes, knowing he'd probably disagree with her statement.

Elwin simply chuckled as his sister's statement, standing as Ceren agreed that they needed to get going. "Yes, we should go change. Aerith, Nyrel, thank you again for helping with today. I'll have to repay you when we get back. Anything you want... within reason." He said as leaned down to hug his sister, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he warned her to behave and not cause too much damage. He gave Nyrel a little nod, still not sure about hugging the other elf, so he waited by the door while Ceren said her goodbyes before taking her hand and leading her back toward their rooms. "You know, we'll have to have your things moved into my room when we get back." He pointed out with a little smile, squeezing her hand excitedly at the thought.

@ katahdin

Nyrel grinned as his plan to erase Aerith's pout succeeded, laughing when she chimed in to claim that he would always take her side. "Actually, she makes a good point," he agreed seriously, despite knowing she fully expected his disagreement on the matter. "At the very least, I'm first and foremost on the side of whatever makes my wife safe and happy, even if it means occasionally disagreeing with her opinion." As Elwin and Ceren prepared to leave, he returned his brother-in-law's nod, not exactly having expected the same kiss on the cheek Aerith had received, and stood to hug his sister after she exchanged hugs and kisses with Aerith, wishing them both a good honeymoon. He'd already arranged to have their bags taken to a carriage that would be waiting for them, so he wasn't worried about following along to make sure everything was in order. "You know," he said to Aerith as they were left alone with the remains of dinner and a nearly full plate of honey tarts. "We could try to figure out what work needs to be done and actually try to get things done for Elwin, or, since apparently the Council was dismissed and won't be in session again until they're formally called back, we could pretend this is a second phase of our honeymoon."

---

After thanking both Aerith and Nyrel and exchanging hugs, Ceren joined Elwin at the door, taking his hand as they walked back towards their rooms together. "We will," she agreed, squeezing his hand back with a smile. "It's a good thing I don't have as much as Aerith, or we'd have to get new rooms too." They'd already talked about this though, and she knew he didn't mind moving things around to find room for her plants and books. "It'll be nice to fall asleep in the same bed together and not worry about being caught and chastised in the morning," she added with a laugh as they approached her door. "We can both change and meet in the hall when we're finished if you want," she offered, since that seemed like the most logical thing to do, given they weren't yet sharing rooms.

@ sun spirit

Aerith wished her brother and sister-in-law a good trip, hugging them both tightly and kissing their cheeks before settling back in her seat, looking at all the leftover food. She had half a mind to try to save it all for them to eat tomorrow, knowing that they'd likely go back to having to eat burnt food once more. She looked over at her husband excitedly when he started speaking, a wide smile spreading across her lips when he mentioned having a second phase of their honeymoon. She sat up in her chair to lean toward him, grinning excitedly. "Honeymoon part two? What's involved in that?" She asked excitedly, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to his lips.

---

Elwin chuckled as they walked, grateful that she didn't have as much stuff as Aerith. Although he had been planning to add an extra wardrobe for her things, as well as some shelves for her books and plants, although that wouldn't be too difficult. "It'll be easy enough to move your things. I don't even think I'll have to use my magic." He teased, pressing a kiss to her forehead as they stopped outside of her room. "Do you not need help with your dress? It won't take me long to change, but I don't want to leave you to struggle unnecessarily." He teased, lightly running his fingers down her arms.

@ katahdin

Nyrel grinned at Aerith's reaction to his suggestion, pulling her closer as he returned her kiss. "Well, we'd be here, but you know, I'm not sure it'd be exactly necessary for us to leave our rooms unless we wanted to. I thought you might be interested in taking advantage of the lack of things for us to do for one more week before it's permanently crazy like the last two days," he said, kissing her again, this one slow and thorough. "What do you say?"

---

"I hope not," Ceren laughed, and smiled at him as they paused outside her door. "I'm proud of you for using it more and practicing, just so you know." She knew how he felt, knew he wasn't the biggest fan of his magic, but he was trying. "I actually forgot I needed Aerith's help getting into it," she admitted sheepishly when he asked about the dress, taking his hands when his fingers trailed from her arms to her fingers. "I actually might need help." She let go of one of his hands to open her door and led him inside, where the first thing she did was step out of the heels she'd been wearing. It felt good to be out of them, back on solid ground, and even back to her usual height.

