• Closed • [Oakleigh] Together Again

[Edalene]

Edalene couldn't help but cock her head as she looked at her brother, her eyes narrowing. "You know," she accused, watching him shrewdly. "You know what's beneath it. And you're not telling me." Through their link, Aeodan was calm... too calm. Where was the fervent curiosity of new and magical things? This time there was only a cool distinterest that felt incredibly forced.

Edalene felt the ire in her rise. This was not how she expected her first night with her brother to go, not when she had missed him so desperately, but never before had they hid things from one another. Well, that was not true, but since the Fifth Verse, when they had nearly lost each other, Aeodan and Edalene had made a promise to be open and honest with each other.

Even as he kissed her softly on the lips and smiled, making his intention known - and it had nothing to do with the Cuts - Edalene stayed still, resisting his pull. She crossed her arms and looked at him, her eyebrows raised. "Aeodan. You promised to tell me the truth. To not hide things from me. Why won't you tell me? What do you know about it?"

And then she played her ace. Stepping out of Aeodan's embrace, she moved to the soil and crouched down next to it. Threateningly, she raised a hand and went to touch it, her fingers dancing just out of reach. "Or do I need to touch it myself to find out, hmm?"

[Aeodan]

As quickly as the mood had come to him, it was gone. Instead, he stared into Eda's deep eyes, his own flashing with an anger she'd never seen in him. The stress of the digs, coupled with the high anxiety of the findings going back to Viden and the impact of the expedition were slowly chipping away at him, and Aeodan found that Edalene's intentional testing of his patience sent spider-web cracks through his resolve. His jaw clenched, accentuating his already-prominent jawline and showing Edalene that he was no longer in a playful and joking mood.

She felt the rush of fire through their link, and before Aeodan's sharp inhale and lightning-quick grab of her upper arm, she knew it was coming. Still, though, telegraphed or not, Aeodan caught her by her bicep and pulled her roughly backwards, away from the roiling patch of soil. Through clenched jaw, he growled at her, soft but stern in her ear.

"I told you not to worry about it. I love you, but you will listen to me when I am trying to keep you safe. Do you understand?"

Aeodan's voice had never taken on the same edge it had there, as if it were a threat mingled with a plea. Always had he been passive and gentle, but now he was rough and commanding. Perhaps it was the expedition that bought him courage, but whatever it was, it radiated from him now in an aura of fury.

"What lies beneath that is not your concern, Edalene. I do not keep my secrets from you, but that is not my secret to keep." He took a deep breath to steady himself, and she could feel the calm and a bit of shame creeping into his emotions. Still, though, he set his jaw and maintained his stance, unwilling to compromise. From the side, he could see the lime-green skin of Envoy as it loped around the barrow, seeming sniffing at the various spots in the stone. The anemone-like tentacles perked the way of the twins for a brief trill before Aeodan's fury went across their link, and Envoy disengaged.

"Now, if you're done threatening me, I think we should retire to the estate. We can see the other barrows on another trial." He frowned at her and released her bicep, leaving red marks where his fingers had been. Instead, he laced them with Edalene's, a softer look coming over his face. "Hungry?"

[Edalene]

As soon as she had thought to do it, she regretted it. Anger flashed through their link, and her eyes widened. "Aeodan--" she choked out, but before she could even move away from the damned earth, he dug his fingers into her arm and hauled her up and away. Edalene let out a cry of surprise and pain. The grip on her arm had hurt her more than she had thought, and she looked at her brother with wide eyes. This was a side of him she had not seen before.

Edalene couldn't help the shudder that wracked through her as he held her close, tight against his chest, his voice an angry growl in her ear. She was frozen. This frightened her more than she expected; that her brother could manhandle her like this. Her eyes wide, she simply nodded at his words, barely able to respond. The longer he kept his fingers there, the more her arm started to ache, but she could not say anything, too shocked at this sudden change of personality.

But through all the shock, her own anger simmered in the bottom of her belly. He had no right. No right to ignore her, to not tell her things. She had been in Viden, yes, but she had been waiting for him. And now he wanted to keep her out. Like he didn't trust her with it... or even worse, that he didn't want her involved in his glory. Tears pricked at her eyes, even as he released her and changed the topic, moving his hand to entwine with hers.

