Chapter 18

Tide and Time

The morning dawned cool and clear, the light shining through high, arched windows into the massive room with its equally high, arched ceiling. Reina walked down the long aisle between neat rows of Aelyrians, standing at attention. Mothers and children, warriors and tradesmen, all watched her passage with smiles gracing their ethereal faces as she moved calmly, head high. At any other time, she would have wondered how in the world she did not shrivel from all the attention. But this? Well she'd already done it once before, hadn't she? And she hadn't embarrassed herself then.

George and Gabriel waited at the end of the room by altar with a cerulean pillow settled on it. Yet her eye was drawn to what rested on the lovely cloth. The silvery gleam of a woven circlet reflected the warm light like a jewel itself, scattering the rays of sun around the room. An elf with dark hair waited behind it, his white robes trimmed in delicate runes of turquoise. He offered a polite dip of his head at her searching gaze. Reina nodded in turn, then glanced away, managing to spy Aveth in the fore of the crowd.

She faced it all with a simple smile. Her elegant, layered robes of white and deep blue draped heavily, almost like armor for their thickness. Yet for all her trappings, her memories, or her soon to be station, they were not what gave her strength.

Her eyes looked to her side where Nova walked a pace behind her.

Beside her once more.

Gods, it felt like she had waited for centuries. Maybe she had. And her dear Nova had waited even longer…. Sweet Divines, she hadn't meant for any of that to happen. She yearned to take the warrior's hand as they walked, to nestle herself against that strong shoulder. Ah, but there was ceremony to be observed, wasn't there? A pity.

They reached the altar and she looked to her father with a smile. He beamed back at her, no mask of gruff bravado, no mark of displeasure. Just her father, proud as the day was long.

The elf in white spoke at length as she knelt. She knew the words, and to her chagrin, didn't bother to listen. Instead she focused on the verdant vitality of the magic flowing through her. It was still strange, still foreign. And yet there came a gentle presence from the depths that settled like a hand upon her shoulder.

Elisideen. Divines it felt unreal, to have it all back again. A sudden smirk lit her face before she hurried to hide it against an errant thought. Maybe she should start praying to the Ancestors now. She chased the thought away.

The elf fell silent, prompting Reina to lift her head. Gabriel took the silver circlet in his hands and lowered it to rest on her brow. She swallowed hard. It was heavy. Far more than she had imagined. But that was the truth of the crown, wasn't it?

She stood and turned to the assembled masses as Gabriel lifted his voice in a familiar call.

"Long live the queen!"

The people echoed it, shaking the very stones. Her people.

Nova… and even her father! Reina smiled wide until her entire face hurt, but she didn't stop. In that moment, she never wanted to stop.

Gabriel lifted a hand and they fell silent as one.

Reina took a breath, gathering her thoughts. She wrestled with the right words for a moment, then simply lifted her voice and said what was in her heart.

"Thank you all. I'm both honored and humbled to stand before you today. Even as I'm granted this honor, I know that there's a long road ahead of me, and much I need to learn. But I'm ready for it. With all of you beside me, I know we can make this an age of prosperity and peace for generations to come."

Another chorus rose, and Reina never lost her smile. She watched them, then spoke softly to the eternal guardian at her side.

"I want to live up to their belief in me."

"You will," Nova promised, her eyes welling with pride.

George caught his daughter's arm as they moved into a quiet hall. The rest of the procession continued on at his nod, leaving them alone in the stillness.

"I'm so proud of you, my sweet girl," he praised softly, wrapping her in a strong hug. "And I think your mother would be proud of you too."

"Thanks, Dad," she smiled, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Whatever happens, I'll always be here for you," he promised.

Words were insufficient, and so she hugged him hard.

"Especially," George smirked, "if there's a flying bear outside your window in the middle of the night."

Reina drew back with a groan.

"It was one time!" she huffed. "And it was a very legitimate concern!"

He tousled her hair, crown and all, then prompted her onward.

"Go on, then. They're waiting."

She nodded once and made to follow the others, but his words stopped her.

"Just don't forget about your old man in the middle of all your queenly things… aye?"

She looked back with a tender smile and promised, "No chance."

