"Don't call me that." The violet dragon growled, though Elva could tell he was pouting.
"What? Potato?" She asked innocently as she gazed out onto her back porch to where Kitlàn was basking in the sun. He was getting big, she noted.
"Yes! I am not soft and squishy like a potato." He said, his brows furrowing.
"It's a nickname for just you and me, Kitlàn. Nobody else." She said calmly as she finished fastening and applying the… harness… female Elves wore around their breasts. Angela had given five of them to her and even now, a week later, did she blush in residual embarrassment over the situation. They fit well and they were comfortable. She could move, and that's all that mattered. She hated getting her measurements taken, though. It made her wonder if Arya wore these. She wondered because of how reserved the Elf was. Would she trust a tailor with her measurements? Elva guessed that probably no, she wouldn't. Then again at the end of the day, she didn't know Arya all that well. She could be wrong. After all, the Elf's pregnancy had surprised her a great deal. It had surprised a lot of people.
"How do you like your name by the way? It's been about two weeks since we came up with it." She smiled at him, then pulled on a soft blue tunic. As she began fastening the closures around the garment, her eyes lit with mirth. This was Eila's tunic.
He hummed lowly. "I like it very much." He confirmed and she nodded with a smile.
"That's good."
"But not 'Potato'." He responded darkly.
Elva sighed and laughed through it. "Fine, I won't call you 'Potato' anymore." She looked at him pointedly. "You're a dragon. Dragons breathe fire. You're my Hot Potato, then." She grinned at his huff and growl of utter frustration.
"I am not a 'Hot Potato'!" He responded with even more vehemence than before.
"Okay, okay, I promise, I'll stop." Elva laughed and walked over to the doorway that led out to the back porch, then passed through it. "I do it out of love, Kitlàn. Never hostility or with the intentions of belittling you." She knelt and wrapped her arms around his snout and hugged him tightly. When she let go and stood, he nuzzled her sternum and upper abdomen, causing her to lose balance temporarily. She hopped to catch herself.
"You are worrisome to me." He said, nuzzling at her again, this time against her side and ribs. He made sure to be more gentle with her.
"What do you mean?" She asked with a concerned frown.
"I shouldn't be able to see your ribcage so drastically when you're undressed." He gave her a pointed look and her shoulders sagged.
"I'm working on it…" she sighed, her shoulders drooping. "I'm trying to build my weight back in a healthy manner. That takes time."
"It also requires you to eat."
"I do eat!" She defended.
"Says skipping breakfast." He looked at her pointedly. "Says neglecting your midday meal yesterday and the day before."
Elva frowned at him. "I'm not depriving my body of anything it needs." She said in defense. "It's just hard to eat sometimes." Her shoulders drooped. "Especially when I can feel Arya's baby. You know that's slightly disturbing for me and it's difficult to ignore when her room is so close to ours." She leaned over and kissed him. "I need to go put my boots on." She smiled, then turned and headed back into her room.
"I appreciate you worrying for me, though. It means a lot to me." She said as she pulled her boots from their place next to her dresser. She and Eila both had been fitted for new clothing a few days ago, and both of them were getting used to the Elvish styles as opposed to the human garments they were accustomed to.
"Always, Elva." Kitlàn responded with a slight bow. "I hope you have fun with what you're about to do." He offered happy emotions and Elva's cheeks pinkened in response.
"Me too. You're coming also, remember? You're the only way I can get to the Crags. Arya is already there. She told us all to wait a while before we go."
"We've not heard from Fírnen yet." He added. "And I was talking about meeting with Eila before we leave together."
Elva's cheeks flushed pink. "You're sure you're okay with our relationship? Just because I have feelings for her doesn't mean I love you any less."
"I am aware of that, Elva. As long as she makes you happy, I'm happy for you." He straightened with a prideful set to his posture. "Just make sure you are spending time with me too."
"Of course!" Elva exclaimed, appalled. "How could I not? I love you!"
"Just making sure." He responded, earning an exasperated huff from his Rider.
Elva rolled her eyes and threw her hands up in the air. "Okay, but I hope you know and that you won't forget that I love you." She relaxed with a heavy sigh then pursed her lips. "Now, I'm going to go see Eila and make sure she's doing alright. You and I both know she's nervous about meeting the Eldunarí."
Kitlàn hummed deeply, then nudged the air. "I'd never forget. Make sure your carnal playmate is doing well. If not, do your best to make it better."
Elva's cheeks blushed red. "We haven't done anything like that!"
"Mmh, but I sense it is near. It won't be long, at least not for you." He smirked as Elva huffed ducked out of the room without a word. Her embarrassed demeanor made him chuckle. It built character, he decided.
With hurried movements, she skipped steps on her way up to the first level of her room, then quickly grabbed the Willow Leaf blade from its place and belted it around her waist. She was surprised when she received an actual Rider's sword instead of something of a similar make. It was long and slender and shone a blue so deep it was almost violet. It was curved and beautiful and deadly yet elegant and she adored it.
