A Court of Flight and Valor

@ sun spirit

Ailuin frowned, shaking his head quickly as he hugged her close. "No, Aub, I'm not calling you selfish, not in a million years. If anything I'm selfish for wanting to stay here and skip breakfast and the ceremony all together. I didn't mean to make you think that's what I thought of you. I just figured giving you an easy first decision as Queen might make the harder ones a bit easier and less awful." He murmured, gently brushing his fingers through her hair. "Duly noted about me being nakedn distracting you, though." He teased softly, offering her a small smile in the hopes he hadn't pissed her off too badly.

---

Bridris sat back a bit to look at him while he spoke, fresh tears welling in her eyes and running down her cheeks as she listened to his offer, chin trembling as she gripped his shirt a bit tighter. After a moment she reached up to rest her hand against his cheek, gently brushing her fingers against his skin in an attempt to soothe him. "But you'd remember, and you'd be miserable.. I-I'd rather live a thousand lifetimes where I suffered while you were happy, than life one happy lifetime while you were miserable." She sniffled, wiping at her eyes quickly, although it didn't do much good. "The last thing I want is to hurt you, and doing that would only hurt you more, a-and I know that even if I did it, I'd never have a fraction of the happiness that I have when I'm with you, even despite the pain."

@ katahdin

Aubrius relaxed a bit when Ailuin reassured her that this wasn't some kind of test or comment on her personality and that it was just supposed to be an easy decision. "Sorry, you brought up the queen thing and I thought you were testing me or something because you gave me that look like you knew what I was thinking, and I thought it was the disapproving look," she sighed, pressing her face into his chest. "You're distracting in general," she amended, still keeping her face hidden. "I've thought more about ways to tease and tempt you and places to have sex and sex overall than I ever have in my life. I wondered if the ceremony could be moved to tomorrow or if we could have a sex break or two."

---

Unlike Bridris, Ramyth wasn't quite crying, but his eyes were prickling nonetheless as he held her, pressing his hand against the hand she'd put to his cheek. "I just thought... maybe you'd be happier overall without having to worry about me, that everything else you experienced in your life might make up for it, especially since you're already so worried about me that you don't want to marry." He leaned his face into her hand, turning to press a kiss to her palm. "All I want is to see you happy, and I'm just... I'm worried I'm never going to be able to truly make you happy, not when my being fae puts so many concerns on you. Even if I'd miss you every single day you're gone, I'd have some relief just knowing that you're safe and happy. That's the only reason I brought this up. I want to keep you so badly, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if even a tenth of your days were miserable because of me."

@ sun spirit

Ailuin smiled reassuringly at her as he shook her head, pulling her close. "I'm sorry for the confusion, I was just trying to help, but I feel like I might have made things worse." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, laughing as she said she wanted to postpone the ceremony or have a few breaks where they could have sex. "I don't think so, Aub. As much as I'd love to do that for you, I know that I can't, and that standing up there for however long it takes will help prove to the council that this isn't just something physical, that I really truly want you at my side as Queen."

---

Bridris sniffled as Ramyth spoke, leaning forward to rest her forehead against his as he squeezed his hand. "I'd miss you too.. Even if I couldn't remember you, my heart would ache every day that I didn't get to spend with you. You could never make me miserable, Ramyth. It's my fault I'm miserable, I'm the one who's different, I'm the one who's going to die and leave you alone." She was crying again when a knock on the door startled her, frowning a little as she turned to look at the door, assuming it was Ailuin or Aubrius. Before either of them could say anything though, Roe burst through the door, a large frown on her lips as she looked at them worriedly.

"Bridris! Ramyth! What are you two doing? It's Roedanya, you're supposed to be happy! I can't have my blessed couple be miserable, what kind of goddess would I be if my blessed couple was miserable?" She pouted a bit as she held her hands on her hips, not upset with them but more upset in general about the situation.

Bridris blinked a little in surprise, wiping at her eyes quickly as she looked up at Roe in confusion. "R-Roe..? Wh-What are you doing here? I thought.. I thought you said you were going to go celebrate in another court with your mate today?" She asked, glancing behind Roe when she noticed a very grumpy looking fae standing in the other room, apparently waiting for Roe.

"I was, but how can I celebrate knowing you two are so upset and sad, when all I want is for you to to be happy?" She frowned, grabbing a handkerchief seemingly from thin air to lightly dab at Bridris' tear streaked cheeks. "I have to take care of my blessed couple, I can celebrate with Syld once I've sorted out how to give you both a long happy life together."