Reina looked up to the crystalline tree sequestered deep in the cavernous depths. Aedrasiil thrummed with life and light, the vibrancy almost making her squint. She reached out a hand and trailed it across the heart of the tree. Veins of black still ran through it, but she sighed in relief to see they were fading. Each day that dawned saw it further restored to its former glory. Beside her the phantasm of Elisideen smiled.

"Soon," was all he said.

Reina stepped back and turned to him.

"And the wall?" she pressed.

He nodded sagely.

"We work to mend the gems atop it as we speak. His taint does not cling so tightly to them. They will likely be renewed by the sun's next rise."

"Good," she sighed in relief. At least now the wall's barrier would be back to its former strength.

"Though with you on the throne, it's almost a moot point," he continued with a small chuckle.

Reina paused, wondering if he'd read her thoughts, but let the matter go as she closed her eyes. The magic pulsed within her, in time with her own heartbeat. She felt it in the Well, the wall, and… the people, as if each of them was a star that formed the patchwork of the night sky.

Elisideen touched her shoulder.

"They come."

She nodded once and turned away toward the long tunnel before her feet paused. In a single motion, she ran back to the ancient king and embraced him. His arms wrapped around her, just as warm as they'd always been. She drew away and turned her feet back to the Well's room, making it there just as the door opened.

Gabriel remained where she had left him, his patient eyes watching calmly as Nova entered with George and Aveth in tow.

"Alright! So how do we do this?" George asked, cracking his knuckles with a grin.

Gabriel chuckled.

"You and Nova have the same level of patience," he mused.

The warrior and the innkeeper exchanged a shrug.

"Alright then," Gabriel continued. "Are you sure you wish to stay on the island?"

George simply lifted a patronizing eyebrow.

"Yes," he drawled. Reina moved to stand beside him and he threw an arm around her shoulders. "You'll have to tie me up in the middle of the night and ship me off to keep me from my girl."

Gabriel gave a nod, deftly hiding his burgeoning smirk before speaking.

"Now, normally for matters of citizenship we would take outsiders to the Senge. But the two of you are an exception."

Aveth interrupted with a chuckle.

"Really? Citizenship? I've been coming and going here with Nova for centuries. I have my own room."

Gabriel's green eyes flicked to him and the dunmer chuckled before holding up his hands in surrender.

The high steward fought the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. No one respected ceremony anymore. He was saved by a bubbling like a gentle brook and looked over to find the Well's familiar phantom taking shape. The feminine figure favored him with a private smirk and just the barest shrug of its shoulders.

At least someone understood.

Aveth, for his part, gaped. Not. Fair. It only made Nova grin in triumph at him as the childish taunt of 'her ancestors were better' rang through her.

The phantom leveled a glare at her that was pointedly not amused before drifting to George and lifting ethereal hands to settle on either side of his head. George fought the urge to step back.

"Fear not, child," it soothed in a myriad of voices. "For you, this is but a formality. We could hardly deny the father of our queen, after all." The lips pulled into a smirk.

"Fair… point..." George tried, and yet he wasn't entirely convinced.

Gabriel took pity on the man and chimed in with, "Outsiders must be judged and found honorable, their hearts free of malice."

"That hardly seems fair," George grumbled. "You don't judge your own kind."

"No, we shape them from birth to strive becoming paragons," he countered.

George made to retort but fell silent as a warmth suffused him, as if he stood in the midst of a grassy meadow in spring. His irritation washed from him at once, leaving a simple serenity.

The phantom removed its hands and drifted back.

"There is no doubt. You are worthy."

George simply dipped his head in an uncharacteristic bow.

It moved to Aveth next, who lifted a hand in defense.

"Fear not, little one. No harm will befall you."

"You..." he began only to bite down on the words.

The hands lifted to his head and settled there. He struggled for a heartbeat before he was in the depths of a warm ocean, the gentle currents lulling him into dreamlike state. The waters grew darker around him as even blacker shapes moved within. He knew them, their forms. They pulled at him, and yet...

The phantom released him.

"You have endured much, haven't you? And yet your heart remains firmly rooted in the light."

"What did you see?" he demanded in a hushed voice.

