A/N: (7/25) Edited and revised! Not much has changed from the original chapter besides more details on Sol & Azar's past relations and Aro's 'Aro-ness'

Enjoy!

XIX

Compromise

"You have no use to me by choosing neutrality," Felicia's hand covered her chest as she spoke, "Maybe I've drank too much blood tonight and it has clouded my vision, doubtful yet, I genuinely believe you belong here with us, Aro! While your coven approached me you were so interested in our little home here."

Aro opened his mouth to respond but did not get the chance.

"Aro. I like you, genuinely. You have grown on me in this short time together, even more so with your ideas!" The leader was delighted as she looked up at him, like an eager young one who would soon chew on oranges drizzled with honey, "We would be great partners," Felicia insisted.

"I am beyond flattered," Aro said. That was half true.

"It's a shame really, how bound we are to the ones who unlock our affections. You are so lofty to choose your beloved's happiness over your own true desire, and of course, your other coven member here would rather cease to exist then have any sort of working partnership with me," she looked intently at the furious man.

Caius scoffed.

"So you must realize why I cannot allow you to remain in Athens, not when some other loyal coven could easily replace that proxy Sibyl and benefit our efforts," Felicia said this time without of smile.

"Of course, you have my full understanding," Aro reassured.

"There is the option of letting you coexist in your city with a loyal coven of our choosing, but my colleagues would not so much agree with that..." Felicia trailed off.

The Dacian male behind them sighed.

"We have portrayal to think about," Vladimir finished for her.

Aro knew this, they had willingly come to the fortress, therefore any fatal decision on their end would not be warranted.

"It is sad our short time playing neighbor has ended, but I will not force your hand. You have until after the coming year to leave that city. I'm sure it will not be hard to figure out where our presence is active…" Felicia began.

"And where it is not," Vladimir finished, "Do not go across the sea."

"It would be insulting to our-"

"Kindness," both of their heavily accented voices spoke at the same time.

The Dacian leaders had a similar smile as they looked up at Aro and Caius, some might consider it unnerving. He thought it was rather amusing that such a display served the purpose of a threat, it did work on many. There was a fine line between peace and violence.

"We are forever grateful towards your generosity, it is not misplaced," Aro lowered his head towards the stone floor.

"I will believe that," Felicia began to shoo them away with her other hand, her voice rose, "go off now, before I change my mind!"

"We hope to not see you for very long time," Vladimir added.

Caius swiftly left as Aro momentarily stayed to thank the two leaders once more for accepting his compromise.

The moment Aro left the room he was pushed against a wall in the hallway which lead to the festivities.

"Are you out of your damn mind?!" Caius hissed.

"Not at this moment, I do not believe."

"Why would you suggest such a thing towards them, do you hold no dignity?" His red eyes were frantic as he spoke.

Aro narrowed his eyes towards his coven mate.

"Dignity? Caius, please. Both of us are well aware this game is not won by any once of honor or respect."

It was silent, so Aro continued, "This was the best way."

"It was not-" Caius snarled.

"Do not pretend like it was not partially your idea, you knew this must happen to move forward," his tone was untroubled by this interrogation.

Caius went to retort but Aro cut him off, "Do not try and lie either, no one can ever deceive me."

Stepping away from the younger immortal, Caius held his own arms behind his body as he realized physical altercations did not faze Aro.

"Are you prepared to exist with the consequences?" Caius asked.

"I will always be prepared for anything."

He thought for a moment about a line of thinking which had been bothering him from the moment they stepped foot in this grand fortress.

"I knew what I wanted as a human, and I suppose those desires were halted for some time as I spent time with Solana… I have never been so taken by another. It is overwhelming and distracting. Now I realize now it was no mistake waking up in that garden. It was no mistake falling in love with that woman, and why? For it all brought me here."

Aro could not help but smile for this was very easy, simply too easy.

Why had no one tried it before? He was destined to be the first.

"Between the both of us Caius… we both get what we want, just a bit unconventionally," Aro said at ease.

Caius stared him straight in the eyes, the anger faded to affirmation.

"I warned her about you," he spat.

The usual scowl gone, it was replaced with a fine line, "I insisted you were dangerous and she did not believe me."

"Oh she did, subconsciously though, and it matters little."

"It is selfish."

Aro began to laugh, "Selfish you say! Are you really the one to critique levels of selflessness? here." Aro could not believe what he was hearing.

