My Lord

It was a weary but happy group that stepped through the Gate of Life and into Avalon. Limwris, Ermin, Rafty and the others left behind saw them coming and were there to meet them as they crossed the threshold.

"Riannon!" Llyr called, embracing her life-sister tightly. "We were so worried about you!"

"You weren't hurt where you?" Rafty asked, shy and hesitant and Riannon smiled at him over Llyr's shoulder.

"No, not at all." She said. "They treated me very well."

"Which certainly shows good judgment," Arawn said lightly while Arthur turned away and crossed his arms with a huff.

"I suppose it's possible for them to be decent folk every once'n a while."

"Not all Imperialists are evil you know!" Morgan shouted, her eyes darting to Octavia in worry. Arthur caught her glance and was instantly flustered, waving his arms passively as if to shoo away the insult.

"I-I mean, I'm perfectly aware that good people come from everywhere and I'm sure the Empire has its fair share—"

"You don't have to be so flustered," Octavia laughed. "Or did you forget that I'm no longer a part of the Empire? Whatever insult they may or may not merit, it has nothing to do with me."

"R-right…" Arthur said, looking away with a subtle blush as he scratched the back of his head. Riannon watched the exchange with interest and didn't miss the brief glance her brother shot towards the blonde woman when she wasn't looking. Lifting an eyebrow, Riannon shared a glance with Arawn who looked decidedly amused at the whole thing.

"Well then!" Arawn said, clapping his hands once to gain everyone's attention. "I believe we've had quite enough excitement for one day. Shall we have supper and then retire?"

"Right away Lord Arawn!" Limwris exclaimed, her energy and spirit having returned with her Lord's Lady. "Come along Ermin!"

"Yes!"

Riannon watched them skip away with a fond smile. They were such good girls and Riannon couldn't help but look at them as her sisters. Knowing that they were worried about her brought a warm, happy feeling to her heart.

"Riannon?" Arthur asked and she started just a bit. "Are you alright? Ye look a bit dazed. They really didn't hurt you did they?"

"No brother." Riannon laughed. "They really didn't hurt me. But I am feeling a bit tired and dirty. I believe I'll take a bath before supper."

"You want any company?" Morgan called. "I bathed yesterday but I don't mind taken another one so soon."

"That's alright. I don't plan to be very long."

"Well…if you're sure…" Morgan said, shooting a worried look at Octavia. "It's just…"

"Don't worry about it," Octavia said, cutting Morgan off with a shake of her head. "The pool is inside the castle and there's no way anyone could make it in here without us knowing. She'll be just fine."

"Heh." Arawn laughed, draping his arm around Riannon's shoulder as he gave the group a rakish grin. "You're assuming that she'll actually be alone."

Heavy silence settled over the group before everyone started shouting at once.

"Oh-ho!" Morgan laughed, bouncing around as she clapped her hands. "Good on ya Riannon! Such a sly girl! You never dropped a single word!"

"I—well…" Riannon started, blushing a little as she looked up at Arawn. The truth was, even though they were husband and wife, she and Arawn had yet to consummate their relationship. Riannon honestly hadn't even thought about it before.

"You—you—!" Arthur stuttered, his fists clenched as he stared in horror at his friend and leader. "How dare you take advantage of my sister like that!" His hand dropped to the hilt of his sword. "Demon King or not, Riannon's not some plaything—"

"Aren't you forgetting something dear brother?" Arawn asked and Arthur stopped abruptly.

"Oh…" he said dumbly, his hand falling away from his sword. "Right…"

"We'll see you at dinner then!" Arawn said as he turned and lead Riannon away.

"My lord?" Riannon asked, glancing up at him shyly. He was moving so quickly that she could barely keep up with him. Arawn didn't respond and only urged her on more urgently. It was several moments before Riannon realized they weren't headed towards the bath house, but to Arawn's private quarters instead. Riannon's blush deepened. She'd never once been in his rooms.

Arawn slammed the doors open and yanked Riannon inside before slamming them closed again. There was a brief moment of nervousness in Riannon's heart but it was short lived as she was suddenly pulled into her husband's tight embrace.

"Lord Arawn?" She said and his arms tightened. They stood there in silence for several minutes before he finally spoke.

"Never…" Arawn whispered. "Never leave my side again. Do you have any idea how badly you scared me today? When I learned that it was Imperials who—" Unable to continue, Arawn drew a deep breath, savoring the smell of honeysuckle that clung to Riannon's skin.

"I thought I lost you."

"My lord…" Riannon said, slightly awed, before she suddenly smiled and drew her arms up to embrace him back. "I'm sorry Lord Arawn. I promise I will be more careful in the future."

"Arawn."

Riannon drew back in confusion. "My lord?"

"I'm not your lord," Arawn said sternly. "We are husband and wife, Riannon. That makes us equals. My name is Arawn."

"But you are my lord." Riannon refuted. "As the chieftain of the Gael Tribe you have jurisdiction over all of its members, including myself. It really doesn't matter if I'm your wife."

"It matters to me." Arawn raised her hand and pressed it flat against his chest. "Do you feel that?"

"Of course."

Arawn lifted her other hand and pressed it firmly against her own chest. "And this as well?"

"Our hearts my lord. But what—"

"No Riannon. Not our hearts, our heart. They beat on the same rhythm and tie us together. In this way we are connected to one another. We are one in heart as we will soon be one in body."

Another blush stole across Riannon's face and Arawn lifted his hand and stroked her cheek as if to brush the redness away. "If we are one, then I am not your lord, Riannon. Please do not address me so."

"I…" Riannon hesitated. "It is the tradition of my clan. Were I to address you so familiarly, I would cause confusion and unrest amongst our people. To show such disrespect would demonstrate my lack of confidence in your skills as a leader. I would never wish to disgrace you so."

"Riannon—" Arawn began only to be cut off by her finger pressing softly against his lips.

"However, in a private location where no one can witness, I see no reason not to address you as you have asked…Arawn."

Riannon felt his heart skip a beat beneath her hand but said nothing. Instead she watched as a teasing grin settled on her husband's mouth. "There. Was that so hard?"

"Harder than you might think." Riannon said, though her smile held the hint of a tease as well.

"Dinner is probably on."

"I'm sure it must be."

"I'm afraid you've missed your chance at a bath."

"I don't mind. There will be time later." For just a moment Riannon's eyes turned dark as she looked up at her husband through her eyelashes. Her suggestion was rewarded by a slight blush rising on Arawn's face.

"R-Riannon!"

She laughed gaily and danced out of his grasp to open the door. "Shall we my lord?"

Arawn was about to correct her but noticed one of the villagers pass and instead sighed in resignation.

"So we shall my lady. So we shall."

End My Lord

Kaliea: So yeah, this pretty much disregards everything that occurs in episode thirteen because I wrote this as soon as twelve ended before I watched the rest of the show. Still, it was the perfect place for a cute moment between Riannon and Arawn (there were actually a tone of cute places that were annoyingly averted) so I figured, why not? Don't forget to review!