Helen laid in Ulrich's hold for the next hour, unmoving apart from the rise and fall of her chest. She had fallen into a state of repose, her eyes shut, but focusing on the sound of Ulrich's heartbeat.
"It beats for you and you alone."
She kept replaying it in her head, not wanting to ever forget that he loved her. Not because of her status and power, but for her alone. Ulrich started to gently stroke her hair. This caused her to open her eyes and look back at him.
"You wouldn't want to spend the night here, would you?"
Her question caught him off guard. "If my lady allows it."
"I'll allow it for tonight. I'm enjoying this too much to oppose." She closed her eyes again and leaned back against his shoulder.
Ulrich leaned against her horns, "When did you gain the dragon traits?"
"After a battle with Phillip and his men. His blade was poisoned and in trying to heal myself, I became like this."
"You speak as if they are a curse."
"They certainly have not helped in having people leave me alone." Concentrating on her appearance, the scales started to meld back into her skin. Her horns started to subside into her skull. "Not many get to see this side of me. At least not in quite a long time."
She opened her eyes to show that her eyes were no longer blue, but brown with rounded pupils instead of the slits that they had become. "Not quite as terrifying like this am I?"
"Perhaps not to some." He ran a finger against the skin that previously was shielded by scales. "But I've grown quite fond of you in blue."
Brown started to shift back to blue and scales started to slowly sprout through skin. "You prefer this monster?"
"Your grace, you know I will never see you as a monster. There is darkness, from years of struggle and hardships, but there is still a light and warmth within you. You must stop seeing yourself in this way. If you keep calling yourself a monster, others will only see you as that."
He wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye. Helen had not realized that it had start to form until he removed it. She leaned in to gently kiss his lips. "It's small gestures and remarks like these that have made me fall in love with you."
With a smile on her face, she snuggled close to him and allowed herself to fall asleep in his embrace.
~.:.~
Eleanor was massaging her temples as she walked back to her room after a tedious and mentally taxing history lesson on the noble families and their alliances.
No wonder these nobles have advisors to help them remember all of this. How is one supposed to keep up with all the petty squabbles of the lesser families?
As she reached her destination, she shut the door, leaning against it. Her back sore from sitting in the hard chair for so long while Maleficent lectured her and Kas. Sliding away from her perch, she took hold of Hell's Reaper and unsheathed it from its scabbard. The blue glow from the crystals sparkled as the light bounded from them.
Grasping the blade with both hands, she watched as the magic armor started to cloak her skin. Moving each finger in succession, she reveled at the sound of the plates clinking against each other. Her attention was caught by her reflection in the large mirror at the other end of her room. The one that she shattered after gaining her wings was removed within the night of the incident. It was not until much later that Eleanor asked for another, but larger so that she would be able to inspect her wings in her daily self-care.
Eleanor looked back at her image, trying to practice making herself look more menacing. She posed with her rapier, imitating her grandmother's stern glare as best she could. Instead Eleanor found that her mother's wicked sneer came all to easily to her features.
"I guess I really am mother's daughter."
A knock at the door distracted her from her thoughts. Eleanor turned before stating, "It's open."
The door opened slowly to see one of the newer guards poke his small frog-like face into the room. Eleanor kept her face stoic as he bowed.
"My Lady, her Excellency has requested your presence in the throne room. Ambassadors have come to seek an audience with you."
This took the young woman by surprise. "Inform her Excellency that I shall be there momentarily."
The goblin nodded and bowed again before leaving. Eleanor looked back at herself, her armor clanking at the movement. I guess this will have to work for now. With just a simple thought, a small train of sky blue linen with a black dragon emblazoned on it flowed forth from the back of her armor. As she reached for the door handle, she paused. A knowing smirk crossed her face. Might as well go for the theatrics.
