Infinitum

@ Jinx...

Meredith blushed as he moved over and rubbed her arms, looking up at him as he explained why they were both feeling that way, cheeks flushing red in embarrassment. "Oh.." She blushed, kissing him back as she sat up a bit to wrap her arms around his neck. "It's not your fault, Leo. I'm happy we're bonded, it makes things easier in some ways, but harder in others." She murmured, resting her forehead against his. "I suppose this just means we'll have to hurry up and get married, so we don't drive each other crazy." She offered teasingly with a small smile, hoping he understood she was joking. She leaned forward and pressed another kiss to his lips, her hands gently resting on his chest.

---

Jasper frowned as he looked up at her, pulling her into his arms as he saw her tears well up in her eyes, cradling her against his chest. "Shh, don't talk like that, Emberly. They'll understand, and even if they don't their opinion doesn't matter. All that matters is you and me, so don't worry about what anyone else things, alright?" He murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he smoothed back her hair, before standing with her in his arms and carrying her to bed. He carefully laid her down and tucked her under the blankets before climbing under the blankets with her, making sure she was settled before wrapping his arms around her comfortingly. "Let's just go to sleep. We both need our rest."

@ katahdin
Leo chuckled. "We have a year in total before the insanity will kill us." he said though he was serious. Once they were bonded they needed to finish the process. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back as her lips came up to meet his. He smiled and pressed his hands to hers pulling back gently. "You need to eat come on." he said and ran his hands down her sides resting his hands on her hips. He bit his lip then stepped back to to let her up. He grinned as he walked to the table with her and held her chair out for her.

---

Emberly had only eaten half her food but she was too tired to finish it. When Jasper laid her in bed and crawled in with her she cuddled up into him and resting her head on his warm chest. She nodded and sniffled a hiccup from her cry shaking her body every now and again. She was probably overtired. In the morning she would see what her and Jasper could come up with as ground rules for their relationship. They both needed to change how they approached this if they wanted this to work out. She needed to be more open and honest with him and he needed to be truly patient and not put expectations on her. If they could agree to that and maybe even a timeline for his sanity then they would be in good shape to build a real relationship.

@ Jinx...

Meredith happily leaned into him when he kissed her, smiling as she felt his hands run down her sides and rest on her hips. "If you make me wait a year to marry you I'll be very upset." She said teasingly, sliding out of bed when he stepped back, taking her seat before beginning to eat breakfast, having not realized how hungry she was. She hadn't thought to order dinner the night before while waiting for Leo to return, not that she would have eaten when she'd been so worried. "Do we have to wait to get married?" She asked after a little while, looking across the table at him. "If your brother is going to be King, does that mean we have to wait until after he's married?"

---

Jasper held her securely in his arms, rubbing her back between her wings soothingly, pressing gentle kisses to her hair as he tried to get her to calm down. He could tell she was overtired, and even though he would have liked if she'd eaten more, he knew that she'd be calmer by tomorrow morning, and would likely eat all of her breakfast. He tugged the blankets around her to make sure she was warm, pressing a gentle kiss to the tip of her nose as he pulled her closer. "Go to sleep, Emberly.. We'll talk more in the morning, yeah? You're safe, I won't let anything happen to you." He reassured her, closing his own eyes tiredly, beginning to drift off.

@ katahdin
Leo smiled as she started to eat. He was not planning on waiting an entire year to wed Meredith. Three months max but he wanted to talk to her about that as well. He was pleased to see her eating. He had known she hadn't taken care of herself when he was gone. Leo shook his head. "No we do not need to wait for Jasper thank the gods." he said and grinned. "No we can get married whenever the preparations are ready. Really I think the dress and the guest list will take the longest. I am thinking a three month engagement what do you think?" He asked.

---

Emberly relaxed into Jasper as he soothed her holding her to him. He pulled the covers over her and she sighed her eyes drifting closed. He kissed her nose and she hummed. When he told her to sleep she yawned and snuggled into him and as he told her she was safe she was falling asleep. She was deep asleep within minutes. You could roll her off the bed and she might not wake. She trusted Jasper to keep her safe like he promised but also she just enjoyed his presence. Emberly slept until the glare of the morning sun filtered over her face. She wanted to get up earlier tomorrow to introduce herself to the court but today was not the best idea.