Edalene stared down at their hands, and shook her head slowly, before, even though it hurt to do so, she removed her hand from his. "No," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I'm not hungry." She couldn't help it - she took a step away from Aeodan, her hand coming up to rub the marks on her arm. It'll bruise, she thought dully. It was like everything was coming to her through a haze.

And through the anger, the pain, and the shock, one emotion drifted higher than the rest, even as her eyes took in a similar handprint on his own arm, already purpling. A mirror to where he had hurt her. Tears pricked to her eyes as rejection settled in, seeping into her bones. Edalene shook her head, as if she could rid herself of the feeling, but it only became worse as she tried to ignore it - and she could feel Aeodan's shame as well.

Edalene brought her arms up and around her middle, as if she was trying to protect herself from the feeling. "Do..." she asked, her voice soft and fragile, trailing off. Her breath hitched. "Do you not want me here? Do you not want to share this with me?" She could not look at her brother. Her eyes stayed fixed on the earth, the damned earth, afraid to look at her twin. "I can leave, leave you to your work..." Though it broke her heart to say so.

[Aeodan]

The flash of anger cooled to a hardened coat of shame as Aeodan realized how much he'd frightened his sister. As he released her, he began to realize the effect his words and actions had on her, and he frowned tightly. Tears rimmed his dark eyes as he searched for hers, and one rolled down his cheek before she asked him. He could not contain them after, though. They flowed thick and hot, magmatic in emotion and regret.

"Of course I want you here, Eda... I just-- There are forces at work here larger than us. Larger than what we've ever faced. And I lost you once. I'll die before I lose you again. Do you understand me?"

Aeodan's voice cracked, but he maintained eye contact with his sister. He loved her, and he would protect her, but he had to know that she wasn't going to be irrational and do things because he told her not to.

"Do you want to know what lies beneath that? A curse so terrible it makes the blood in your veins boil. I should know... I... I felt it. Sort of." His voice gained more strength, becoming fuller and more stony. His gaze softened though. "I'm sorry I was so rough... I-- I've never done that before."

He reached out and lifted her arm, gently but firmly so that she could not pull away. Unconcerned with the bruise of his own handprint on his bicep, he leaned silken lips to the purplish marks quickly forming, kissing each finger softly. In between each, his dark orbs met hers again. It wasn't sexual... Not like the bits before. No, this was comforting, sensual, the Aeodan she had always known.

"I have no excuses. I'm exhausted. I've seen so much so quickly, and of course I want to share it all with you, Edalene. Of course I do. But I can't share some things. Because they aren't mine to share. And I love you, and your happiness is more important to me than any secret, but I'm begging you... Please... Don't make me betray Yvithia's trust in this." He would, she knew. If she truly asked him to, Aeodan would tell her everything about the cursed soil before them. She could feel it, emanating between them, an electricity the twins had never felt. There was a static, and it stemmed from Aeodan's hesitation.

"You know... I-- I am doing all this for you. You know that, right? One day, I want to seek out those Biqaj that Thomas told us about. I want to meld our souls completely, to be with each other forever. I want to build something for us... For US, Eda. For a little girl or boy we bring into this world. I left Viden, left you... For you. I know it doesn't seem like it, and I know it seems like I'm being selfish, but I'm not. I'm never selfish, not where you're concerned. I left Duncan for you. I left Viden for you. I'd leave Rynmere and the Jourkadri and Yvithia and Thomas and everything we've ever known for you. I'd move to some backwater village outside Etzos and become Mister and Misses Gegebregadagian if you wanted. I don't care for the laurels or the fame. I care to create a legacy for us. For our children."

He frowned, interlacing his fingers in hers.

"For us. Do not ever doubt that."

[Edalene]

Her breath hitched as Edalene heard Aeodan's voice thicken with tears, but still she could not look at her twin. The sight of him crying would cause her to break and fold, but she could not summon the strength to raise her eyes to his. He had been so different. And while twenty trials was not very long, it was the longest they had been apart in their entire lives. What if he truly had changed his mind? What if he did not want her to be apart of his work anymore?

