Episode 17 A Good Reason to Be Late
A Good Reason to Be Late
The air is chilly against Arisanna’s cheeks as she burrows deeper under the covers, gravitating to the warmth beside her.
Then her eyes flash open. Cerian.
Asleep. Beside her. Close enough to touch. Her knee actually seems to be pressed against his leg. Granted, they’re both wrapped up in their own blankets, but still.
They must have fallen asleep while looking at the stars. Hopefully, he doesn’t panic when he wakes.
Not that it matters where they’re sleeping or that they’re touching.
They’re married.
Forever.
This is just the first of many mornings waking to his pointed ears and long, dark hair, though she didn’t think it would happen so soon, especially after he suggested waiting to...bond.
For a moment, she studies his face in the morning light. The way his dark lashes rest against his smooth cheeks. The pale rosiness of his lips. The line of his jaw all the way to his pointy ear.
What does his ear feel like? Is it firm but flexible, like a human ear?
She’s sure not going to find out without his permission.
What time is it, anyway? Judging by the height of the sun on the horizon, it’s not exactly dawn. They must have stayed awake later than she realized to sleep for so long.
Movement catches her eye, and she turns her face back to Cerian as his eyelids flutter open. For a few moments, neither of them says anything.
“Good morning,” Arisanna eventually whispers. “I think we fell asleep gazing at the stars.”
He still says nothing, but at least he hasn’t panicked or run away, either.
“Are you warm enough?” she asks, unsure what else to say to fill the awkward silence.
“Sleeping beside another person is a surprisingly warm experience,” he says softly, and she smiles.
“I suppose it is.”
He rolls to his back, taking some of his warmth with him as he rubs the sleep from his emerald eyes. “What time is it?”
“I’m not sure. Eight, maybe?”
He bolts up. “We were supposed to leave at eight.”
“What?” she pushes herself to a sitting position beside him. “So soon?”
“It’s a long journey to Darlei.”
“Oh. I hope we haven’t caused an uproar. I doubt anyone would think to search for us here. Though I doubt they’d be eager to barge into our chambers the day after our wedding, either. Maybe they haven’t discovered our absence yet.”
He stares at her for a moment but doesn’t comment.
“Come on. My mother is probably wringing her hands as we speak. And I doubt we’ll be able to sneak through the castle this time.” She glances down at her wrinkled appearance. “I must look ridiculous.”
He tilts his head as his eyes sweep over her, but again, he says nothing.
“Right. I’ll take that as confirmation.” She sighs and starts rolling up the sleeves that came undone in the night.
“You don’t look ridiculous,” he says softly. “Though my clothes are far too big on you.”
When she looks at him, he’s trying to hold back a smile, and her own mouth twitches.
“Perhaps you would have preferred I wear the sheer nightgown.”
Stars above. Is she flirting with him? About lacy negligee?
He suddenly looks uncomfortable, and it’s impossible to miss the way a flush spreads all the way to the tips of his pointed ears.
“Was that part of your bridal wardrobe?” he asks, much to her shock.
Are they really talking about this?
“It may have been.”
“I think you would have needed another blanket or two.” He glances tentatively at her, and her smile grows.
“At least. Shall we try to sneak back to your room?”
“It’s too bad I don’t have fire and air magic. Then I could cloak us the way my father can.”
“Your father can cloak?”
Cerian nods. “It’s all a trick of air and light. Few elves can do it. The Lothlesi can, though.”
“The mountain fae? Like your sister-in-law?”
“Yes. Viala is a formidable magic wielder, though she’s still mastering her powers.”
Together, they stand and gather the dewy blankets, and Arisanna leads them back inside the astronomy tower.
The lamp burned out sometime in the night, and Cerian grabs it before they begin their descent.
He holds the light aloft, illuminating the stairs before her, and she glances back in surprise. When did he relight it?
Oh. He didn’t. It’s a magic light extending from his palm. That’s convenient. Why didn’t he say something last night? They could have left the lamp behind.
All too soon, they reach the bottom of the stairs, and Arisanna takes a deep breath before unbarring and pushing open the door. The corridor is empty. “Come on.”
They hurry down the path they took to get to the tower, and as footsteps approach, Arisanna pulls Cerian into an empty room.
“Is there a reason we need to hide?” he whispers. “We’re bound. We were supposed to be together all night.”