@ Jinx...

Meredith looked up at him when he said three months, giving a little shrug. "I don't really have anyone I want to invite, and any of the dresses in the wardrobe could be a fine wedding dress... I suppose it's mostly dealing with your parents and what they want the wedding to be." She said before continuing to eat. "I'd marry you twenty minutes from now dressed like this, but you're a Prince, so I doubt that would go over well."

---

Jasper was sound asleep soon after Emberly, waking when the sun glared into his eyes. With a groan he cracked one of his eyes open before rolling over, pulling Emberly in closer while he used his magic to shut the curtains, blocking out the sun once more. With a content sigh he nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, content to go back to sleep now that he didn't have to worry about the brightness. Besides, they both needed their rest, and he'd made sure no one would bother them today.

@ katahdin
Leo chuckled. "I know my love but you are going to be a princess. I want you to have the best as well." he said grinning. He started to eat just enjoying her presence. "I would like you to meet someone today..." he said and bit his lip. "Way more important than my parents." he said thinking of his one friend other than his brother, Artemis. He didn't know why he didn't think of it sooner. She would also be a good person that could keep up with Meredith. There was a reason Artemis was a potion master at such a young age.

---

Emberly woke feeling arms pulling her into a broad chest. She hummed as she realized they where Jaspers. She could have gone back to sleep but then he nuzzled his fave into her neck and a soft moan slipped out her hand moving into his hair. She blinked her eyes open looking around and down at Jasper. She ran her fingers through his hair. She let her eyes flutter closed again but his body was so close to hers she could feel the rapid pace of her heart at his closeness. Being physically attracted to him had never been the issue. And now that she got some sleep she wondered what had made her think him half naked in her bed was a good idea? It could lead him to believe some things if anything happened.

@ Jinx...

Meredith blushed when he said she'd be a princess, shrugging. "I guess that means we'll have to do things properly.. I can speak to someone about a dress, and you could handle the guests? I'm sure your parents will deal with how everything else will look, since it's a royal wedding and they'd want it to look nice." She looked over at him when he said he wanted her to meet someone, growing a bit nervous. "Really? Who?"

---

Jasper hummed faintly when he heard her moan and her fingers moved through his hair, shifting a bit to press a kiss to her neck, nibbling at the skin lazily while one hand trailed down her back to rest on her ass, giving it a little squeeze teasingly. He wasn't going to let this get out of control, but at least he could tease her a little. Especially when her nightgown practically begged him to touch her. "Morning, Emberly.."

@ katahdin
Leo grinned. "We might want to break the news to my parents after breakfast." he said and smiled as she asked who he wanted her to meet. "She is my friend Artemis, you will like her. She is very easy going and has a thirst for knowledge like you." He said grinning at her. "She made the potion that made you Fae." he said. He hoped that they would get along at least. He didn't see any reason for her not to.

---

Emberly moaned again as is lips pressed more to her neck then started to nibble her skin. She felt his hands move down her back and she gasped in shock as Jasper grabbed her ass. She blushed wildly and her eyes flew open. All thought of sleep left her mind. "Jasper..." she nearly gasped his name then he said good morning and she knew he was teasing her. She wanted to push him and show him that was cruel but she liked it to much. Emberly knew if she was in love with him this would have been a different story. She would have rolled him over and licked from the base of his neck to behind his ear then nipped and sucked on it but she thought against it for now. She ran her hands down his back from his shoulder stopping on his sides. "Morning... what are you doing?" she asked him her cheeks flushing again.

@ Jinx...

Meredith smiled a little as he spoke about breaking the news to his parents, nodding as she stood once she'd finished breakfast, moving over to sit in his lap, kissing the tip of his nose gently. "She must be nice, if she agreed to help you bring me here on such short notice." She smiled, smoothing out his hair gently. "Is it her job to make potions, or is it just a hobby?"