The figure chuckled.

"It does not work that way. Not for this. Fear not, your secrets are safe."

Aveth bit his lip and gave a somber nod.

"Worthy," the phantom proclaimed.

"Then it is my honor to formally congratulate you both on your citizenship," Gabriel smiled.

"What, I don't get a plaque? Or a medal?" George laughed, throwing his free arm wide.

"If you'd like, you can help me fill out your proof of citizenship forms," he offered. "And then frame them. It's almost like a plaque."

"Pass."

"Thought so."

Gabriel's smirk faded as his smile turned earnest.

"Well George, now that the island is open to you, what do you think you might like to do?"

"Open an inn, of course!"

The elf hesitated.

"I… well, I should have mentioned earlier that Outlanders are not permitted land here…. Though given your relationship to our queen... I can call a council and perhaps-"

"He can have mine," Nova offered flippantly. "Problem solved."

"It's not a cup of sugar you can just hand out," Gabriel huffed.

She ignored him.

"You have land?" Aveth blinked.

"Vassal," she shrugged simply, pointing a finger at herself. Seeing his continued confusion, she added, "I'm entitled to land, I've just never cared to claim it." She saw no reason to add that staying in the palace instead let her be closer to her queen. George reached out and clasped her shoulder, further prompting the thought to remain definitively silent. But she still managed a smile and a nod in his direction.

Gabriel shook his head with a sigh, but accepted the proceedings with a shrug. Rather than argue the point, he simply offered, "I'm afraid there's not really much call for an inn here."

"Well the people you trade with won't want to stay on their crowded ship the whole time they're unloading cargo, eh?" he returned with a wink. "And besides, once you and yours try my cooking, why, you'll never eat anywhere else!" He paused for a moment and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Though I'd best set to selling my old inn. If my brother hasn't burned it down yet..."

"I can send someone for the task if you-" Gabriel began.

"No," George cut him off. "That's alright. I'll see to the old girl myself and pack up a few things."

"With a team of guards," the high steward insisted.

George fixed him with a look. Gabriel stared right back.

"You realize, I will invariably win, yes?" the elf finally stated. "Specifically for the fact that your daughter now has control over..." he paused in mock thought, "all of the guards?"

George looked between him and Reina. Her chipper face was all the affirmation he needed. A growl of exasperation seeped from him until he eventually surrendered with, "Three guards."

"No promises," Reina chimed. She turned to the phantom and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she gathered her thoughts. "Thank you."

"For?" the melodious voice questioned.

"Helping us. If you hadn't distracted the Devourer…" she winced.

The ethereal features warmed, yet the eyes remained somber.

"A pity we could not do more. But we cannot interfere with this world physically. Our barriers around the city and island seem the only omission to this rule. We guide, we guard." It paused, then added, "Besides, both of us know I drew upon your strength to manifest so far from the Well."

"I think the words you're looking for are 'you're welcome'," Nova goaded.

The phantom turned its unwavering gaze to her.

"I should remind you that within the Sanctum I am able to interfere. In numerous ways. Such as conjuring a lightning bolt."

Nova wisely snapped her mouth shut on her next words. Instead she managed, "Erm, well I think we should be going if we're to keep your appointment with the healers." She turned to Reina who chuckled with a nod. The woman hugged her father, and thanked the phantom in turn before excusing herself and following Nova out of the room.

Reina sat on the soft bed in the healer's ward. She had a room all to herself, likely the benefit of her newfound station, yet she hardly spared it a glance. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the healers as they moved. They'd learned this time, at least. The two of them carried in herbs and worked to mix a poultice that would have made Healer Lee cry. Reina peered around them to watch their work despite the fact that she's already badgered them into teaching her how to make it. Well, alright, badgered was a strong word. Really she'd just asked politely. And insistently. And incessantly. She hadn't ordered them. That counted for something, right? Now if she could just manage to learn their spells…. It was something to strive for, at least.

Nova leaned back against the wall and watched the healers carefully apply the salve to the raw, red burns that ran down her arms in rivers, marking the path of the Devourer's blood. The warrior kept the wince from her face at the painful sight. The burns did not respond to healing magic. It was becoming far too common, disturbingly so. Perhaps their armors needed adjusting. She mused on this as the healers dressed the wounds in white cloth once more and bowed before exiting the room.