@ katahdin

Aubrius shook her head, giving him a reassuring smile. “I’m glad you didn’t mean it the way I thought you did,” she said, leaning in to press a kiss to his lips and shrugging good-naturedly when he said they couldn’t go with one of her suggestions. “I sort of guessed that’d be the case, which is why I didn’t bring it up.” She gave him another kiss. “I’ve decided we’re going to have one more round because it sounds like we both really want it and it’ll make the ceremony more bearable, and then we’ll go get breakfast with Bri and Ram.” As she spoke, she gently pushed him onto his back and started to kiss and nibble her way down his neck. “And your neck doesn’t have nearly enough marks, so I’ll have to pay more attention to it this time.”

---

Ramyth was still struggling not to cry and holding Bridris tightly when a knock at the door turned into Roe of all people letting herself in and looking very put-out. Unlike Bridris, who seemed more concerned with why Roe was there, his brain cling more to her apparent claim to be Roedanya and that the fae in the doorway behind her was Syldning. And somehow she’d inherently known they were upset and had cut into her holiday time to personally come and fix it? As she stepped forward to offer Bridris a handkerchief to dry her tears with, he could only stare at her, amazed that an actual god and goddess were standing in his and Bridris’ rooms and offering them help. “T-thank you. I don’t think we’ve done anything to deserve your help like this.”

Syldning had wandered into the room since it seemed like this wouldn’t be a quick stop, which stops with his mate never were, and with a resigned sigh, he sat down in a chair. “You probably haven’t, but Roe can’t help herself when it comes to wanting every couple who belongs together to be happy, and for some reason, she’s obsessed with Bridris after meeting her yesterday. It’s all she’s been talking about. This will all go faster if you just accept her help and hear her out on whatever she plans on doing for you two.”

@ sun spirit

Ailuin returned her kiss, giving her a little squeeze as she said she'd figured he'd say no to her suggestion. "Just because I said no doesn't mean I don't think it's a good idea. It's a great idea, I'm just not sure how everyone else will think of it." He chuckled, grinning as she pushed him onto his back so she could kiss his neck, groaning softly as she nibbled here and there. "That seems reasonable to me.." he murmured, his grip on her hips tightening.

---

Roe shot Syldning a look as he sat down, turning back to Bridris with a smile as she wiped at her eyes. "I think every couple who deserves it should be happy together. Not all the time, obviously, but overall, they should live long happy lives together. Don't mind Syld, he's just grumpy because I made him leave before we could have breakfast." She explained, taking a seat across the table from them.

Bridris had thanked her when she'd been given the handkerchief, wiping at her eyes and nose as she listened to the two gods talk. She frowned when Roedanya explain that they hadn't had breakfast, clearing her throat a bit as she looked over at Syldning. "I'm sorry.. You can have some of our breakfast. We were supposed to eat with our friends, but I'm not sure that they're coming, and I don't want it to go to waste..."

Roe beamed, clapping her hands together. "What a lovely offer! Bri, honey, why don't you and Syldning go into the other room and eat, while Ramyth and I sit here and chat for a few minutes? We'll join you soon, I promise."

Bridris looked at Ramyth nervous, waiting for his reassurance that it was alright to leave him alone before standing from his lap after giving his kiss a cheek, gesturing for Syldning to follow her out into the parlor room where breakfast had been left at the table. "I don't really know what food there is, or if it's still warm, but I hope it'll be alright for you, Mr Syldning."

@ katahdin

"It's okay, I know you have to be the reasonable one," Aubrius reassured him, smirking against his skin as he groaned a bit and held her a little tighter. "Great," she murmured against his neck, letting a little bit of a growl enter her voice, knowing he'd feel it against his skin, continuing her ministrations. She didn't want to do anything that would hurt him too bad, but a few nips and nibbles were acceptable. After making a few more marks on his neck, she pulled back a bit to admire her handiwork, then suddenly grinned and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "I'll just send a note telling them to expect us at breakfast in a bit then." She hopped up and walked to a desk against a wall at the far side of the room that was far more organized than the desk in his study and quickly found paper and a pen with which to write her note, though if she were being honest, she was more focused on the weight of her mate's stare following her across the room and staying on her as she bent to write the note.