---

Jasper chuckled as she gasped, releasing his grip on her and rolling onto his back as he stretched lazily, rubbing his hands over his face. "Good morning, Emberly. I'm just having fun." He grinned sheepishly as he looked over at her, running his fingers through his hair. "Are you ready for breakfast, or would you rather sleep some more?" He asked, wanting to make sure that she was comfortable.

@ katahdin
Leo ginned as she came to sit in his lap. He placed his hands on her hips. He wanted her so badly it was an ache inside him. He sighed and held still as she kissed his nose and he chuckled. She was so loving and playful. He never wanted that to stop. He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes but she has a twisted sense of justice and humor to." he said remembering how she had the potion ready already and had made him wait. He leaned his head into her hands as she ran her hands over his hair. "I think both but she is the potions master for the kingdom. The youngest and the first female ever." he grinned. "While I was keeping my brother away from the human village she was learning to make potions to keep us hidden from human sight." he smiled. "You might like to learn about her healing potions and salves though since you are such a healer at heart." Leo rubbed her sides and looked up at her with adoration.

---

Emberly shook her head as he rolled over. He hat least had the decency to look a little ashamed. She chuckled as he said he was just having fun and she shoved him playfully then rolled over so she was on her side and arched her back so she pressed him him. "Yeah sure you are." she said and placed a hand on his bare chest biting her lip and running a finger down stopping at his belly button. She looked up as he asked if she watched to sleep more. She laughed her eyes sparkling. "Yes because I could sleep again now." she chuckled and got up straddling his lap. "Hey we need to have a serious talk today." she said looking down at him. "We need to work out what we where fighting about but hopefully without fighting this time. I really want us to work Jasper so we have to talk not fight. And we have to be honest so you might have to actually open up to me." she said then leaned in kissing his scar and pressed her cheek to his with a sigh. "But I also know me deciding to have a big conversation I can not pring on you. I need to allow you to prepare to talk about us to so when ever you are ready today." she said and got up. "Let's eat. I'm going to get dressed." she said and headed to the bathroom.

@ Jinx...

Meredith's eyes lit up as he mentioned she was potion master and that she might be able to teach her some things, smiling down at him. "Really? I'd be allowed to make potions?" She asked, snuggling into his arms. She knew she'd be a princess soon enough, and she didn't want to do anything that would upset people, and she wasn't sure if making potions was a very princess like thing to do. She wanted people here to like her, after all.

---

Jasper blushed a bit as she moved to straddle his lap, looking up at her with wide eyes. "Emberly, I-" he started nervously, but she cut him off when she began to speak about wanting to talk and work things out. He nodded a little as he listened to her, knowing that she was right, they needed to figure things out for both of their sakes. He was about to say that they could speak now when she said she was going to get dressed and got up and went to the bathroom, standing as well with a sigh as he stretched. By the time she returned breakfast had been brought and set up, and Jasper was seated at the table eating. "We can talk after we eat, ok?" He said as he looked up at her, wanting to give her the chance to eat a full meal before talking.

@ katahdin
Leo chuckled. "Well I don't see why one potion once in awhile would be a big deal but you will have duties as a princess and being a potion master's apprentice won't really fit in. Besides I think once you meet the healers you will want to spend a lot of time with them as well. We'll talk more about it all once you are aware of the traditions here and what will work for you best." he reached out and squeezed her to him. "If you're ready to start Meredith we should get ready." he said and trailed his fingers over her back. "How do your wings feel?" he asked knowing it had been a while since they put on the salve.