It was the crack in his voice that forced her to look up at him. While she could feel the sincerity of his words through their bonds, it was his eyes, large and searching, that convinced her of his truth. Her cold heart seemed to twist in its body when he brought up her death - of course. Through all of this, Edalene had never once considered that his anger was born of fear. Her anger melted away to horror at his words. "You felt it?" she said in a hushed voice, as if speaking too loud would cause the earth to rise up against them. "Aeodan, when? Why didn't you tell me you were hurt, you were in danger? Through the Echo Scrolls?"

Edalene could help the shudder that ran through her body as he bent and pressed gentle kisses to each finger bruise he had laid upon her body. Almost dreamlike, she raised her hand and caressed the matching bruise on his body as he kissed her. She could not feel the pain, not physically, not yet. But it hurt to see his perfect body, his perfect skin, so dear to her, marred - even if it had been her he had hurt and not herself. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her eyes downcast. It was a secret from an Immortal - and one that Aeodan held up in glory - but that did not mean it did not hurt to be left out. She had sworn she would never keep secrets from Aeodan, never again, and while Edalene could not ask Aeodan to betray Yvithia, it still felt wrong to have to hide the truth. "I won't ask," she promised in a tight voice. "Not unless you choose to tell me."

Still, she could not help but stare at the patch of ground - one that had caused their reunion to be sour. It was only Aeodan's next words that broke her reverie, and in the place of pain came a shocked awe. "You..." Edalene trailed off, gaping at her brother. "You want to marry me?" Through everything he had said, all of his promises of love and trust, that was what stood out the most. Her brow furrowed, confused as she was. "Why...?" Edalene could not comprehend it. They were one soul, and Edalene would never be parted from him, but to think he wanted to marry her... and "children," she gasped, unable to keep that thought in her head.

Edalene swayed, gripping onto Aeodan's hand tightly. "I need to sit down," she said, her voice faint. All of a sudden - from the travel and the argument, the heightened emotions and her twin's revelation, she felt suddenly utterly exhausted.

[Aeodan]

Aeodan watched her reactions as she listened to his words, and he could feel her confusion. In turn, his own confusion mingled with hers, echoing but not for the same reason. Swallowing hard, Aeodan nodded.

"I wasn't hurt, Eda... Not me, not really. It was strange. I was not myself." He frowned. "Besides, I didn't know what to write. 'Hey, love, I touched a body and was transported into the memory of the man it belonged to, and he felt as if his body were trying to rupture from the inside out'? That's a little out there, even for me. And it's not like I didn't want to tell you, baby. I always want to tell you. But... What do you say? I wanted to learn the truth. I didn't realise it would be so... convoluted."

He blinked, long eyelashes revealing a glimmer in the eyes below. He smiled, mischief prevalent in his mirth. Pulling her to the mouth of the barrow, he led her through into the cooling air outside. The movement of wind was nice on their skin, and likely especially nice on Edalene's. Sitting in the grass around the barrow, he leaned his back on the carved stone, pulling Edalene into him.

"Why do I want to marry you? Because that's the truest way to affirm our eternal love. Listen... I wanted it to be a surprise, but I'd likely end up spoiling it anyway. I've no idea where to start to find the thing, so I might as well ask your opinion. You've always been the clever one..." He smiled and nuzzled her. "So, I was looking through an old log of museum artifacts from Rynmere, and I came across something strange. It was a simple pair of silver bands, one meant for a man, the other his love. And it was said, at least in the log, that the rings were rumoured to link the two souls together through every life... I want to find those rings, Edalene. Even if it means facing Farafan again. Even if it means never facing a Verse again. I'd give up my life, or my life's work, to be with you forever."

His sultry eyes landed on hers, and wetness clung to his bottom lids. He ran a hand through her brown hair, and his dainty hand landed on her shoulder.

"Is there something wrong with wanting children?" He raised an eyebrow. "Could you imagine, a little spitfire like you, running around and batting her eyes at me? I'd melt like snow in Saun. She'd have your looks, your cleverness, my... nels to buy her whatever she wanted. She'd be Queen of Rynmere, Eda." He chuckled, his face lighting up as he talked about it. "What do you think about Thea Synne? Thea comes from a famous Ryn historian who chronicled the establishment of the Rynmere monarchy, and Synne was the first name of a famous linguist who developed a trade pidgin for the naturalized tribes and the refugees from Sheor." He smiled warmly, obviously in love with the name.