---

Syldning was taken aback by Bridris' offer of breakfast in response to Roe all but claiming he was grumpy because he hadn't eaten yet when she knew what the real reason was. He would've expected her not to know what to do with the comment or to let the roll over, and some of the stiffness eased even as Roe suggested they go eat while she talked to the fae. He gave his mate a look, not quite sure what she was planning, but he'd learned not to question the way she did her duties as a goddess of love and so he got back to his feet with a sigh. "Alright. Let's hope there's something good for breakfast waiting on us."

Ramyth wasn't sure why Roedanya wanted to talk to him alone and couldn't guess what she was thinking, but if there was a chance she could do something to help him and Bridris, he wasn't going to complain that she wanted to, even if her presence was a little surreal. So when Bridris gave him a questioning look, he smiled and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "I'll be fine. Go enjoy breakfast. And call if you need me." He didn't think she would, but he wanted to be sure. He felt more awkward than ever once she left and the door between the rooms shut, leaving him alone with Roedanya. He fidgeted with his clothes a little, standing out of habit, and awkwardly motioned to the chair across from him. "Umm, would you like to sit... ma'am?" Damn if he knew how to address a goddess. "If you don't mind me asking, why, umm, why did you want to talk to me alone?"

In the parlor room, Syldning found himself faced with a veritable feast of a breakfast and couldn't help but wonder for a moment how many friends Bridris and Ramyth had been expecting. He almost asked, just to have something to say to break the awkward silence, when he almost choked as she called him Mr. Syldning. "Just Syldning," he said. "Gods don't really have titles or anything like that, unless you count a list of what we're the gods of, and that gets dull and lengthy. It looks like there's plenty of food here though. I'm sure I'll find something I like." He actually had an eye on a plate of bacon and took a chair near it. Then, seeing Bridris had yet to take a seat, he asked, "You'll eat too, right? It's awkward when people sort of hover and watch you while you're eating."

@ sun spirit

Ailuin groaned as she got us, sitting up with a frown as he watched her move over to the desk to send a note, eyes never leaving her figure. When he realized she was taking her sweet time he stood, moving over to her and grabbing her hips to pull her back against him, growling needily. "Aubrius.. Don't you think this could wait?"

---

Roedanya waved and smiled at her mate and Bridris as they left, turning to Ramyth once the door was shut, shaking her head quickly as he stood and called her ma'am. "Please, dear. Roe is fine. And sit, no use in you standing there all nervous." She smiled, waiting until he had sat before addressing his other question. "I wanted to speak with you alone because I don't want to get Bridris' hopes up if I offer a solution that doesn't work out. I'm sure she wants to be with you badly enough to where with almost anything at this point, as would you, but if my ideas don't work I'd hate to see her crushed." She explained, a glass of water appearing on the table for her to sip from. "Do you have any suggestions?"

Bridris blushed as she heard Syldning cough when she called him mister, nodding as he corrected her. "Sorry.. I don't know much about fae customs, and haven't really spoken with many.. But Ramyth has explained some things whenever I ask, and he's told me lots of stories about the Court's history and myths.. I especially like the stories you're in. Hanvosi gave me a big book full of stories and information about all the gods and goddesses and myths, but I can't read it myself because I don't know how, but I like looking at the pictures, and I think the nicest pictures are in the sections with your stories." She admitted softly, taking a seat when he gestured for her to join him, nodding as she looked over all the options for breakfast. "Fae food and human food are very different sometimes, but breakfast is the most similar, I think.. You can help yourself to what you want first."

@ katahdin

Aubrius supposed she should feel bad for teasing Ailuin, but it was hard to when she loved the ways he reacted, and this time was no different, a little shiver going through her as he pulled her against him and growled in her ear. "That depends..." She leaned into him, tilting her head back and nipping his chin, the thought of finishing and sending the note all but abandoned. "What are you thinking it should wait for?"

---

As Roedanya sat down across from him and asked that he did too, Ramyth followed her instruction, though he was by no means completely relaxed. It wasn't quite that he was nervous or on-guard though and more as if her presence had caused some of his brain to slip back into the automatic ways in which he carried himself and behaved when he was on duty, which included sitting at the edge of the chair ramrod straight, rather than relaxing. He nodded a bit at her explanation on why she wanted to speak to him alone. "That makes sense. I don't want to see her crushed either. I... don't really know if I have any suggestions though. I don't know what's within your power to do and what isn't. I suppose... ideally, it seems like she wants to be a faerie as well, maybe even caelus. She wants to stay here, but she's worried about fitting in, which even an extended life wouldn't give her, and we both want as much time as we can have with each other."