Nova moved to Reina's side and threaded her fingers into the woman's grip.

"They say the burns..." Reina tried. "The scaring will most likely be permanent."

Nova frowned, searching for words to ease such a thought. Reina's quavering voice cut into her efforts.

"Still love me?"

Nova's head snapped up.

"Always," she breathed. The single word was a solemn vow, unbreakable, eternal. She carefully lifted Reina's hand and bowed, placing her lips lightly to the cloth.

"Besides," Nova grinned, displaying her formerly mangled arm to reveal no signs of the trauma save a garish burn wrapped in white. "It just means we match now."

Reina reached out her free hand with a glowing smile, beckoning the warrior into an embrace. Nova took an eager step forward when a knock sounded. She grimaced, then rolled her eyes and Reina did the same with a shrug.

"Come," she called.

In stepped a woman with a familiar amethyst shawl tied over her gossamer blond hair. Her blue eyes lighted as she spied them.

"Good day, Laurel," Nova offered with a nod.

"Are you ready?" she grinned in an eager breath. Her body nearly bounced in place as she waited for the answer.

Nova looked to Reina and lifted a single, quizzical eyebrow.

"I asked for her help with an outfit for tonight," Reina offered with an impish grin.

"Ancestors save you."

Laurel either didn't hear or didn't care.

"I could help you too, dear! Some robes? Oh! With a shapely cut to show off your physic!"

"No."

"You can even pick the color! I'm sure I can find you something you like!"

"You really can't," Nova refuted, dryly.

"Or even a dress!" her voice lifted an octave as she clasped her hands.

Nova met her eyes and put all the malice she could muster into a glare.

"No force, not even the Ancestors themselves, will put me in a dress," she hissed.

Reina smirked wickedly, but smoothed her expression as she leaned up close to Nova's ear.

"Run because I love you."

"You're the best."

With that she made a mad dash for freedom, out into the halls and then the city streets. Her feet turned toward the palace where decorations were already being strewn from every available surface. There was the faint smell of pyres that lingered in the air, like a half-remembered dream, but she put them from her mind. It was too dark a thought for such a day. She turned her face toward the welcome breeze drifting in from the sea and smiled.

Aveth lifted a mask for inspection and chuckled. The small room held dozens of the things settled on the walls, some painted in delicate colors, others done entirely in the likeness of animals, albeit with a wolf distinctly missing. He couldn't blame them.

"What's so funny?" Nova prompted.

"All of you," he returned. "A masquerade? It seems uncharacteristic."

"So we borrowed a few things from Outlanders," she huffed. "It's still nice for us. On an island where we all know each other in face if not by name? It's the perfect thing to really meet someone. Then you have to forget what you think you know about them and really just listen."

"Nova, that was… wise!" he praised with a smirk.

"Eh, Gabriel talks a lot," she dismissed.

"And now you've ruined it," he sighed with the roll of his eyes before turning back to the masks and lifting one for inspection. "What do you think? A fox? An owl? Ooh, maybe a dragon..."

"Or you could go as a donkey."

"Why would I- oh. Oh I see what you did there. Rude."

Nova gave a devious chuckle, entirely too pleased with herself.

Aveth cast his eyes to the ceiling again with a rueful smirk.

"So what do you plan to use?" he asked to divert her focus.

Nova's arm lifted to reveal the mask at her side. Aveth's mirth vanished.

"A dog?"

She smiled.

"Are you sure that's-"

The warrior held up a finger.

"Don't worry. It's not out of self pity or such. At first it was because if they were going to call me it behind my back, I'd beat them to it and own it. Then at least it would be mine. But now? Well… a dog's loyalty never falters. I can respect that," she finished with a nod.

A smile crept along Aveth's face. Loyalty yes. He would argue loyalty and love, as a matter of fact. And that did indeed fit her perfectly. Whether she knew it or not. He returned to studying the masks as an easy silence fell over them.

"Aveth?" she called softly.

"Hm?"