---

Emberly sat down to eat and grinned as he suggested talking after they ate. "I would like that." she said and focused in on her food. She was dressed simply so that she would be comfortable today. She wanted to see Artemis later today as well and see what she could do that would help her be aware of her magic when she was upset so that she could stop from burning anyone or the entire tree down. She was quiet through breakfast trying to collect her thoughts. Once she finished she sat back and looked at Jasper. She bit her lip waiting for him to finish eating as well. She had a lot to say and she was sure he did as well. She wanted to start so when he finished she reached out and took his hand. "Ready?" she asked and after a nod she sighed. "Jasper I want you to know I would like to try a relationship with you but I am not ready for marriage yet. So we have to create something of an in between. I want you to know it is my intention going into this relationship with you that we will be working towards marriage but at a later time when it feels right for both of us. You had your entire childhood thinking about me. I spend my struggling with what I knew was real and what everyone else told me was a silly fantasy. I know it if a big part of us both but we can not continue to focus on the past and build a future." she said and squeezed his hand. "I ask that while we talk about this that we don't shot, that if either of us get angry that we stop talking about it and take a break. I never want to hurt you again." she looked sad and looked from their hands up into his eyes. "With all this in mind can we continue talking about this?" she asked him.

@ Jinx...

Meredith nodded a little as he spoke, resting her forehead against his as she snuggled close. She shivered a bit as he ran his fingers along her back, pressing closer as he wings fluttered excitedly, although as she fluttered them she accidentally caused his fingers to brush against her wings, causing her to blush brightly at the feeling. She hid her face in the crook of his neck in embarrassment, gripping his shirt tightly. "They feel fine.."

---

Jasper squeezed her hand and nodded, listening closely as they spoke. "I want that too, Emberly. It wasn't fair of me to expect so much of you so soon, I know that. But I worry about my parents and the rest of the court, who expect me to marry before I take the throne or shortly after. They worry that I'm wasting my time with you, and so even if the relationship we work toward isnt the same as what they want, we might have to put on a public appearance of intending to get married sooner rather than later."

@ katahdin
Leo closed his eyes feeling her forehead against his. The way her body reacted to his touch made him shiver and he wanted more of that. When he felt he soft wings against his fingers then her face in his neck he smirked. "I am glad you feel well." he said and ran his fingers through her hair. "Come on then before I am tempted to seal the bond before our wedding night." he kissed her cheek then scooted his chair back so she could get up alright. "We will go and give my family the good news then go see Artemis. She will be happy to hear the news as well. Then before lunch we could stop in to see Emberly and Jasper if you like and give them the news as well." he said suggestively. There was always someone they could go see and talk to.

---

Emberly nodded as he explained his stress and worries. She looked at him. "We can stall a wedding. If we plan it out for 6th months we might even be able to catch up to that time line in our own desires by then." she said and smiled. "Until then I don't think either of us will have a problem acting more involved. It's not the physical that is hard between us. It's the communication but we are already working on that." she said grinning. "I just want to be your partner not just a pretty wife and a complacent Queen." Emberly bit her lip. "Any other concerns before we talk about the small details of how to do this and what we both want?" she asked him. Emberly was really glad they had already worked out some big issues. She wanted their relationship to continue like this. They just needed to talk it out and come to some compromises together. She honestly believed they would both find if they slowed down that they wanted the same thing, that they were just going about it differently.

@ Jinx...

Meredith blushed as he ran his fingers through her hair and teased her about sealing the bond before their wedding night, nodding as she slipped from his lap once he pushed his chair back. She hadn't meant for him to touch her wings, but it had felt so wonderful, and she was tempted to reach out and brush her fingers against his. She decided to dress in the same outfit she'd worn the day before, having only worn it for a few hours, and figuring if she were to try to make a potion with Artemis it would be best not to wear a fancy dress, even if it meant not pleasing his parents. Once she was done dressing she spent a few minutes braiding her hair carefully before waiting for him to lead the way, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I love you, Leo."