Syldning shook his head. "You were just trying to be polite, and there probably isn't much precedent, since we don't usually meddle with fae affairs in person," he said, eyes flicking to the door. He didn't really approve of Roe doing all this, but it wasn't as if he could stop her. As Bridris continued to tell him that she liked stories that he was in, his eyes moved back to her in surprise, and before he knew it, he found himself giving her a little smile. "Really? Most only think about me when a loved one passes or to pray for a bountiful harvest." He looked at her and considered something that would usually never cross his mind. "Lean forward for a moment. And don't tell my mate about this." As she did as he asked, he had her close her eyes and he touched each eyelid in turn, willing a bit of magic into the touch as he did so. He sat back after he finished and let her know he was done. "It seemed a shame that someone who clearly wanted to read wasn't able. Now you won't have to waste your time toiling over learning how to do it. You can read anything you wish now, even in languages you aren't familiar with." He seemed a little pleased with himself as he started moving food onto his plate.

@ sun spirit

Ailuin growled needily, running his hands down her sides as she nipped his chin. "You know exactly what it should wait for." He murmured against her skin as he kissed down her neck, nibbling and sucking on her skin as he squeezed her hips. "Little tease.." He grumbled, smirking slightly against her skin.

---

Roedanya nodded in understanding as he spoke, reaching over to pat his arm. "I'd like to give you more time, too. I have one idea, but I'm not sure if it can be done, and it might be better to not tell Bridris exactly what we're doing before we know if it'll work or not." She explained in warning, offering him a little smile. "I think that she can become a faerie, if not a caelus. We would need all of the other gods on board with the plan, since there'd have to be a ceremony where we give her magic and turn her into a fae and all that, but it's possible, we've done it before, but that was a very long time ago. But I think that Bridris could convince them it was worth it. But it's up to you."

Bridris nodded a little at his explanation, glancing over at the door when he did. "I'm sorry that Roedanya dragged you here and away from your celebration.. I know I'm not really worth the trouble that Ramyth and Ailuin and Aub have gotten into for me, let alone worth it for gods to get involved. If there's anything that I can do to make it up to you, please tell me, and I'll try my best to do it." She murmured as she began to pick at the feast, putting some fruit on her plate and a fried egg or two, grabbing some toast after a moment's thought. She looked up at him again when he asked if she really did like his stories, giving a little nod. "I do.. I think the pictures are nice, and the way Ramyth tells them." She explained, frowning as he asked her to lean forward and not tell his mate about what he was about to do, but after a hesitant nod she leaned forward, figuring it best not to ignore the request of a god, closing her eyes when he requested. It felt weird having him touch her eyelids, his fingers leaving a tingling feeling behind afterward, but when she opened her eyes as he explained what he'd done they widened in shock and her mouth nearly fell open. "Really?" She asked in disbelief, looking around for the nearest thing to read, and seeing a letter from Aiulin that had accompanied their breakfast explaining something about the festival quickly grabbed it and opened it, gasping as she was easily able to read the words, as if she'd read them a thousand times. "Wow... I.. I don't know how I can ever thank you. Maybe I'll write you a letter, writing should be easier now that I know how to read properly. Learning both is very hard. And I promise that I won't tell your mate.. But can I tell Ramyth?" She asked, smiling over at him as she began to eat.

@ katahdin

Aubrius let out a needy growl as Ailuin gave the same attention to her neck that she’d given his a few minutes ago, pressing back against him. “Tease? Like what you’re doing right now?” She could just from being pressed against him that he was ready for her, his hands were traveling her skin but never quite where she wanted them, and then there was his lips on her neck. She practically melted against him with another growl as his mouth found the little hollow where her neck met her collarbone, some small part of her silently willing him to bite just there.

---

Ramyth had been prepared to offer to become a human if it was easier and spend a deceased lifespan with Bridris, to give half his remaining years to her, pretty much anything if it was within Roedanya’s power, so when she agreed that she’d like to make Bridris fae too, it almost didn’t feel real. “That... Is there any way we could go about trying to convince the other gods without telling Bridris exactly what we’re up to? Or that we’re up to anything? I’d rather her not know and be surprised when we tell her that she can become a fae than have that chance and then halfway through, it fall apart. I don’t know what we’d tell her instead, but she’s already miserable enough about other things. I don’t want to see her even more crushed.”