"That place we saw… when the Devourer died. Did it… make you hunger?" she bit her lip as he turned back to her. For a moment, he almost thought her eyes flicked to crimson.

"And yet, like it was entirely wrong?" he offered. "Like it was trying to pull you in?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Indeed," he agreed.

Another silence drifted between them. This time it was his turn to break it.

"I know it must seem odd, but… If we have time someday… I'd like to tell you about my master."

Nova blinked in surprise but banished it at once.

"We'll make time." She hesitated for a moment, then offered something that had lingered in the back of her mind for far too long. When she spoke again, her words were soft, as if she expected reproach. "I'd like to know more about your… what you went through. If that's okay. You told me back in Quintillius's manor and I didn't feel right pressing for details. But I don't want to just ignore it and if it seemed like I did then I'm sorry and it was wrong to do so," she offered in a rushed breath.

Aveth crossed the distance in two easy strides and settled a hand on her head.

"You're overthinking things. It didn't seem that way to me at all." He paused in thought a moment. "I'd… like to share those things. Just maybe not all of them. Not yet anyway."

"Of course," she agreed, earnestly. "When you're ready." She bit her lip and pushed away her hesitation as she hugged him hard, and let him be the first one to pull away.

"Come on," he bid. "The party will be starting soon."

"Can I pick your mask?" she asked with an impish grin.

"Not at all."

Nova removed her mask and scratched her nose with a grateful sigh, then her eyebrows for good measure. Gabriel elbowed her with a pointed look. It was only heightened by the mask of a fox that covered the top half of his face. To his credit, it suited him, though maybe it had more to do with his matching orange robes. Or his personality, she smirked. Probably that one. He gestured to her emphatically and she returned the mask to her face with the hidden roll of her eyes. Such a stickler for rules, that one. There were no straps to tie, they simply stayed on their faces. She wondered who had bothered to take the time in perfecting the peculiar spell, but let the matter go.

She moved away from him to survey a long table laden with food and treats. George stood on the other side, his chosen mask in the likeness of a bear with the paint resembling fur in uncanny detail.

"Come to try some of my soon-to-be-famous foods?" he grinned. "My new inn will be the talk of the town!"

Nova blinked, her eyes surveying the length of the table.

"You made all of this… in half a day?" she managed.

"Oh I had a bit of help," he dismissed with the wave of his hand. "Though I wonder if they'll let me bring Luke back here…. Or maybe I'll have him take over the old inn. He's a good enough lad."

Nova listened politely, more for the fact that he was Reina's father than anything.

"So… what's good?" she tried.

"Everything," he returned emphatically.

She shrugged and grabbed a drink in a tall glass with her thanks and made a hasty exit. For a moment, all she could see in the grand room was the throng of people. They danced in the center with an octet of musicians setting the elegant pace with their thrumming notes. Far in the back sprawled sections of tables and cushioned chairs where a surprising amount of games were underway. And still more people threaded between them…. She suppressed a grumble.

Nova turned away from it all and looked past Gabriel to the trio of steps leading to a long table lined in chairs, the center one far more ornate than the rest. Yet none of it mattered as she saw Reina weaving her way toward her through the crowd. Her mask was a simple cerulean blue that framed her eyes. In truth, it could have been an old boot and she would still have looked lovely. Her similarly colored robes moved with her as she made it to Nova, grinning. Aveth followed in her shadow, foregoing his usual charcoal armor for a dark coat that hung down to his knees. Nova, similarly attired, assured herself that she wore it better. Besides, he'd chosen a bat as his mask. How boring. And creepy. Gabriel met them as Nova turned her focus back to Reina. The grin hadn't faded at all. In fact, it was starting to worry her… Significantly...

"Dance with me!" Reina grinned, holding out her hand.

"No," Nova refused.

"I could order you," she returned in a sing-song voice.

"You could try," the warrior smirked.

Reina lifted a finger to her chin. "Hmm, Gabriel?"

"Yes, my queen?" he answered.

"Do we have a dungeon?"

"We do, my queen."

Nova huffed with a brazen toss of her head and lifted up her thin glass. "Chain me up, sure. I'd escape in a day."