It didn't sit well that she couldn't use Balton's Dwarven Forged sword, Wrist Breaker. It was far too heavy for her and the blade width was too thick. She promised Frederick that she'd keep it safe, and that's what she'd do.
Her mind flipped to the paths outside of her room, and she sensed Eila's nervous energy permeating through the branches themselves. It was amazing how sensitive trees were.
She opened her door, then closed it once she was outside, then walked leisurely across the short bridge that connected her doorstep to the rest of the main pathway.
A short way away, Eila stood, leaning over the railing that protected against the event of losing one's balance and falling. Her knuckles were white from the grip she held. If she'd squeezed any harder, the wood would surely splinter, Elva decided. She wore something akin to robes.
"Eila? Are you alright?"
The half-Elf jumped back then relaxed. With a quick nod and a thick swallow, Eila looked her partner up and down. "Mmh, not exactly." Her voice shook slightly.
"What's wrong?" Elva approached her and reached out to hold her hand. It was shaking slightly.
"I'm nervous… about… meeting the Eldunarí. Arya asked me to give her permission to disclose my lineage to them because if they see fit to go through my mind, they're going to find out. Besides… how often do you find a half-Elf living in the walls of a castle once under enemy control?" She gave a weak smile and a slight shrug.
"Why else are you nervous?" Elva asked gently, being able to sense how deeply the waters ran under the surface. "You don't have to answer that if you don't want to." She didn't want to make her partner unnecessarily uncomfortable.
Eila looked over, then leaned to press a kiss to Elva's cheek. "I'm not wearing sleeves." She answered quietly. "I uh… had a tunic made that had no sleeves. Two are like that, actually because the weather is getting warmer. Anyway, I'm wearing these… robes, I guess you'd call them, to cover my arms. I only intend to take it off if the circumstances are necessary. I don't want to, but I need them to see the physical proof that I didn't leave Urû'baen unscathed. I'm hoping that they'll believe me after that if they refuse to believe me before. I don't mean Ellesméra or the Riders any harm. I don't mean anyone any harm."
Elva nodded and squeezed her hand. "I think they'll believe you, Eila. I remember you telling me that Arya asked for your permission to disclose your lineage. She's up there now, probably explaining your situation and we both know she cares greatly for you. She'd never say anything remotely against you. Besides," Elva pulled her so they were facing each other. "I'm going to be there. Both me and Kitlàn have your back, and so does Eylörís absolutely without a doubt. It's six against the word of three including Arya and Fírnen. It's gonna be alright, and it's not, we'll make it so." She reached up and pressed a kiss to Eila's lips, then wrapped her arms around the half-Elf to hold her close, slipping under the thick fabric of the sleeved cloak she wore to be even closer.
"Thank you, Elva." She sighed and let her cheek rest against the side of her human's head. They only had a few inches of difference when it came to height, but Angela was still the shortest out of all of them by several. For Elva, it was strange to look down at the closest person she had to a mother.
"I'll always have your back, even if we weren't together. You still mean a lot to me. You always will." Elva spoke low and gentle, and she felt Eila relax into her embrace.
"And I'll always have yours. I won't let go, not unless it's needed." Eila shifted and pressed a kiss to Elva's head, then pulled away gently to look her partner in the eyes. "I don't want to let go." Her fingers tightened slightly around the hand she was holding.
Elva smiled. "Good." She cupped her palm over one of Eila's cool cheeks and brushed her thumb across the light dusting of freckles that crept across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.
Their quiet moment was interrupted by the feeling of Fírnen's mind against theirs. Eila flinched slightly and Elva let her hand fall to the half-Elf's shoulder in a subconscious effort to help her calm.
"We are ready for you. Please make your journey a quick one. Our teachers are eager to meet both of you." His low voice vibrated through their minds.
"Yes, Ebrithil." They both made sure to respond.
"The answers you seek will be answered in time." His voice was directed more at Eila, Elva felt.
With a deep breath, the half-Elf nodded, but said nothing more. The anxiety crept back over her features and Elva stepped closer to embrace her again once Fírnen had withdrawn from their minds.
"It's going to be just fine. He didn't seem irritated. That makes things better, yeah?"
Eila nodded. "Yeah…" she nodded in the general direction of the Loft's deck. "We should go…"
"Alright." Elva smiled, then reached up and pressed a gentle kiss to Eila's lips. "Race you?"
Finally, a grin. "Go." And Eila took off running with Elva close on her heels.
A/N: Hey. Time skip: two weeks. Arya is now nineteen weeks pregnant and they all have been in Ellesméra for three weeks. This is a short chapter, I know, but it has a second part that's coming soon, so for now, cliff-hanger... kinda.
Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoy! Stay safe and healthy, remember to eat and drink some water. Hug your pet or your significant other or a family member (friends are family too). If you don't have one of those, hug your favorite stuffed animal, and if you find yourself lacking in that too, go buy one. If you can't buy one, steal it, because... chaotic good! I'm almost joking.
I love you all :)
-Lady Arlo