---

"I want you to be my partner too, Emberly. I'm sorry if I made it seem like I only want you as a pretty face to show off." He frowned, hoping she didn't think that. Not that he didn't want to show her off, of course he did, but she meant so much more to him than just some pretty face to hold onto his arm at parties and look nice. "Six months sounds reasonable, we could likely even move it back more, considering it's likely that Leo and Meredith will be marrying soon because of their bond, so having to royal weddings back to back would be a lot to handle. That should give enough of a distraction when it happens that people won't be as worried about us, but after they're officially married, everyone will focus in on us and not take our stalling." He sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

@ katahdin
Leo grinned. He kissed her head. "I love you too." he said and looked outside. "My parents are probably just finishing breakfast." he said and took her hand wrapping it around his arm and lead the way. Once they got to the dining room he kissed her temple. "You are my choice always." he said and then they walked in. He stood before his parents with his bride to be and they looked up from their conversation. "Leo you know if you miss the beginning of meals you are not welcome to come and eat in here until after we leave." His mother said and he shook his head. "No mother we did not come to eat. I wanted to get you both together for this news." he said and they looked them over waiting expectantly. Leo smiled. "Mother, Father I have proposed to Meredith and we are planning to wedding for about three months out. I know there are many dignitaries to invite and I will be helping you mother with the invitation list." he said. Leo's father stood and came over to them. He was still the king after all. "And if we denied your wedding?" Leo frowned and glared up at him. "Then we will have a private affair and a public one once Jasper is king." His father nodded. He hugged his son. "You have finally found something to fight for." he said and smiled then turned to Meredith with the same expression and took her free hand kissing it. "A royal wedding will put the court in a good mood." he said as he returned to his seat looking at his disgruntled wife. "And it will give your mother something to do besides trying to speak looks at Emberly." He chuckled and took another bite of food. His mother looked upset but stood nonetheless and came over and kissed Leo's cheek. "You will come to regret this but as your mother I will have to let you make this mistake, maybe your children won't make the same." She looked at Meredith and took her hand patting it then returning to the table. Leo grinned. "Thank you." he said and lead them out. He stopped down the hall and turned out of Meredith's grasp and hit the wall. "Bastards." he grumbled. "To give permission instead of blessings." he shook his head and turned to Meredith with gentle hands and kissed her head. "We will show them." he said and looked into her eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked.

---

Emberly smiled as Jasper sadly. "The mistress comment might have left some impressions." she frowned and bit her lip shaking her head. "I don't ever want to share you, emotionally or physically with another woman, not even after a hundred years." she said. She was glad when he moved on to the timeline and she nodded. "Okay then we can wait a month and make a public engagement but I want you on one knee and everything." she said and smiled softly thinking about it. "We can discuss how long we need to adjust our wedding from there. depending on what your brother and Meredith are doing." she bit her lip and stood coming around and running her hand through his hair too. "You look stressed. "What's going on i your mind?" she asked him standing in front of him having easily worked her way between his legs so she could be closer. She trailed a finger down his jaw line then ran her hands over his shoulders massaging gently. They still had so much to talk about. How they would grow closer as a couple, how they would truly get to know each other and most importantly what communication should look like for them. She knew at least until they were married and she was queen she couldn't really go around saying whatever she felt like. She was also starting to believe all disagreements should be made in private but there should be some sign they could make to let the other know. Emberly really wanted this to work and she was also working herself up to the idea of being married but not just married but to a king that would put her in a very powerful place here very soon.

@ Jinx...

Meredith remained at Leo's side with their arms linked while he spoke to his parents, doing her best to put on a pleasant but neutral face despite how nervous she felt. She smiled when his father came up to them and kissed her hand, bowing her head a bit in respect, knowing that out of both of Leo's parents his father seemed to be the more reasonable, and she wanted to be on his good side. "Thank you, your majesty." She murmured soflty after he spoke, watching as Leo's mother came up to them. She didn't bother with the formality of bowing, mostly chosing to ignore her. "And I hope that as your daughter in law, you will come to regret your mistakes with enough time to apologize to your son, my husband." She stated simply, barely looking the Queen in the eyes and instead turning to press a kiss to Leo's cheek. Her calm demeanor disappeared when they left the dining room and stopped down the hall however, the poor girl burying her face in her hands as she tried not to cry. "Wh-What if this is a mistake, a-and you regret it..? I-I don't want you to ruin your life because of me.."

---

Jasper frowned, shaking his head quickly. "I was angry, and didn't mean any of what I said. I'm truly sorry." He apologized, hanging his head in shame. His hands moved up to rest on her waist when she came to stand in front of him, leaning his head into her hands as he sighed. "I just worry about my parents and how they'll react... Mother disapproves of Meredith as it is, and she can say such hurtful things, I worry about what she might say to you, to make you doubt yourself."