[Edalene]

Feeling faint, she followed her brother as he led her out into the cool air. As soon as the wind kissed her skin and she took a lungful of the cool evening air in the Settlements, she felt better. Her head wasn't spinning as much, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the freshness of the twilight weather. Although perhaps it was that she was away from the cursed ground, that had prompted their argument. Out of sight... out of mind.

Easily, she sunk to the ground, letting Aeodan pull her to his chest. She rested her head on his shoulder, taking comfort from his warm body and gentle touch. Edalene let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. Shuddering, she drew herself closer to Aeodan, letting his words wash over her. They shocked her, to be honest - never had she expected that they would formalise their relationship in this way. And why would they need to? They knew they loved one another, and that was what mattered.

But the more Aeodan spoke, the more she listened to his impassioned words, the more and more she realised she wanted it. And rings... rings that would bind them, not just in this life, but in every one. Ducking her head against his neck, she pressed a soft kiss to his skin, smiling before pulling away.

"Aeodan," she murmured, reaching up to touch his cheek. But he had not finished talking. Children? They terrified her. Never had she been drawn to them, never had she imagined that she would have them. But a little girl... or boy. Aeodan's eyes looking up at her from something they had made, born out of their love... it felt right. It scared her, but she knew she could not deny him anything. And the name... Edalene's heart twisted. A historian and a Linguist. Their child.

"Yes," she whispered, pulling back to look at him. A soft shy smile was on her face, and her cheeks were flushed. "Yes. I will marry you. I will." Her thumb caressed over his cheek. "And when the time comes to meet our Thea Synne... I will do the best I can."

[Aeodan]

Aeodan's face split at Edalene's acceptance of his implied marriage proposal. Though it was not the idea that he'd had in mind when considering a proposal, he was happy that she said yes. She wasn't as exuberant as he was, but Aeodan had always been calmer about long-term commitments. Edalene's strengths were in her ability to handle situations in the then, without overthinking the future. Aeodan's, the antithesis. He was good at analyzing the potential outcomes of the situation he was in, but found himself hesitating when dictating the path he should take. Overthinking was his forte, and Edalene knew that. She'd been conscious of that when agreeing to marry him.

"I am so relieved to hear you say it, Eda. It's not something we must worry about now, but when the time comes, I know you will be an amazing mother. With the two of us together, everything will be perfect." He smiled reassuringly. "I promise."

With that, Aeodan hummed a song their mother used to sing them when they were babies. It had been eighteen arcs since they'd heard it, but he hummed it perfectly. Rubbing Eda's shoulder, Aeodan continued to hum the lullaby, letting his natural exhaustion overtake him. The two of them closed their eyes, and up against the catalyst for Aeodan's success in the Settlements, the two of them dozed off for a break.

[Pegasus]

Edalene

Overview

You write such beautiful prose, it's a pleasure to read. I forget that I'm reviewing and just lose myself in your words. Eda's response to the changes in Aeodan were heartwrenching - her confusion when she thought he was keeping secrets from her made me feel genuinely sad for her. Lovely description, fantastic dialogue - it's the full package!

Points

XP: 15

Fame: Nope

Injuries

Bruises on her arm.

Knowledge

Persuasion: Cajoling
Strength: Pulling Luggage
Investigation: Using Shirvain To Determine Age
Tactics: Using Threats To Reach an Outcome

Oakleigh: Dig Site
Joukardri: Ritual Cutting
Joukardri: Ivory Coins for Currency
Aeodan: Wants Children
Aeodan: Wants To Marry You
Aeodan: Engaged to Him

Aeodan

Overview

Oh, I adore this pc. He's so beautifully written and the rollercoaster of his recent experiences are really reflected in the rollercoaster of emotions he's experiencing. He's vulnerable and strong all at the same time. Love him! The emotions jump off the page with him - all right in the feels. Love love love it.

Points

XP:15

Fame: No

Loot

Nope

Knowledge

None