Reina pointedly waited until the warrior took a sip of her drink and scooted close to her ear.

"I didn't say you wouldn't enjoy it."

Nova immediately choked, coughed, recovered, and blushed scarlet all in the span of three heartbeats. Her eyes darted around wildly to ensure no one else had heard before looking back to Reina with her mouth agape, words failing her entirely.

For her part, Reina simply regarded her with a wicked smile.

"You…. But…. I…." Nova stammered, her ears gaining a rosy hue in turn.

Gabriel leaned around Reina's shoulder and chuckled deviously.

"I really want to know what you said..."

Nova managed to compose herself enough to level a deadly glare at him.

"Over my cold, dead, corpse," she promised.

"Oh we won't go that far, Love," Reina promised.

Nova died. Or at least she was pretty sure she did. She let her head drop with a piteous groan.

"Spirits..." she bemoaned. To her horror, Aveth's deep laugh joined the fray.

"Oh we're going to get along nicely," he promised, favoring Reina with a smile.

"Just. Bury. Me," Nova pleaded.

Reina took pity on her and let the words go without comment.

"Come on," she urged, patting the warrior's defeated shoulder. They strode slowly up to their table.

Gabriel smirked and glanced sidelong at Reina.

"If you tell me what you said, I'll tell you a wonderful story regarding Nova and a rather embarrassing attempt at archery involving a horse and five buckets."

"Don't. You. Dare!" Nova hissed pointedly.

Reina tsked and settled a hand on Gabriel's shoulder.

"My dear steward, you don't seem to realize that I can get any information I want out of my little Nova," she remarked.

"Now wait a-" Nova blinked.

Gabriel offered a dastardly smirk.

"Oh? Is that before or after-"

"Can we change the subject!?" Nova interrupted.

"During," Reina answered with a smirk in turn as Gabriel devolved into melodious laughter.

Aveth looked between them, brow furrowed.

"During? During what?" he wondered.

"Nothing!" Nova insisted, her voice raising an octave.

Gabriel leaned behind Nova and Reina's backs.

"Midnight negotiations," he said, voice low.

Aveth processed it for a moment before…

"Ooh," he drawled.

"I'm going to kill you, Gabriel," Nova promised, leveling a caustic glare.

Aveth moved to wrap an arm around her shoulders and squeezed.

"My little Nova! All grown up! I'm so proud of you!"

"I hate you all. So much. Right now," Nova forced through gritted teeth. Sweet Ancestors, just dig a hole and bury her in it. Lightning bolt? Anything?

Spirits.

Gabriel stepped from their table and rolled his shoulders, leaving their meandering conversation behind him. He made his way to George's table and took up a cup of tea with a grateful sigh. A figure in pale blue caught his eye, her white mask askew as if adorned as an afterthought. He made his way to her and offered a slight bow.

"Good day, Erith."

"I'm afraid I haven't time for pleasantries," she offered with a wince.

"Of course, I'm sure a healer's work is never done," he agreed.

She hesitated, glancing around at the assembled guests.

"Ah," Gabriel surmised, drawing her away. "Is it about that special curative I asked you to look into?"

"It is," she affirmed, "and I'm afraid I've hit a snag."

"Oh?"

"All the other information was correct, but for the last step? Well…" She pressed her lips into a thin line. "It requires a black soul gem. Filled."

Gabriel winced.

"You're sure? There's no other way?"

"I'm afraid not," she sighed, running a hand through her brown hair.

Gabriel loosed a long breath through his nose.

"I suppose it can't be helped. I'll make the necessary arrangements."

"Surely not to..."

"No, no, I was thinking more of a trade with the mainland. For one… already filled."

"Ah… good." Her relief was palpable. "Then… will you inform them?"

Gabriel allowed himself a smile.

"Oh not quite yet. I'm not certain how they would react to a cure." He glanced back over his shoulder to their table and took a small sip of his tea. "For now, I'll let them enjoy the festivities."

"As you like," she shrugged. "I need to get back."

"Of course. Thank you, Erith, and as always, I appreciate your discretion. I will present them with the offer at a better time."

A smirk crawled its way over Erith's lips.

"You just want a better opportunity to gloat."