Syldning waved off Bridris’ apology almost as soon as it came out of her mouth. “It’s not your fault. I’m sure you have legitimate reasons for being unhappy. I’m here because Roe believes it’s her duty to make you happy, and if she can’t do it through miracles from afar, she’s the sort of goddess to come and do it in person. She always has been. It’s just bad luck that it happened now,” he explained, and seeing that she was filling her plate now, started to eat as she spoke, smirking a bit at her visible shock as he revealed what he’d done, watching her go to fetch a letter to test out the claim. He chuckled as she suggested thanking him with a letter. “Only it it says nice things. I don’t want to see the word grumpy anywhere—I get enough of that from Roe. And you can tell whoever you want, just so long as no one goes tattling to Roe. She’ll be unbearable if she finds out.” He knew it was just a matter of time, of course. But he could postpone the inevitable at least.

@ sun spirit

Ailuin smirked, humming against her skin as he kissed her, enjoying making her squirm. When he heard her growl as he kissed the space between her neck and collarbone he hummed, his grip tightening on her waist as he bit the skin there, not hard enough to bleed but hard enough to leave a mark, pushing into her at the same time. "Enough teasing."

---

"They'll want to meet her. See for themselves if she's worthy of it." Roe explained as he asked if there was a way to keep Bridris from knowing. "We can tell her that they want to meet the human that I blessed, which is true, they do want to meet her, but we don't need to tell her that it's an interview or an interrogation, and I can ask the gods to refrain from mentioning what we're trying to do. She's smart, so there's a chance that she'll catch on, or that one of the gods will spill the beans, but I think it's doable." She explained, offering Ramyth a reassuring smile. "I think the gods will see that she's worthy. I can hear her and Syldning talking well enough to know that they're getting along, and he's the grumpiest man I know."

Bridris was quiet for a few moments as Syldning spoke, considering her words before speaking. "Have you ever loved Roedanya so much it hurts? It feels like the more I love Ramyth the more everything hurts, especially knowing how much me growing old and dying will hurt him.. He doesn't deserve that kind of pain, and I wish more than anything that there was something I could do to keep him from hurting because of me." She confessed softly, taking a few bites of fruit as she fell silent while they ate. She offered him a faint smile though as he said that she could send him a letter only if it said nice things, giving a little nod. "I'd never say anything mean, that wouldn't be nice."

@ katahdin

Aubrius growled needily as Ailuin simultaneously bit and pushed into her, reaching back to clutch him to steady herself. "Fuck, Ailuin. Wall. Or desk. I don't care which. Pick one or I'll turn around and pick for you." She'd just listed the two closest surfaces, caring less about comfort for either of them than the more immediate need to be fucking him as soon as possible.

---

Ramyth visibly relaxed as Roedanya explained how they could try to protect Bridris, even if there was a chance that she figured it out herself or one of the other gods said something wrong, nodding. "I understand. I'd still like it if we could try though, if you don't mind. She might not be as suspicious if she only meets one or two at a time as well, rather than all the gods being gathered at once. She'll handle it better that way too. She gets overwhelmed in crowds," he explained, going quiet as Roedanya claimed that Bridris shouldn't have any problems and that she was getting along with Syldning. "I hope you're right. She deserves to be happy and not to feel like an outsider or feel like she has to hold herself back or worry. She deserves happiness."

Syldning looked up from his food as Bridris asked her question, the excitement from moments ago having faded from her eyes, replaced with something somber. "Is that what you're so unhappy about?" he asked. Roe hadn't given him any specifics, but it made sense that she'd want to intervene in this, and suddenly he wondered if she wanted to do what he thought she did. Which then brought the question of whether she'd left him alone with Bridris intentionally with the hope of convincing him to say yes. Fighting the urge to scowl because that was exactly the sort of thing Roe would do, he sighed, setting down his fork. "I'm sorry you have to bear that kind of worry. Don't worry about it too much for now though. If I know my mate, and I do, she has a plan for you. You may think you're just a human, but when she decided to bless you, she essentially claimed you. She'll do everything in her power to make sure you and Ramyth have a happy life together." He hesitantly reached across the table and patted her hand before drawing back again and picking his fork up, spearing some fruit on it. "In that case, I look forward to receiving your letter."

@ sun spirit

"Desk. It's closer." Ailuin groaned as he pinned her against it, thrusting into her as he kissed her deeply, not caring at all about the mess they were surely making. "Fuck, Aub.." he growled, squeezing her hips. "You feel so fucking good.. Why did I never ask you to be my mate sooner? Or at least fuck you?"