@ sun spirit

If Aerith hadn't already been convinced by his suggestion to stay in their rooms all week and continue to just enjoy being in each other's company his slow and thorough kiss certainly would have, the you woman humming faintly against his lips before pulling back to nod. "That sounds very reasonable.. Maybe one day we could go visit my cabin for a night? That way I can cook and we won't have to eat burnt food." She suggested with a smile, pressing a kiss to his cheek before she stood and reached to grab the tray of honey tarts to bring with them back to their room, along with piling some other food on another platter, incase they got hungry later and wanted something not burnt.

---

Elwin chuckled as she admitted she needed help, pressing a kiss to her cheek before following her into her room, making sure to shut the door securely behind him while she took off her heels. "The dress is beautiful, Ceren.. I'm sure the painter who has to paint our portrait when we get back won't be able to capture just how lovely you really look." He grinned, pulling his wife into his arms to press a loving kiss to her lips. His wife. It was an odd thing to think, but the woman in his arms was his wife.

@ katahdin

As their kiss broke, Nyrel smiled at Aerith's suggestion, nodding in answer. "That sounds nice," he agreed. "Just the two of us and no worries about anyone wanting or needing anything for a day." Food that wasn't burnt was just a bonus. He wasn't surprised when Aerith grabbed the tray of honey tarts as if she planned on bringing hem with her, but he did watch, slightly confused, for a few moments as she began to pile other leftovers onto another platter, only moving to help once he realized what she was doing--and guessed at why. He'd have to try and talk to the kitchen staff about the burnt food... he didn't mind enduring it to be with her, but if he could do something to spare the small slight, he'd do it.

---

Ceren blushed as she smiled up at Elwin. "I'm glad you like it. I was a little worried about being too plain," she admitted and grinned at him as she plucked at his cape. "Especially next to your fancy cape," she teased, still giggling when he pulled her close and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she returned his kiss. She could happily stay just like this with Elwin all night.

@ sun spirit

Aerith offered him a sheepish smile as he began to help her plating the leftovers to take with her, looking almost apologetic. "I'm sure you never imagined that marrying a princess would mean you'd have to steal leftovers to avoid burnt or undercooked food... I'm sorry that I've made your life harder." If she thought about it, which she usually didn't because it made her sad, Nyrel's life seemed to have gotten worse after he'd started talking to her over a year ago. He'd lost his title and his friends within the nobility, he'd lost the respect of everyone he'd known, and he'd been banished and put on house arrest for what he'd done to Ceren. Sometimes she wondered how different his life would be if he hadn't stopped to talk to her in the infirmary that day. Surely he'd be the most loved by all the nobility, he could have any woman he wanted, and he wouldn't have to put up with burnt food and nasty looks because of his wife.

---

"It's perfect, Ceren. Absolutely perfect." Elwin grinned, chuckling as she pulled at his cape, taking a moment to undo the clasp around his neck and let it fall to the floor before pulling his wife against his chest as they kissed. He pulled away after a few moments, resting his forehead against hers as his hands rested on her hips, smiling down at her. "Your dress looks lovely on you, but I think it might look better on the floor.." he murmured, a bit of a smirk gracing his lips, although he also had the sense to blush, knowing that it was foolish of him to try for anything when they had to hurry to their carriage.

@ katahdin

Nyrel’s first instinct was to tease and joke with Aerith, but at the mention of making his life harder, he frowned, pausing what he was doing to wrap his arms around her and press a kiss to her head. “Who says you’ve made my life harder? I think you’ve made it more vibrant and unexpectedly interesting. The way I see it, I fell in love completely out of the blue with the most beautiful, most interesting woman in the castle and have been lucky enough to find that she loves me too. Did you know I used to spend most of my days pretending to like people I truly found insufferable? And how relaxing it is to be myself and not have to worry because that’s who you like?” He was sure she had other concerns, but these, at least, she’d vocalized and he could put to rest.

