Gildas and his wife's first appearance together (Chapter 85)

"Good morning, my love. How are you today?" Adenora said with a smile, a platter of fruit in her hands as he sat up in bed with an excited gleam in his eyes.

"My lovely wife, you shouldn't have!" he said, standing up and taking the platter from her and giving her a deep kiss.

"Only the best on this most auspicious day, love. The children are still asleep, and the food is cold, we are alone…" she said, trailing off as he swept her up into his arms.

"Want to make another one?" he suggested with a wag of his eyes, kissing her excitedly and muffling her giggles.

"Only if they can stay with your father today." she said, pulling her head out of his reach and tapping his nose with her finger.

"You know my father is not long for this world, Adenora."

"It's better for them to spend more time together in that case." she told him softly, laying her head on his shoulder.

"It's hard to see him like that." he said, putting her down and sitting on the bed. "He's lived such a long life, and now… to see him go. Just as Mother did."

"The consequences of a long life, my love. How long have you been alive? How long will our children? You were born into this, as they have been. You are to be Keeper of the Tower for the next few centuries. Just like your father was."

"At times I wish we led normal lives. I wish he never discovered the Elixir of Life."

"He has lived a long, happy life. As did your mother. Soon it will be our turn."

"Let's eat, take them over and have the rest of the day to ourselves." Gildas told her with a sigh, kissing her gently and smiling at the plate. "This is a true feast, my love."

"As always. Besides, it is your birthday."

"Ugh, don't remind me!"

"So I take it you do not want your present?" she asked with a devilish smile.

"Only after we take the boys to my father." he told her, smiling as she walked over to the other room and woke up her children.

"He seemed happy to see them." Adenora commented as they appeared back inside their cozy little house.

"Yes, he did." Gildas agreed, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her deeply. "But for now…" he added with an impish grin, his intentions obvious. "My present."

"I'm yours for now!" she purred seductively, winking at him and pulling him down onto their bed, discarding his clothes with a glow of her eyes and letting him enter her quickly.

"Íc i āhāte, bewerigend þæm stántorre, becum ed underiernan." Gildas heard weakly in the distance, moaning and stopping as he recognized it for what it was.

"What does she want now?" he asked, his lips moving against his wife's passionately as his hands gripped her waist tightly and he sped up in annoyance.

"She can wait longer. We're not done here yet." Adenora told him with a sneaky smile, retaking his lips as she bucked her hips up against his.

"I'll never be done with you, Adenora." he told her, moving his lips down her neck and to her breasts when he heard it again, much louder this time.

"Ugh!" she groaned out, letting her head fall back onto the bed and sighing in discontent.

"I'm going to give her a piece of my mind!" Gildas growled angrily, hastily throwing on some trousers and leaving with a glow of his eyes.

"What'd she want?" Adenora asked when he popped back in a few minutes later, her fingers teasing their way inside her as she was still very much aroused.

"She's in trouble. Prince Arthur knows about her magic, and there was a literal army there."

"What?!" she asked in surprise, stopping and sitting up in worry.

"Yeah. She really has the worst timing. I promise we'll continue this later. I love you."

"Yeah, love you too." she said, sighing out loud as she was left alone and unsatisfied.

"What's happened? Why the grim face?" Adenora asked her husband in a worried voice when he reappeared, walking up to him and kissing him gently.

"Cassie's abdicated the throne. And she's traveling to Hispania."

"But won't that…" Adenora asked him with furrowed brows.

"Yes, it'll derail everything. She's asked us to travel with her. You and I, perhaps our boys."

"Such a long time traveling, I don't think the boys would be manageable. They're at that age."

"I remember that age fondly. Father could barely keep me under control."

"Do you want to go?"

"I am Keeper of the Tower. My responsibility is to make sure no one abuses of the Tower's secrets."

"Has anyone discovered it, other than Cassie I mean?"

"Not in sixty years. And that man has long since died."

"Is there any danger of it being discovered?"

"Perhaps from Emrys. He is still young and doesn't know as much as he should."

"So will you stay and train him?"

"It is not my destiny to train him. Not yet. Not until he unlocks the Tower."

"Your life is too complicated." she said with a shake of her head.

"Don't I know it. It is my destiny to counsel Llys Dôn. I just don't know if it is wise to travel with her or not."

"I cannot answer that for you. Perhaps if you speak with your father?"

"Okay, I suppose I'll do just that." Gildas told her, smiling at her and kissing her gently. "Tell me, my dear. Do you want to go?"

"I wouldn't mind the travels. Or the time with you. And I have wanted to meet her since you told me about them both being there." she said, her excitement increasing with every word.

"I will speak to my father, see what he counsels me." Gildas told her with a fond chuckle. "But first, let's put all thought of that away and get back to what we were working on earlier."

"One track mind, you men. You're all the same."

"As are you, my lovely woman." he replied, swooping her up into his arms and carrying her over to the bed, smiling at her giggles and relishing in her moans as they made love playfully after so many years together.