---

Roe nodded, offering Ramyth a reassuring smile. "We can try that. Some of them might already agree with me when I ask, which wouldn't require them to meet, but there are some grumps like Syldning who'd need more convincing. But I'm sure she can do it, and I'll make sure to keep you informed with what's going on." She said, squeezing his hand when he spoke about how much she deserved to be happy. "She will be, I'll make sure of it, Ramyth."

Bridris frowned a bit as Syldning spoke, shaking her head a bit as he mentioned Roedanya attempting to make sure they were happy. "But I'm not sure I deserve it.. There are people who are miserable and suffering for far worse reasons than being in love, Roedanya should focus on helping them, the ones who really deserve to be happy. I appreciate her trying, but I can learn to live with it, or suck it up... I'd rather her use her power to cure the sick, or heal my friend's wings so she can fly again. It doesn't feel right to accept her help knowing I don't really deserve it." She sighed as she ate a few bites of her sausage, glancing up at him with a little smile when he said he looked forward to receiving her letter. "I don't really know where to send letters addressed to gods.. but I'll hope it gets to you."

@ katahdin

For the second time in a matter of days, Aubrius found herself bent over a desk. When she'd said yesterday that they'd have to try again once she was healed, it hadn't crossed her mind that again would be so soon, but as he started thrusting into her, far less restrained than yesterday, she found nothing to complain about, groaning instead as she tried to move with him in whatever way she could. "Gods, I don't know. If I'd known fucking you was this amazing, I wouldn't have cared if you were off-limits. I can't believe we've lost out on a whole hundred years of this just because the council hates me."

---

Ramyth nodded, offering Roedanya a grateful smile. "Thank you. This is... it's way beyond anything I could've hoped to do on my own and definitely more than I could've prayed for," he said earnestly, squeezing the goddess' hand back. "If there's ever anything I could do for you, please let me know. I know I'm just a guard and don't have much to offer, but I mean it. If this works, seeing Bridris happy will be worth any price." Roedanya seemed too nice to ask something terrible of him, but he felt indebted and obligated to offer.

Syldning shook his head. "You can tell her that, but it isn't quite how it always works. Roe's the goddess of love. We all have certain abilities that I assume are related to us being gods, but for all that, we also have specialized abilities related to what kinds of gods we are and do our parts to use those abilities to govern our specialities and trust the others to do the same. It's how we keep the balance. Roe governs love and mates and that sort of thing, so she does her part to oversee those things. She sees something in you and Ramyth that's worth her personal involvement, but you aren't the only ones. She does this sort of thing frequently. So you might feel as if it's a minor matter compared to bigger matters and that others deserve her help more, but your feelings are significant to a goddess of love, and Roe's decided you're deserving of her help. Rather than worry or argue, I'd thank her," he suggested as he continued to eat, though she made a valid point when she said she wouldn't know where to put a letter addressed to a guard. "Hmm... just write my name on it once you've finished and set it down anywhere. That'll alert me. If you ever want to write to another god though, your best bet would probably to send it to a temple that worships the god you're wanting to contact. We'll check things out at the temples every so often."

@ sun spirit

Ailuin chuckled a bit between groans, his grip on her hips tightening as he pounded into her. "We've got hundreds of more years to make up for it, though. And I promise that I'll make it up to you, Aub." He groaned, leaning down to kiss between her wings, pinning her to the desk with his body. This was much better than it had been yesterday, not that yesterday had been bad, but now that he wasn't terrified of injuring her wings he could really fuck her like he wanted. Like she wanted.

---

Roedanya smiled brightly as Ramyth thanked her, shaking her head and waving her free hand dismissively as he offered her whatever she wanted in exchange for Bridris' happiness. "Please, there's nothing that I want from you other than for you and Bridris to live a long happy life together.. Although, if you're so inclined, naming a child after me or Syld wouldn't be too awful." She teased, knowing there were plenty of fae out there who named their children after gods, but she didn't want to force it onto Ramyth and Bridris if they didn't want to.

Bridris simply nodded as Syldning explained about his mate's thought process and how despite what she felt about the situation, Roe obviously felt differently. It was odd, having a goddess so concerned with her happiness, but she figured that she would give up when she realized that there was either nothing to be done or when she managed to suck it up enough to not be a bother anymore. She nodded as he explained about how to send him a letter, giving a little nod as she finished the last bit of fruit on her plate, not feeling up to eating the last egg and sausage and a half on her plate. "Alright.. I don't think I'll ever have to directly send anything to any of the other gods, though, but it's good to know, thank you.. Do you need anything else? I'm sure I could ask one of the maids to bring you something if it's not already here."