"I would never lower myself to your idea of a solution."

Aro tsked, "You're lying again, my friend."

"You abominable quim," Caius growled in warning.

"Please, stop trying to fool yourself. All I have done is merely take your own idea and set it in motion. Now excuse me," Aro said before moving past him, a hand on his unclothed shoulder stopped him.

Caius had purposely touched him in order to convey a thought swimming in his head.

A smile lifted Aro's face, "One day you will learn to verbally thank another, properly."

They parted ways.

Exiting the hall where the festivities were in full swing.

Amongst the many bodies of immortals and humans, Aro spotted Solana immediately, but she was not alone, neither was Athenodora nearby.

There was a strange woman in close proximity to her, and as he continued to watch Solana laugh comfortably with the stranger, she looked every bit beautiful.

At this moment, seeing her soft curls accompanied by the chiton that hugged her body intimately made him pause. There was a quirk he often found she did with her lips when concentrating on a conversation. That was exactly what was happening as she talked with this person.

After the dreadful experience of his change, the moment he laid eyes on her Aro thought she was the most magnificent sight to see.

Then when coming to find she was so partial towards the earth around her, this partiality went beyond controlling weeds. How could a being with everlasting life find more interest in caring for blooms over scouring the world for its endless knowledge and power, and how powerful she really was.

Caius was not wrong when he first arrived at their home.

If Solana wished she could slaughter this whole room without even lifting a finger.

While Aro did enjoy the precious time spent in their garden, he had begun to realize that as Solana continued to maintain her own blooms, she would not bloom herself. If an opportunity arises to shift the course of that disappointing reality, Aro had no quarrel with taking it.

"My flower," Azar said before attempting to caress her cheek.

A nickname that once was endearing now made her recoil. Solana moved her head away from their hand, she was still frowning.

The tune of the flute went back to normal, the immortals which surrounded them were conversing with one other.

Solana felt as if she was frozen in time, in shock at seeing the person in front of her after decades. In another time this person would have brought forth emotions of the blind happiness, but now she was beginning to remember a boulder that used to weigh on her shoulders.

Azar's smile twitched, "You look like a proper Greek lady, a far cry from the wild women I know."

"And you look…" Solana trailed.

Azar looked amazing, even with that ridiculous wolf head on top of her. Her presence still encapsulated something assured, strong, and alluring with an overlay of softness. Azar smelt like dusty earthiness underneath everything. The Sumerian hadn't changed a day since they had been apart, but she wouldn't say that.

"Like someone else," Solana said lamely.

"Oh please, you must remember our time together?" Azar asked, stepping even closer to her still form.

"Unfortunately," Solana tried to look away from her steady burgundy eyes.

The smile on that sweet face never faltered, "Traversing through Babylon, up the Nile, our garden in Manf-"

"My garden," Solana whispered, her patience was thinning and would break through this indifferent facade, "That was my garden, mine alone," her voice had turned hoarse now.

Azar took another step towards her, "That was not what you said at the time," her former companion began to look troubled.

Solana did not move an inch as she regarded her, "Really… was that before or after you abandoned me?"

A look of realization passed over Azar, her smile returned, "I did not abandon you," she shook her head, "You abandoned me."

"I did not."

"You refused to join me."

"And come here?!" Solana hissed, "After all the time we spent together you choose this over me… over how I felt, over what we had."

Azar sighed, "This again. Don't tell me you are still hurt by that?"

Solana gasped, "Of course! I- I cared for you very deeply. When you- after- you broke my heart, Azar."

"So young, you have not lived enough to experience true heartbreak. You are the one who made the decision not to live with me," she said.

Solana hated that smile, it mocked her.

"Solana, I am a wanderer. You knew I did not want to remain in Egypt. It would have never worked."

Did she have no regard for her feelings at all?

"You did not even try," she hissed.

Azar tilted her head to the side, "You need to grow up, people will enter and exit your life constantly, especially in our existence. Besides, you seem to have found something with someone else."

"Do not change the subject," Solana tried.

"You seemed very happy before I made my presence known," Azar giggled, "Do you remember our first party on the Nile? You could not shake a hip or sway your head even if Ishtar commanded it."

Solana did remember, and she tried not to find humor at the memory.

Azar continued, "Before you use to say 'I am a gardener Azar, my dance lies with-"

"My plants and their needs alone," Solana finished.