@ katahdin
Leo looked down at her and shook his head. "No Meredith." he took her hands and looked into her eyes. "You are my bond. I will never regret you and you could never ruin my life." he said and kissed her sweetly. "You add to my life, my are my heart, my gentle spirit. I adore you and I will never regret you in my life." he said and then brought her into his arms holding her to him. "My infinitum." he whispered into her ear and ran his hands over her back gently.

---

Emberly grinned and ran her hands into his hair. "Jasper..." she waited until he looked up at her. "I am a different kind of woman than Meredith. She had her strengths and I have mine and what your parents say or think is not something I care about. If they are negative it will drive me to be a better me and prove them wrong but on my terms. How about we not focus on what they could say just yet. Tomorrow I want to go to court in the morning and display my magic." she said and rubbed his shoulders again. "My biggest weak point is you Jasper. Always has been." she said and leaned down brushing her lips to his scar. "Now why don't we take a break and you go get dressed and we can go on a walk and finish our talk." she said. "I am sure there are a lot more places you can show me around here that are private enough." she said and stepped back. "Really Jasper I will be okay." she said. "I am going to go see Artemis for a moment while you get ready. I have something I need to ask of her." she said smiling softly.

@ Jinx...

Meredith curled into his arms as he spoke, burying her face in the crook of his neck as she clung to his shirt, trembling a bit. She began to calm down as he soothed her, focusing on breathing and the feel of his hand rubbing her back. "My infinitum..." She whispered after a few moments, closing her eyes as she relaxed. She wished she could see herself the way that Leo did, but knew she'd always doubt herself in one way or another, she just couldn't help it. "They'll never accept me, will they..?" She murmured softly after a moment, looking up at him with sad eyes.

---

Jasper nodded as he listened to her, holding her close as he stood. "Alright.. I'll get dressed and go speak with my parents briefly about you coming to court tomorrow to let them know. I'll be back within the hour, alright?" He asked, pressing a kiss to her forehead before leaving her room to return to his, dressing before heading off to see his parents.

@ katahdin
Leo sighed stepping back gently. "It is nothing that you need to worry about if they accept you or not, their views are skewed. And you will be accepted by so many others that in the grand scheme of things their options won't matter." He said and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her sweetly. "Come on let me take outside for a while. A walk could make you feel better." he said and took her hands bringing her back with him towards the door.

---

Emberly headed out of her room asking a servant to help her to Artemis's room. She knocked and when Artemis opened the door smiled. "Hey can I steal a moment of your time?" she asked and Artemis grinned. "Come on in. I am glad you are alright." she said and had her sit. She also made sure to look at her knee and sprayed some healing potion on it then checked out the wings to make sure everything was alright as Emberly recounted her tail. Artemis even chuckled her head and pupils just to be safe. "Okay so why come to me?" she asked and Emberly frowned. "I never want to hurt Jasper again but I know I am to hot headed not to get angry again. I don't have control over my powers. I need something that will help me realize what I am doing." she said and Artemis stood moving around her room and picked something up and place it in a stone bowl. She added a few things in concentrating and pouring her magic into it. After a while she pulled out a necklace. She walked over and attacked it around Emberly's neck. "The pendent will glow first and if you don't notice that then it will start to hum and vibrate around your neck. Finally if you don't stop it will reflect your heat back at you so you can feel it's intensity. To stop it from doing this when you are intentionally using your magic whisper subsisto inferno. It is latin. You should work to learn latin, it will help you with magic and many things around here." Emberly nodded and touched the cold stone on her neck. "Thank you Artemis." she said and stood hugging her. Artemis stiffented then slowly relaxed and hugged her back. "You are very welcome." she said smiling. "Okay now go on and find Jasper." she said and walked Emberly out. Emberly smiled and headed towards Jasper's room or hoped that she did. She went the other way she had last time she left Artemis's room.