@ katahdin

“I’ll hold you to that,” Aubrius assured him, letting out a little needy growl as he kissed the skin between her wings and continued to fuck her. Unlike last time, he wasn’t holding himself back, and if she had to choose, she’d never have him any other way. Soon enough, she was reaching back with one hand again, grabbing him as if she thought it would steady her somehow as she groaned. “Fuck, Ailuin. Just a little more.” She could tell he was close too, with how his thrusts became more hurried, and then they were both coming, and as her entire body relaxed in the moments that followed, she let her head rest against the desk. “Fuck, I love you so much,” she breathed. Realizing she was still holding onto him, though her hold had loosened, she let go and brought her arm back around front with the other. “When I regain the will to sit up, let me look where I grabbed you. I might’ve dug in a little too hard.”

---

Ramyth wasn’t sure whether to smile at Roedanya’s teasing—he’d heard enough of it in his life to know that’s what it was—or blush at the mention of his and Bridris’ children, something he’d never even let himself consider but if she was really made fae by the gods, would be a real possibility for them. In his emotional indecision, his body apparently decided to do both, and he ducked his head as his cheeks warmed. “I’ll keep that in mind. And in the meantime, if you ever change your mind, just let me know.” Thankfully, the blush faded quickly, and when he looked up again, he realizes they’d run out of things to talk about that required privacy. “I guess we should join Bridris and Syldning for breakfast then?” Gods, that was a sentence he never thought he’d find himself saying. Some part of him still hadn’t fully accepted that he was talking to a goddess.

Syldning was close to finished with the food he’d piled onto his plate when Bridris stopped eating, apparently deciding she was done before she finished the last of her own food, nodding as she thanked him. Even if she didn’t suspect she’d need to know where to send letters to gods, if his suspicion about what Roe wanted to do was correct, she seemed like the sort who’d send thank you letters to everyone involved. Besides, there were plenty curious to meet her after Roe blessed her, and he could only assume she’d get along with at least a few of the others. He was drawn from his musings as she asked if he needed anything else though, quickly shaking his head. “No, no, don’t trouble yourself. I’m fine. And nearly full. It sounds like conversation might be winding down in the next room though. Hopefully that means Roe and Ramyth have come to some sort of understanding.”

@ sun spirit

Ailuin panted as he stilled, still gripping her hips just as tightly as he had been a minute ago as they both came down from their highs. "I love you too." He breathed, pressing another kiss between her wings before sitting up, his grip loosening as hers did, offering her a little smile as he stepped away and helped her up, tugging her into his arms. "I'm pretty sure I might have left bruises where I was holding your hips, so I think that we're even." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, closing his eyes as he held her against his chest, fingers gently trailing along her spine.

---

Roedanya smiled, patting his hand before standing. "Yes, joining them seems like a good idea. I won't mention what we're up to, but might mention that some of the gods might want to meet her soon, that way she has a bit of time to mentally prepare herself for it, and I have time to speak with the gods about it." She said gesturing for him to lead the way before following him out of the bedroom and into the parlor where Bridris and Syldning were sitting.

Bridris was in the middle of nodding as Syldning said that he didn't need anything else, looking over as Ramyth and Roedanya came into the room, eyes lighting up as she smiled at Ramyth. "Did your talk go well? Here, you can take my seat, help yourself to breakfast while I change?" She said as she stood, giving Ramyth's hands a squeeze as she passed him, Roedanya happily moving over to take her now empty seat and help herself to some of the breakfast at the table, giving her mate as mile in the process.

@ katahdin

It took a minute before either of them moved away from the desk, but when they did, Aubrius was more than happy to be enfolded in Ailuin's arms, loosely wrapping her arms around his waist as well, chuckling as he claimed they were even for accidental injuries. "My ribs might be too, but I can't think of any better way to get a few bruises," she said. When he held her close and trailed his fingers up and down her spine, she let herself lean into him and hold him a little tighter as well for several moments, then pressed a kiss to his chest. "As much as I'd love to stay here naked with you, we should get dressed or we won't have time for breakfast."

---

Ramyth nodded, standing as well. "That sounds great," he agreed and led the way into the parlor, where it looked as if Bridris and Syldning were just finishing their breakfast. And sure enough, it looked as if Roedanya was right about them getting along. Syldning even looked less grumpy. "It did. Looks like breakfast went well for you too," he said to Bridris as she greeted them, returning her smile and pausing to kiss her cheek before he let her go to change. But then he was left alone with two gods, which he realized suddenly as he awkwardly sat next to Roedanya and started to put food on his plate.