---

As Elwin let his cape fall to the ground and they kissed again, Ceren was reminded of a night, just a week prior, when they were first together. And now they were married and no longer had to worry about spending their nights in separate beds or any of that. And Elwin’s suggestion sounded tempting with her bed just a few feet away, but... Ceren took a deep breath and sighed, stepping back and putting space between them. “We can’t. We have to get changed and get to the carriage. Who knows how long the poor man’s been waiting anyway.” She crouched to pick up Elwin’s cape and pass it back to him, then started to gently nudge him towards the door. “Back to your rooms. Changing has to happen in private now.”

@ sun spirit

Aerith blushed as he pulled her into his arms, leaning against his chest with a little pout as she listened to him speak. "I think you're exaggerating. Everyone knows that Thalia Herzana is the prettiest in the castle... But I'm glad you get to be yourself, Nyrel.. I promise I won't harass the Council anymore, I'll wear dresses and be nice when I talk to people, and I'll quit being Elwin's general. I'll be the perfect wife, so that you can be proud of me." She promised, wrapping her arms around him tightly as she nuzzled her face into his chest.

---

Elwin pouted as she pulled away, but she did have a point about getting to the carriage so they could get on their way. "Fine.. But at least let me unbutton the dress so you can actually change." He smiled, tugging his cape back on before stepping toward her again, turning her around so his fingers could carefully unbutton the back of her dress. Once he was at the last few buttons he leaned down to place a few lingering kisses to her neck, almost a promise to continue later, before stepping back and heading to his room to change. "I'll be back in five minutes."

@ katahdin

Nyrel rolled his eyes. "Thalia Herzana wears ten layers of cosmetics at any given time and has the personality of a viper," he said dismissively. He sighed, however, when Aerith promised to essentially stop being herself. He held her tight, tucking his chin on her head. "I don't want you to be Thalia Herzana or any other woman in the castle, Aer. I love you for who you are, even if some of your habits are sure to give me heart-attacks. I'm proud that you're the general and can kick the ass of pretty much any man in the castle, that you're true enough to yourself to wear armor even though others in your position wouldn't, that you fight back when everyone else is rude to you. Besides, if you start being nice, you're going to make me feel bad about being rude. And I was very rude to get those Council members to behave."

---

Ceren smiled a bit at the way Elwin pouted at her, knowing it was his playful pout, not the serious one. "If you could just get the first few, I should be able to handle the rest myself," she told him, pulling her hair aside once she was turned around. She felt him unbutton the entire way down though and shivered a little when he kissed her neck. He was gone in the next moment though, with the promise to be back soon. Alone, Ceren slipped out of her wedding dress and brought out something warm to wear, knowing it was cold outside and sure to be colder in the mountains. She contemplated taking her hair down and putting it back in its usual braid, but ultimately decided to leave it alone, just for the day, as she slipped out of her room and started towards Elwin's room to meet him.

@ sun spirit

"Do I have a personality like a viper?" Aerith mumbled into his chest, her voice muffled because she'd kept her face pressed into his shirt as he spoke, enjoying being wrapped up in his arms. She didn't want to admit how much she'd missed him today, not looking forward to when they'd have to go back to days of barely seeing one another. "I like you when you're rude.. it's funny." She smiled as she nuzzled closer, lifting her head just enough to look up at him through her lashes. "I promise I'll try not to give you heart attacks, then.. and I promise to love you forever and ever and ever." She struggled to hide her grin as she hugged him tighter, reluctant to let him go.

---

Elwin made his way back to his room and changed out of his wedding attire into something much warmer and more comfortable for their trip. He was just finishing pulling on his winter jacket when Ceren came in, the king smiling foolishly as he looked at her, clearly absolutely thrilled to have her as his wife. "That was fast. Are you ready to go?" He asked, grabbing the scarf he'd pulled from his wardrobe, although instead of wrapping it around his own neck he wrapped it around Ceren's with a grin.