Tiny, Glittery Thing #2
Thea stilled at the subject, spoon lifted to her mouth, steam rising from its contents.
"If that's the case… why haven't they claimed the land as their own?" Thea asked softly. "Now there's a hole where Skymore's imports and exports used to be."
It was difficult to think about something so callous as imports and exports when Aaryn had seen firsthand the scale of the damage Evergale had inflicted.
She saw it reflected in the empty gazes of people who'd lost everything and children who'd lost their siblings, the shock of it all not having sunk in just yet.
And still the questions remained. What was the purpose of the attack? If Evergale wanted to claim Skymore as their own, why hadn't they?
She found no answers outside of their own private speculation.
They didn't return to the alcohol and the tin cups, maybe too afraid of the truths that would slip out were they to indulge again. Instead they returned to something achingly familiar as they danced around one another, just like before. Until—
"I have something for you." Thea interrupted Aaryn's thoughts, pulling out a tiny bag tied off with a ribbon.
Aaryn blinked at her. "What is it?"
Lips twitching, Thea held it out. "Find out for yourself, if you want. Or—"
Aaryn reached for the bag, their fingers brushing as she stole it away before Thea could second guess herself.
"You said it was alright to assume, so I hope it's okay that I got you something. It's nothing really, just a small—"
"Presume," Aaryn corrected with a sly smile.
"What?" Thea asked, tilting her head. Aaryn found her adorable.
"I said you could afford to presume a little more often," Aaryn drawled slowly, so very endeared.
"Oh," Thea swallowed, face flushing her favorite shade.
Aaryn tugged the little bag open and tipped it into her palm, heart fluttering, stomach doing somersaults like dragons were roughhousing inside.
“Now, okay, I know you said you didn’t want them anymore, but I kept the chain. And it’s just clay, so if you hate it, I can fix it—”
“Thea?” Aaryn asked, pausing. “Let me open it.”
Thea rocked back on her heels, biting at her cheek. “Yeah. Can do.”
Part of her expected a necklace, or a ring—now who was being presumptuous?—but instead what tumbled out was a small, clay design: a little seated dragon, inlaid with the jewels of what used to be her Tethered’s wrap. On the back was a small catch where a needle would pin it to a piece of clothing.
It was a tiny, glittery Starspark. Aaryn loved it.
"I thought about a necklace, but that seemed kind of…" Thea hesitated, moving on with a jump in her voice. "I remembered that time you told me necklaces made your chest itch, and how you hated wearing them. So I landed on... that."
"Thea," Aaryn laughed, delighted, and leaned forward, placing a hand on the flat of her sternum. She beamed up at her. "It's really precious. Thank you." She studied it for a beat longer. "Starspark,” she whined, and waved the little pin back and forth, overcome with appreciation.
Thea hummed, tension lightening, lips sliding into something easier, more natural. "Do you think Starspark will be jealous there's another dragon near you?"
Aaryn chuckled, staring down at the intricate design, the carefully cut wings, the carefully placed jewels. Such thought and care had gone into this. Probably as much care as some of the carved staves on her wall, the backdrop to this moment. When had Thea even found the time?
"I'll have to show Starspark, get his approval," she sighed happily. "But I think he'll like it." Starspark had a soft spot for Thea, after all.
Thea leaned down to kiss her cheek, so painfully chaste, and Aaryn thought… her dragon definitely wasn't the only one.
Aaryn wore the little dragon brooch with pride, petting it each time she settled it into place over her tunic or shirts.
Starspark had stared at it but a moment before blinking big green eyes at her and then flopping onto his back to sun his belly, not a care in the world.
She went about her day, and Thea hers. Their kisses stubbornly remained a memory for Aaryn.
The occasion to indulge just never seemed to arise. Either they were seeing to their own duties, tired after long days, or sometimes, the weight of the day seemed too heavy to satisfy such… desires.
And Aaryn was reluctant to admit it, but she was full of desire.
Thea was… impressive. She took care of so many things, saw to so many people. Aaryn heard her name from the murmurs of druids all around her.
Did you hear Thea cleared out the entire first housing of barracks to make room for more refugees?
Thea was at the school today, playing with the kids while parents figured out where to fit all the new attendees. She's so sweet.
Thea's training today. Do you want to go watch?
Aaryn had seen two girls scamper off toward ClawHold to apparently thirst over Thea.
She recognized the wiggling green jealousy knotted in her chest, and tried to dismiss it. Besides, Aaryn knew firsthand how competent Thea was during training. How fluidly she moved. How strong she was. If she could she’d go to watch Thea too.
Aaryn swallowed, pushed the thoughts away, and looked forward to when the healers dismissed her.
The day came sooner than she expected. They had plenty of staff to see to the everyday needs of Cloud Haven, now that everyone was settling down.
Which meant Aaryn was another day closer to awakening her magic—a process she was looking forward to more with every answer she politely pestered out of another Awakened.
In a different life, Aaryn could have been something so much more than Starspark's maid. They could've been bound together by magic itself, instead of separated by the crown's secrets.
There was no use pondering over what could've been. There was no changing it.
But she could mourn the person she could've been.
As she stared down at her palm, she knew that person could still be, after all.
Aaryn had a grand image in her mind. Of meeting Thea somewhere private, tucked away behind rocks and trees, with Starspark close.
Of breaking her brand and welcoming the magic that should've been hers and Starspark's from the beginning.
Of Thea there to help her ride the waves out, to steady her when it became too much, as she'd heard could happen from the other Awakened.
A lot of people go through it alone, but I recommend having a partner. It'll be like nothing you've ever felt before.