Gabriel assumed a stricken expression.

"Why my dear Erith, I would never stoop to such a dishonorable thing."

She threw back her head with a scoff, striding away before calling back over her shoulder. "Of course not, High Steward."

Gabriel chuckled at her back. He took all of two steps before a voice fixed his feet to the floor.

"How curious that you should still be called that."

Gabriel forced a flawless smile on his face as he turned to find an elf with black hair and dark eyes watching him from behind a pale mask.

"You've taken no apprentice," he continued, "and we've no other steward, well… not since your wayward sister abandoned us for the mainland and its humans, that is."

Gabriel nearly drew in a steadying breath. But that would show weakness. He would sooner offer his throat to a wolf than allow the elf the satisfaction.

"Good day, Thranen. We are honored that the head of the mining houses could grace our celebration."

Yet the elf's eyes only narrowed, silently demanding an answer to his words. Gabriel weighed his options carefully before he finally relented.

"I suspect it is habit, more than anything," he offered, with that same smile.

"Yes," Thranen mused absently, smoothing the layers of his black robes as he inspected the fine silver embroidery along his sleeve. "Still, quite curious. Almost as curious as how a human now sits the Aelyrian throne."

It was a comment on the weather, an absent musing. And yet it reeked of treason. Gabriel's eyes narrowed, almost imperceptibly, but that was all it took for the air to gain a tinge of lightning.

"Why, esteemed guest, you would not be speaking ill of our queen, blessed by our own ancestors, and who is in fact, Lucinda reborn?"

The elf's eyes slid back to meet Gabriel's.

"Of course not, steward. Simply remarking on the changing of times."

"Indeed, they are quite turbulent," Gabriel agreed with a slow nod. "Some even find them too great a current to fight against. Which reminds me, good Thranen… As I hear it, your brother's household is quite prosperous. If the burden of leadership proves too much for you, it would be a simple matter for me to shift it onto his shoulders." He paused, and made a show of tapping his chin in thought. "Why, all that would require is our beloved queen's signature on the proper documents. And your own, of course." His eyes turned cold. "But I'm sure that could be arranged."

The elf sucked in a breath with an audible wince, even as his back stayed poised.

"How fortunate for us that I am more than capable," Thranen bit out.

"Then let us pray for your continued good health," Gabriel smiled.

Thranen's jaw clenched as he spun, boots clacking sharply as he retreated into the crowd.

"Is he going to be a problem?"

Gabriel glanced to Trentus as the man drew up beside him, remarkably silent.

"Oh not for long," he smirked. "I can deal with him at present. And in the mean time, I can train our queen in the art. If she's half as good a diplomat as I think she'll be, he'll have nowhere to run."

There was a pause broken only by the graceful swell of music.

"You sure I can't just tell Nova he insulted Reina and hand her a sword?" Trentus mused, straight-faced.

Gabriel answered with a slow, creeping smile that formed into a wicked chuckle.

"Sadly," he finally offered, "there's a right way to do things, and a satisfying way to do things."

Trentus sighed in disappointment and limped away to procure his fourth vegetable pie of the night from George's table. Truly, the palm-sized things were too delicious for either of their own good. Now if only he could keep the sauce out of his beard…. Ah, but it was a fine battle to strategize.

For his part, Gabriel returned to their table, settling into a chair with a grateful sigh.

"Conducting secret meetings with secret plots?" Nova asked.

"Always," he remarked calmly, taking another sip of his tea and ever so pleased to see Nova's face scrunch as if she was truly starting to worry. Honestly now. She should have started worrying centuries ago.

Reina reached up, not for the first time, and ran her fingers over the woven silver circlet on her head. It felt just as she remembered it. Heavy, and slightly itchy. But that was probably just her imagination. She watched the proceedings with a soft smile. These were her people now. Or rather, her people again.

And yet all she wanted to do was take Nova's hand. She looked to the woman with a private sigh. There were too many eyes on them for her warrior to be comfortable with that. Her lips formed slowly into a smirk with a lovely idea as she leaned to her side.

"There's way too many people here," Reina whispered into Nova's ear. "Want to sneak away for a bit?"

