Episode 164 All the Nights
All the Nights
“We’re almost home,” Arisanna whispers as she rubs Cerian’s leg.
Shadows surround them after twilight abandons the Wildthorne Woods, and Cerian tightens his arm around Arisanna’s waist atop Starfire.
He doesn’t bother questioning how she knows his nerves are frayed. Riding through the woods with his family and Father’s elite warriors is one thing.
Traveling with the better part of the warrior bands stationed in Darlei is something else entirely.
He can barely think straight.
When the lights of Darlei appear in the distance, he sags against Arisanna before remembering he’s supposed to be holding her in place on Starfire’s back, not leaning on her for support.
“Do you sense anything out of the ordinary?” Rafelis asks Tharios nearby.
“Nothing. You?”
Rafelis shakes his head. “Wherever Fenoral is hiding, it isn’t in Darlei. Keep your magic attuned to anything unusual. If he’s using some unexpected magic to hide himself, we need to know.”
“Understood. Do you have any reason to suspect that?” Tharios asks as Cerian eavesdrops on their conversation.
“No. I’ve never heard of an elf other than your father being able to cloak himself. You’d know better than me, but I’m unsure even Zelovon managed it.”
“My people can,” Viala says quietly.
“Your people wouldn’t hide someone who attacked their princess,” Tharios says. “It’s far more likely that we just missed him, like Uncle Quilian said.”
“Agreed.” Rafelis turns to Cerian. “When we reach Windhaven, I want you to rest. Healer’s orders.”
Cerian frowns. “I’m fine.”
“Tell it to your binding partner.”
Cerian opens his mouth before closing it again.
“That’s what I thought,” Rafelis says. “I see the overwhelm in your eyes. I want you at your best, Cerian. You may not be one of my warriors, but you are a Westaria, and Lostariel needs you strong.”
“Are you qualified to give healer’s orders?” Cerian asks as he ignores everything else Rafelis said. Lostariel doesn’t need him. Not like that.
“Of everything I said, that’s what you fixate on?” Rafelis smiles. “Tharios—”
“Healer’s orders, Cer,” Tharios says with a grin. “Though neither of us would exist without Rafelis there to help keep Father alive on that battlefield, so despite him only being a warrior-class healer, I think it’s fair for him to order you around himself. He orders me around.”
Rafelis laughs at that. “I need to speak to your parents. Rest, Cerian. Keep your strength up. Do it for Princess Arisanna if not for me. She needs you strong.”
He rides ahead without another word as Cerian stares after him.
“How can you argue with that?” Tharios asks, and Cerian frowns.
“I can’t.”
“He’s good at his job.”
“Too good.”
Tharios laughs, and Arisanna looks over her shoulder at Cerian. “I think he’s right, my elven prince. I’ll...I’ll help you rest.”
Did she really say that in front of Tharios and Viala? Cerian warms at the thought.
“This is the part where you say, ‘Yes, please,’ little brother,” Tharios whispers loudly.
“I will singe your eyebrows.”
Tharios grins and nudges Nebula ahead as Viala follows, leaving Cerian and Arisanna behind.
Once they’re gone, Cerian pulls Arisanna closer to his chest and presses his lips to that rounded ear of hers. “I would like that.”
“You’re awfully quiet,” Rominy says to Jonas.
“I’m always quiet when I’m on duty.”
“We talk sometimes.”
A lot of times, actually. Though it’s usually Rominy doing most of the talking.
“Fine. Out with it,” Jonas says.
“I’m just wondering how you’re doing.”
“I’m fine.”
“Where’s Taliel? I’ll make you talk to her.” Rominy looks around. Where is Taliel?
“That won’t be necessary,” Jonas says with a bit of a sigh. “And she’s over there. She insisted it was too distracting riding beside me, and I didn’t argue because the heartbinding apparently wouldn’t let me.”
Rominy does his best not to laugh at that. “And is it helping, having her over there?”
Jonas glances his way. “What do you think?”
Then Rominy does laugh. “Assign someone else to guard me once we reach Windhaven.”
Jonas frowns. “I can still do my job despite being heartbound.”
“Oh, I expect you to.”
“I sense a ‘but’ in that statement.”
Rominy glances at Elowyn where she rides on his other side, conversing with one of her father’s warriors, and he smiles at her animated expression. She’s so full of life. He’s missed that side of her in the real world.
Then he turns back to Jonas. “I’d give you a month off if I could, but I can’t.
I need you too much. That doesn’t mean you can’t take some extra time to yourselves when we’re safe at Windhaven.
Time to adjust to this new reality we tossed you into.
It’s disorienting being suddenly married to an elf. I ought to know.”
It takes Jonas a moment to respond, but Rominy doesn’t rush him. “Did you feel overwhelmed at the thought that this is forever? Every night she’ll be there. Every morning. Forever.”
“Yes, at first. But...”
“But what?” Jonas looks his way again.
“Now I can’t imagine her not being there. I want her there. And the thought of her not being there is terrifying. It will get easier. I promise. Especially if you give it a chance.”