“Yes, but look at me! I can’t let everyone see me like this. What would my mother say? Abandoning my hoop skirt was one thing. This...this is—”
“You spend far too much time dwelling on what your mother would say. It was cold, and you needed warm clothes so we could go stargazing. It was a practical choice.”
Well. When he puts it like that, it sounds perfectly reasonable. Which is what she was thinking when she donned his clothes last night.
Still. Mother might find the idea of Arisanna spending her wedding night under the stars quite scandalous. As if their night together approached anything as scandalous as the nightgown the maid left for her.
Besides, Cerian’s right. She’s his wife now. They did nothing inappropriate other than miss their departure time. She cringes at that. Hopefully, there will be time for a shower before she has to say goodbye.
The thought of leaving makes her sad. At least it won’t be forever.
“I suggest we return to my chamber as if nothing is amiss. Let people think what they will,” Cerian says.
He’s spoken a lot more to her since she took him to see the telescope. Thank the heavens he liked it so much. His silence was wearing on her.
“All right.” She takes an even deeper breath than before and slowly exhales as she pushes the door open. Once again, the corridor is quiet, and this time, she leads him through the main passageways back toward the guest wing.
A few people pass and stare, but most quickly look away as smiles tug at their faces. She can only imagine what they must be thinking.
As they near Cerian’s chamber, the unmistakable sound of concerned voices rises to greet them.
“What do you mean, they’re not there? Did you check?”
That’s Mother’s voice. They must have just discovered her and Cerian’s absence.
“They were in Cerian’s chamber at some point, but the rooms are empty now.” It’s a softer voice, and Arisanna glances at Cerian.
“My mother,” he whispers.
“If I’m not mistaken, they’re heading this way now,” another voice says.
Was that Tharios?
Arisanna frowns as she searches the corridor surrounding them. There’s no mirror or anything to give their presence away.
“How does he know that?” she whispers.
“Tharios has life magic. He can sense my magic.”
“So you knew they’d be able to find us?”
Cerian’s eyes widen slightly. Is that his guilty face?
“You could have said something,” she whispers when he doesn’t respond.
He looks away. “Forgive me. Shall we make our appearance?”
With a sigh, Arisanna adjusts the blankets in her arms and nods as Cerian leads them around the corner. Aside from Rominy and Elowyn, both their families are there, and all talking ceases. Tharios glances from Cerian to Arisanna and back again before smirking, and Cerian’s parents look relieved.
Mother’s face contorts in combined embarrassment and dismay as her eyes sweep over Arisanna, and Arisanna tries not to fidget under her gaze.
Father smiles as he lobs a wink her way. He can probably guess where Arisanna took Cerian since she and Father used to trek to the observation deck themselves so long ago.
“Are you all right?” King Lorial asks calmly in Nunian. “We were concerned when you weren’t ready to leave at the time we discussed.”
Cerian nods. “I’m sorry for worrying you. We fell asleep stargazing and only just woke.”
Queen Nestraya’s gaze softens as she studies them. She already looks stronger. “Stargazing is a good reason to be late. Especially with the one who holds your heart.” She smiles up at her husband, and Arisanna melts a little at the devotion that passes between them.
“What in the world are you wearing?” Mother asks, ruining the moment.
Arisanna glances at Cerian. She knew Mother would notice. Not that Cerian seems eager to jump to her defense.
“It was cold on the observation deck. Cerian gave me something warmer to wear than what my maid provided.”
Though it seemed impossible, Tharios’s smirk grows larger as he looks at Cerian, but Cerian seems happy to ignore his brother.
“Right. Well. Let’s get you into something else so you don’t keep the elves waiting even longer than they’ve waited already.” Mother ushers Arisanna toward Cerian’s chamber, but King Lorial catches Arisanna’s ear first.
“Take your time, young one. Darlei will be waiting for us whenever we arrive.”
Cerian’s parents offer her warm smiles, and Arisanna smiles in return just as Rominy and Elowyn hurry around the corner, both out of breath.
“Sorry we’re late,” Rominy huffs. “Elowyn couldn’t figure out—” He suddenly blushes and stops speaking.
“It was quite the adventure,” Elowyn finishes for him. She looks gorgeous in one of Arisanna’s gowns. The light blue brings out the silver in the elf princess’s hair. As Elowyn eyes Cerian and Arisanna, a smile grows on her face. “It seems we aren’t the only ones running late.”
“Stars above, Sanna.” Rominy’s brows draw together as he looks Arisanna over. “What are you wearing?”