Nova nodded her eager agreement and they were off, vanishing from the grand room without a sound. Reina held to Nova's hand contentedly as she led them out of the palace and the walls beyond until they reached the somber shore of the sea. They took off their masks and let them fall to the sand.

For a time, they simply stared at the rolling waves beneath the blue sky. Reina released the warrior's hand ruefully. Her musing words broke the silence.

"I wanted to have a new sword forged for you and give it to you as a gift," she said softly. "But… I think it's high time you got to chose your own blade."

Nova opened her mouth but found herself lost in thought. She pursed her lips, then gave a single, slow nod.

"I think… you might be right," she offered, voice barely cutting above the gentle roar of the waves.

Reina looked back with a smile as she kicked off her boots and strode into the water, letting it lap at her ankles. The current caught her robes and toyed with them like a pawing cat.

Nova smirked.

"You know Laurel is going to be furious," she cautioned, a hand on her hip. "Saltwater on your new robes. The horror."

"I'll tell her you pushed me in," Reina quipped, grinning widely.

"She wouldn't believe it," Nova scoffed.

Reina waved it away.

"Come on! The water's almost warm!" She held out an enticing hand.

Nova vacillated, but in the end, she couldn't resist that sweet smile. She removed her own boots, tugged up her pants, and stepped into the current.

Reina cheered in triumph, then paused in thought, a finger to her chin.

"You know… you're really pale. You should get out in the sun a little more."

Nova's face soured.

"Reina?"

"Hmm?"

"You missed a spot."

Nova darted down and launched a cascade of water at her, eliciting a gasp. Reina's mouth hung slack before she snapped it shut. "You," she said through tight lips, "are so going to get it now."

Nova shot her an incredulous smirk.

"I don't know..." she mused. "I'm stronger and I can outrun you."

Reina gave a deadly smirk in turn.

"True," she admitted. "But I'm determined."

She dipped without warning, firing a mass of water, then more still until the warrior was pointedly drenched from head to toe. Nova returned her efforts in kind, cackling in triumph as Reina's sodden hair plastered itself in front of her vision and afforded the warrior an advantage. Reina brushed it back before scooping up a handful of water and slowly bringing it above Nova's head. She let the liquid fall, working it into the woman's hair with her fingers. And Nova let her, sighing in contentment as Reina settled against her, arms draped over her shoulders.

Reina placed a gentle hand on Nova's cheek and set her forehead against hers, admittedly a better plan in her head, as the warrior was slightly taller.

"I'm grateful," she whispered softly. "So very grateful." Reina closed her eyes.

Nova blinked in surprise, but it faded into a serene smile as the woman continued to speak. "So much has changed, but still… It all feels so familiar. And you're still here."

"I'll always be here for you," Nova promised.

Reina met the woman's eyes and pressed her lips to Nova's.

Nova shied back slightly, glancing up and down the beach.

"Someone might see," she fretted, yet she stopped herself. They weren't exactly inconspicuous right now, anyway.

"So let them," Reina said, offering a soft smile as she moved her arm to wrap around the warrior's waist.

"I'm sorry," Nova sighed, shaking her head ruefully. "Old habits…."

"It's alright," she soothed. "It's just something we'll have to work on."

Nova settled into the embrace, warmed by the simple touch. She thought back to all her journeys, her time spent searching endlessly for her queen. Never once had she imagined it would end like this. Her queen, her love, safe in her arms. It was far more than she could have ever let herself dream. And yet, on every voyage, every venture across the sea, every new city they entered, there had been that bud of hope, that seed of yearning. She'd wasted so much time, refusing it all.

Nova squared her shoulders and pulled back slightly, looking down at Reina. Those warm eyes stared back at her, reflecting her own heart perfectly. Without another word, Nova settled her hand against the woman's freckled cheek and placed a kiss on her queen's lips. Reina smiled against her and pulled her closer.

They stood on the shore for a time after, just the queen and her vassal.

A/N: Thanks for coming with on this journey, everyone. It's been a lot of work, but overall, I'm pleased with how it all turned out. Would love to hear your thoughts on it, as always, but regardless, take care and take care of each other.

-Azi