Iridescent snowflakes started to surround her, and a cold gust of wind joined the flurry. Eleanor pictured the throne room, as the ice and sleet started to obscure her vision of her bedroom. The light was distorted from the shards, but as day light turned into hues of green, she knew that she had reached her destination. The storm dissipated as soon as it formed, and Eleanor found herself standing to the left of Maleficent's throne. Kas was standing next to their mother and all three were staring at her. Kasparov with amusement, Helen with pride, and Maleficent unamused as if she should have arrived sooner and in her standard garments.
"You summoned me your Excellency," Eleanor fell into her customary half bow half curtsy.
"Yes, we have visitors who asked to speak with you."
Eleanor turned to see that the same large griffon that had confronted her in the black mountains was standing before them along with a few others, all with differing shades of brown and gold in their plumage.
"We have come to fortify our alliance and formally apologize for any ill-will that may have been left after our last encounter."
"The situation was a misunderstanding, and thankfully no harm was done to either side. However, I think solidifying our alliance would be beneficial to both parties."
While she kept her focus trained on the delegation from the black mountains, Eleanor did not see that Helen was having to fight to maintain her composure. Seeing her daughter complete negotiations so effortlessly filled her with pride.
"Indeed, and to show our trust in her Excellency's forces we are placing one of our young in her care."
It took them by surprise when a small griffon stepped up next to their leader. Lowering its head and front leg in a bow, the small creature spoke. "If it pleases her Excellency, I look forward to continuing our lands' alliance."
Maleficent leaned forward in her throne, "What is your name, young one?"
"Cirilla, your Excellency."
"Cirilla?" Eleanor asked quizzically. It had not been more than four months since she had seen the same being last, and they fit in her arms at that time.
The small griffon looked up at the dais. "It is good to see you again my lady."
"I shall take her as my ward and my granddaughter shall oversee to her well-being. She will be treated as a welcome guest Vesimir."
Eleanor looked back at Maleficent, who continued to look ahead at their audience.
Vesimir nodded before turning towards Cirilla. The young griffon nuzzled against the older one's neck. Eleanor watched the exchange, thinking back to her previous encounter with the griffons. No wonder he was so protective over her, she is his kin.
Cirilla stepped away from the rest of the company of griffons, and the remaining troupe took to the air, leaving through one of the openings in the structure. They watched as they flew back towards the black mountains, Eleanor however only watched briefly before looking back at Cirilla. She could not tell what the young griffon was thinking but knew that she must be terrified to be left with nothing familiar.
"Eleanor go and show Cirilla the grounds. It would be best for her to know her way around as she will be staying with us long term."
"Yes your Excellency." Eleanor leapt from the edge of the dais, landing next to Cirilla, her wings easing her decent.
"I'll show you around. It is pretty easy to get lost."
Cirilla merely nodded, looking at the rapier that hung at Eleanor's side. The young enchantress noticed this hesitation from the griffon. "Oh! I'm sure this isn't the most comforting sight to see." Eleanor's armor vanished, leaving her in the dress she was in prior. Hell's Reaper was engulfed in blue light before it vanished from her hands. "There, shall we?"
"Yes my lady."
As they made their way among the corridors, Eleanor would point out places to their new guest. Conversation was kept to minimal idle chatter, with Cirilla saying little in response.
"You've grown quite a bit since I last saw you."
"Yes my lady. You are just as I remember though."
Eleanor looked to the young griffon, "When it is just the two of us you don't have to keep up with the formalities. You can call me Eleanor."
"How I conduct myself reflects on my clan."
"How long did they drill that into your head? Alright, if you prefer to keep titles that is fine by me."
Cirilla paused before answering. "I-I don't mind you calling me Ciri."
"Ciri?" The small griffon nodded. "I like it. Alright, Ciri, follow me. There is one place I want to show you. It has the best view." Eleanor flew towards the east tower, Cirilla following suit.
A little fluff chapter. I promise I have been working on this fic, just not necessarily in chronological order. Hope to have another large chapter for you soon. If you have any constructive critiques, please let me know.