There was a bright smile on Azar's face which lifted her cheekbones adorably.

"Yes, and look at you now! Flourishing here in Dacia of all places, and apparently the leader of this coven in Athens!"

"How did you know of that?" Solana asked.

"Word travels," Azar winked, "I did not believe it when Rholes first said it but, here you are."

Solana thought for a moment, "You must spend a lot of time in Dacia to be so familiar with the other… members."

Azar blinked, "Depends on the time of year," was all she initially said.

"It all begins to bore me," her small fingers indicated to her face, "I think I might permanently visit our city in Manf again."

Solana's eyes lit up, "Ah?"

Azar's face turned serious, her permanent smile still lingered, "Would you come with me?"

Well, that is sudden.

They stared at one another.

Solana began to twirl the ends of her hair as she comprehended this request.

In the past, she would have jumped at the opportunity to remain long term with Azar. The thought made her inner younger, newborn self thrilled, but that was not who she was anymore.

Now, someone else made her thrilled, someone who would never leave her, and she would never leave them. They were Greek not Sumerian.

"I could not. I am bonded-"

"Oh, yes how forgetful. I smell them," Azar smiled sadly.

Solana nodded.

"I just criticized you for dwelling in the past but the more we stand so close to each other I regret not staying with you in our garden. Maybe it is I that needs to grow up?" She smiled sadly.

"My garden," Solana quickly corrected.

They both shared a laugh.

"Yes, Solana's garden."

The conversation was coming to an end soon, Solana felt it.

Azar parted her lips, "Would you even think-"

"My sunshine!"

Aro held her hand before kissing the knuckles.

"Felicia has agreed to let us continue on peacefully, we can stay in our garden for another month without issue but have to leave before the coming year," Aro paused, "Why hello there, I do not believe I have personally met you before."

Azar's eyes flickered between Solana and Aro, there was a faint smile on her face.

"You're right, neither have I. I am Azar, an old friend of Solana."

The dancer extended her hand towards Aro who dutifully accepted it.

"I am called Aro, and I happen to be Solana's mate."

Their hands shook for longer than it probably needed to.

"Really?" Azar's eyed the male in front of her, "I always thought she had more of an attraction towards shorter hair with more definition."

Azar's hair was bouncy and rested between her shoulders and ears. The wolf head obscured it though and only a few strands poked through.

Aro only smiled, "Really?" he repeated, "She rather loves running her fingers through mine, pulling onto it even more. Would you be able to say the same?"

Okay?

"Wouldn't you like to know," Azar remarked back.

Oh no.

Solana began to laugh nervously, she found this discussion was becoming very strange.

"Okay, I do not know what is happening right now but it is odd and should stop," they did not take notice of her attempts.

Solana stepped slightly in front of Aro, "It was nice seeing you again, I am happy for you and hope you enjoy residing in Manf."

Azar looked over to her after momentarily squinting and smiled brightly, "Definitely, one day I hope we will reunite there once more."

The woman began to back away from the couple, raising her hands above her head they swayed to the tune of the flute. She disappeared into sea of other immortals without so much as a goodbye.

Solana pulled Aro away from the dancing crowd to outside on a vacant balcony.

The party was still visible to them, and the city outside the fortress was lit with many burning fire lights.

"What was that?!" Solana exclaimed.

"That was my counterpart? The one you thought I would act after? She was rather confident for someone who never had the privilege of bringing you to the point of ecstasy."

"What!"

"She was a failure as a partner and even more so as a lover. Really, I could kneel before you right now and bring forth an orgasm with solely my lips."

"Aro!"

"No tongue required."

"Enough!"

Aro looked calmly down at her, then pouted.

"You considered joining her to this Manf," he said.

She sighed at the tone of his voice.

"It was a brief thought, yes, but I would never- wait. How did you know of that? How- how did you know of my past intimacy? I was never thinking of that when you arrived."

Aro said nothing

"How did you even know I previously compared you both, I have only ever spoken about her with Dora and never thought about it around you..."

"How?" she asked seriously.

"You already know."

"Yes but, I…"

"When I first told you of my talent, I did expressed the fact I could see bits and pieces of your past Solana, these images have become more clear over time," Aro said slowly.

"You never told me they were becoming more clear."

He said nothing.

"Why did you not tell me?"

He was only looking at her, and it was beginning to irritate her.

"Say something!"