As Roedanya walked in with Ramyth, Syldning had started to stand, under the assumption that they'd be leaving shortly, only to return to his seat when his mate sat down and started to help herself to breakfast as well. "Before you even ask, you have my support," he said after Bridris had left the room. "I know what you're planning, I know you had me come with you and left me alone with her so I'd have to talk to her and get to know her, and I hate that your plan worked, but I'm not spiteful enough to say no just because you tricked me."

@ sun spirit

Ailuin chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before nuzzling his nose into her hair. "If it hurts too much let me know and I'll heal you. Same goes for the bites and marks I've left on your neck." He pointed out, keeping her close. He liked the quiet moments after they'd caught their breaths and come down from their highs, feeling like that's when they were closest to one another. He let out a little hum when she kissed his chest, lifting his head from hers to nod in agreement, leaning down to kiss her lips. "I suppose you're right... I'm not happy about letting you go, but I know that it must be done. But I want you to know that I don't want to." He pointed out before releasing her, moving back toward the bed to gather up his clothes, tugging them on while smoothing out as many of the wrinkles as he could, grateful they weren't too bad.

---

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." Roedanya stated simply as she helped herself to some of the fruit and eggs that were left, trying very hard and failing not to look smug. Upon noticing how rigid Ramyth seemed she offered him a reassuring smile, gesturing to the rest of the food on the table. "Relax, Ramyth. It's Roedanya, there's no need to be worried. And there's too much food for me to eat by myself, and the ceremony today always takes forever, so you should eat something now so you'll last until dinner." She pointed out much like a mother would, turning to smile at Bridris when she returned. "Oh, you look lovely, dear."

Bridris' cheeks heated up at Roedanya's compliment, smoothing her hands over her dress anxiously, quickly moving to sit in the free chair between Ramyth and Syldning. "Thank you.." She murmured softly, fiddling with her hair a bit, having left it down since it had been too hard to put up given the fact that Roedanya's flower crown was still stuck to her head. She looked over at Ramyth after a moment, frowning faintly when she didn't see him eating. "Are you ok? You said earlier that you were hungry, but you're not eating now.."

@ katahdin

"Absolutely not. I'm showing off my battle scars," Aubrius teased, looking up at him with a smile, though she wasn't entirely joking either. "Unless one of us heals yours, a couple of yours will show over your collar too," she added, reaching up and lightly touching the two she knew for sure would be visible, although she'd left a few more that his collar would likely cover. "Trust me, leaving this room is the last thing I want to do, but we have to for the ceremony anyway, and Bridris would kill me if we missed breakfast after promising to be there." Which was an exaggeration, but Aubrius would feel guilty and sort of felt like she owed Bridris after how she'd acted when she'd been drunk a few days ago. So she let Ailuin go and moved back over to the bed with him, where she pulled out the black tunic and its matching pants and got dressed in them, leaving the top button undone on her shirt because she'd been serious about not covering the marks on her neck. Once dressed, she moved back over to the chair that held her belongings to put on her boots and retrieve a hair tie, which she used to pull her hair up into a messy bun. When she was finished, she turned to find Ailuin dressed as well, if slightly rumpled, and couldn't help but smirk at the. sight of the tassel belt. "I don't think I can ever look at you the same after seeing you in that."

---

"You never do." Roe's smug look didn't escape Syldning, but he let it go. They had plenty they argued about on a regular basis without him insisting she answer for this, and it was their holidays. Like the fae, he tried to use this time of the year to forgive and start a new year without arguments or grudges, even if sometimes his mate made it hard to do so. He left her to try and calm down the guard, sitting back and falling quiet until Bridris returned. "Roe's right. Faerie clothing suits you."

Ramyth had put food on his plate, though the part of him that had grown used to eating with Bridris had taken over and made him wait until she returned. He wasn't even entirely aware of it until Roedanya pointed it out, but he didn't have a chance to respond before Bridris returned, almost looking like a goddess of spring herself with her flower-embroidered dress and flower crown. As she sat beside him, he reached out and took her hand out of sight of gods. "You look absolutely beautiful," he murmured to her with a little smile, blushing a bit as she, too, called him out on his untouched plate. "I'm fine," he assured her. "I was just waiting on you out of habit," he explained sheepishly, taking a bite of eggs to prove he really was fine.