It feels so odd to be giving Jonas relationship advice, of all things, but Jonas nods. “I don’t know what I’m going to tell my men. The amount of ribbing in my future—they’re definitely going to enjoy this.”
“At least you didn’t make a scene in front of Lorial’s entire warrior band this morning. I doubt Tharios will ever let me live that down. Besides, you’re the one married to a warrior elf in leather. They’ll probably be jealous.”
Laughter bursts from Jonas, and he shakes his head. “I’m married to a warrior elf in leather. Who saw that coming?”
Rominy looks at Elowyn again, and this time, she smiles back at him.
“Best surprise of my life,” Rominy says.
“You know, I think I will take the night off.”
When Rominy turns back to Jonas, the guard’s eyes are trained on Taliel.
“Take all the nights,” Rominy says. “At least while we’re at Windhaven. Captain’s prerogative.”
Taliel finally glances over her shoulder at Jonas, and a smile sweeps across her face.
“All the nights,” Jonas murmurs.
“All of them. Every last one.”
“I think I will. Captain’s prerogative, as you said.”
“Definitely.”
The outskirts of Darlei give way to cobbled streets and lanterns as they lapse into silence, and when Windhaven appears, Rominy turns back to Elowyn. “Welcome home, love.”
“I’m pretty sure home is wherever you are, Rominy. But I’ll never tire of this view. Especially when I get to share it with you.”
As they pull up to the Windhaven stables, Cerian breathes out in relief.
Home. Quiet.
Arisanna.
Tharios jumps down to help Uncle Quilian, and Cerian digs deep for the strength to do the same after lifting Arisanna off Starfire.
“It’s all right,” Rominy says from nearby. “I’ll help with your uncle. You get Starfire settled.”
Right. How will the unicorn react to his new home? Assuming Cerian is supposed to keep him here.
“What’s this?” the groom says. “Another unicorn, my prince?”
“Yes. He gets overwhelmed easily, but he seems happy to eat grass.”
“Best keep him away from Stardust, in that case. Wouldn’t want her teaching him any bad habits.” The groom smiles at Cerian. “I’ll take good care of him, my prince. Let him roam the back paddock as much as he wants. It’s quiet there.”
“Thank you. If he needs me, send someone. Please.”
“Of course, my prince, though I believe we’ll be all right, won’t we, boy? I know just what to do with a sweet unicorn like you.” The groom pulls out a sugared plum he must have had on hand for Stardust, and Starfire gobbles it up. “Yes, we’ll get along just fine.”
With one last pat to the chestnut unicorn’s glossy coat, Cerian turns to find Arisanna again, and she holds out her hand.
“He’ll be fine,” she whispers.
Cerian nods. Hopefully, she’s right.
“Tonight, sleep,” Father says to Cerian. “We’ll talk in the morning, all right?”
“You don’t really need me—”
“Your mother will drag you there. Of that, I have little doubt. Now take him to bed, Arisanna. He looks exhausted.”
Sanna’s cheeks turn a brilliant shade of pink, and Cerian’s own face heats a little at Father’s words, but Father has already turned to address Corivos, and Cerian leads Arisanna toward Windhaven.
It feels so good to be inside Windhaven’s familiar walls. He breathes deeply of her familiar smells and relaxes a little at her familiar sounds, though there’s a lot of activity here tonight.
Once they reach the royal family’s private wing, it won’t matter, though.
As they turn the corner toward peace and quiet, Cerian almost runs into Rominy coming from the other direction, where Uncle Quilian resides at Windhaven.
How did he not hear Rominy’s clomping boots? He really is exhausted.
“Sorry,” Rominy says.
“We’ve never all been here together,” Elowyn says much too brightly for Cerian’s current frame of mind. “Oh. Sorry, Cer. We can talk tomorrow.”
She reads him well.
He nods as he tightens his hand around Arisanna’s fingers.
“Which door is yours?” Rominy asks once they reach the vestibule.
“Mine or Cerian’s?” Arisanna asks.
Rominy takes a moment to respond. “I was wondering where to find you if I need to, though I can’t imagine why I would.”
“Ah, yes,” Elowyn says. “I, too, have an older brother.”
Rominy fights back a smile.
“I’ll be in this room, brother of mine.” Arisanna points to Cerian’s door with a teasing smile.
“I notice you didn’t tell me which door that is, though I can guess. Goodnight. I’ll be over there.”
He follows Elowyn to her room, and Cerian watches them go as he tries not to think about that kiss Elowyn and Rominy shared outside the stone shelter earlier.
“I was not prepared for this part,” Cerian says once they’re gone.
Arisanna leans her hands against his chest. “Which part, my elven prince?”
“The part where you would have a brother. And he would be bound to my sister.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s the whole thing, Cerian. Now stop thinking about your sister and think about your wife.”
He swings his eyes from Elowyn’s door to Arisanna. “You have my attention.”
That draws out her smile. “Good. Now come with me.”