"I have no reason, no excuse. It did not seem important," he finally said.

Of course, it was important. If Aro had seen pieces of her past enough to recognize Azar, how clear were these images exactly.

Apparently they were very clear and sometimes the thoughts she had in those moments were clear to, this changed things because not only did Aro know exactly what she was thinking whenever they touched, he knew much more than that.

His talent never unnerved her, even when he initially told her about it, but this was different. It was exposing.

That was why he was so patient with her before she accepted him, why he always encouraged her to face trials head on, why they were even in this stone abomination of a building in the first place.

He probably knew her better than she knew herself.

Solana looked away from him to the party, she spotted Caius being offered a goblet by one of the collared humans and soon began yelling obscenities at the poor mortal.

"Why does he despise them so?" Solana murmured.

Aro turned his head to look at what she was seeing.

"Caius was a slave."

Her brows furrowed, "He was?"

"Yes, as a human, most of his life."

Solana's eyes widened at this information.

"Why would he take out his anger on someone in the same situation he was once in?" She asked.

"He hates mortal weakness and blames it for his past pain. Marcus was in a similar predicament as human which is why they became quick friends, however, they both seem to deal with these past realities in different ways," Aro was calm as he spoke.

Solana looked back at him with doubt, "He did not tell you this himself, did he?"

Aro shook his head no.

There was a pause.

"Aro, You cannot just do that."

"I cannot turn off my talent, it is a part of me," he sounded hurt.

She quickly rephrased her statement to emphasize how Caius had not spoken of his past to her in detail, and she was fairly certain this was not something he intended on her knowing right then and there.

It was important he realized this.

"You should keep private information about others a secret, you may not be able to control gaining knowledge, but that was something I was not meant to know," she concluded.

"I understand," he said.

Aro then suddenly scooped her in his arms, lifting her above his head before pulling her down into a loving embrace.

"It is unfair. We have yet to dance at this party together," Aro spoke into her hair.

Solana giggled as they began to sway in each other's arms.

"Well we could have, but someone wanted to desperately talk to Dacia's little vampiress leader."

"Envious?"

Solana scoffed, "Of what? She conducts herself with arrogance, a child! I know nothing of being a leader, but her complete disregard for decency is disturbing."

"Maybe you should replace her then," Aro said.

"Me? Oh, no. This… is not for me. Too much stone and people, not enough plants."

Aro encouraged her to twirl and said nothing.

"What about you? You seem to enjoy all of this," She said.

"I enjoy wherever you are."

As the night went on the couple remained on the balcony swaying, laughing, and dancing. They made quite the dance partners.

Solana even took it upon herself to show Aro her favorite movements that focused on her waist, hips, and hands.

He almost put her over the balcony ledge after that; almost.

Once Caius was able to convince Athenodora that her socialization was completed, the two couples agreed it was time to leave the city and return to their own.

Their purpose for coming was fulfilled and they could proceed on with their existence without the looming threat of angering the Dacian's empirical conquest.

Athenodora had acquaintances which spoke of land west of Greece that was unoccupied and irrelevant to their leader's ambitions. It was a possibility they might go there once their stay in Athens expired.

Solana was a bit sad that she would have to leave her garden sooner than she thought in trade for an unfamiliar land. This garden held so many happy memories because it was where she found love and joined her first real coven. She would miss the mountain, the sea, and even the city. Including Charmion who would eventually grow and forget about her.

Yes, it was upsetting but more favorable than death, so wherever the found themselves she vowed to make it her home as well.

Traveling back she did not jump on snow covered branches or roll through the snow, but prepared to spend the next few weeks letting go of her forever home.

Approaching the outskirts of the city there was a rancid smell, and when she finally saw the large clouds of smoke accompanied by a strong flame on top of a familiar mountain her mind screamed disbelief.

Before the coven could get any farther they were intercepted by another immortal.

Marcus stood before them, the majority of his garb burnt away to expose his bare chest.

The infant, Didyme, Aro's sister was close behind him fidgeting and whimpering.

His lips trembled and eyes became unfocused, he spoke, "Something terrible has happened here."

If all things go as planned, Garden should have about 26 chapters.

So there are only seven more chapters to go! If all things go as planned I should be able to finish it in the next couple weeks or so.

Things will be speeding up quickly and I'm super excited!

Thank you to everyone who has followed, favorited, and reviewed this story! You're amazing!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Until next time :)