Since I can't play LW1 myself it's a bit less inspiring. I watched the 3.3 hour 'movie' on YouTube to get me up to speed! Reading the summary on the wiki also really helps bring home just how long it was spread out. It's basically a year and a half before LW2 starts up.
This part should be soundtracked with Our Shangri-La by Mark Knopfler (although I think I've used it for another couple? I can't remember who, though). I may have painted Southsun to be a bit more controlled than it really is… Exploring it alone as an elementalist is kind of torturous, and there isn't actually a romantic hot-spring grotto somewhere (but there SHOULD BE). Besides, with what's coming up, the boys need all the happiness they can get.
24: Honeymoon
Time passed, but hardly any of it was spent in idle contemplation. Caoilfhionn and the rest of Hope's Legacy traveled Tyria, helping anyone who asked for it and putting down evildoers. They'd met so many new people, including Braham, Eir's son, a passionate young Norn with a laugh almost as big as Rhyoll's, and Rox, a kind Charr ranger; both of them had become very close with the guild, and though neither had been formally invited or inducted, they were as much Caoilfhionn's companions as any of the others by this time. They were all pretty famous, and while not everyone was a fan of being recognized, Caoilfhionn thought it was nice.
And they'd been through fire together, in that year, encountering wickedness that rivaled the Nightmare Court's cruelty in the Molten Alliance – and he had thought the Flame Legion and dredge were bad separately. That wasn't even to speak of the greedy callousness of the Consortium and the chaos caused by the Secondborn Canach. But while he'd seen death and destruction to shock him to his core, he'd also seen kindness, and loyalty, and hope in fighting it.
Trahearne had been busy at Fort Trinity. With Zhaitan dead, and Orr's undead infestation slowly diminishing after several sweeps the Pact had made of the island, Pact forces had greatly scaled down, most of them returning to their Orders until the next Elder Dragon was chosen for destruction. There really was only a token force at Fort Trinity now, and most of it was Priory and Whispers doing research, with enough Vigil to put down the occasional Risen attack – or Inquest attack, the sinister Asura were making themselves a nuisance as the undead faded.
Caoilfhionn had visited often, and even went into Orr with Trahearne to see its progress as the waters of the Source brought the cleansing ritual throughout the land. Orr seemed a lot more silent than before, without the wailing of ghosts and zombies, but it was a peaceful silence now, and seagrass and lichens were beginning to grow on the western side of the island. Trahearne was pleased with it, doting protectively over every new patch of lichen and anthill, explaining why it seemed to be taking so long even now when the corruption was gone. Though the land had once known fertile soils, much of that had been taken away by the sea – swept along by currents, or transformed into coral and seaweed. A hundred years of rain had washed the ocean's salt out of the ground since rising, but the place was as barren as a desert; the only fertilizer it had known since it sank was corpses. Which, of course, Trahearne knew a lot about, and in fact dabbled in 'gardening' with, summoning minions and disposing of them in places that would benefit the young plants.
It took a lot to tempt Trahearne away from Fort Trinity, but when the Consortium began advertising their 'perfectly safe tropical luxury resort', Caoilfhionn suggested very strongly that he take some time away from work and see Southsun Cove with him. Not that he trusted the Consortium, but he had liked Southsun, and was willing to give them one more chance. "You remember how I described it, do you not?"
"It sounds very beautiful, but…" Trahearne fidgeted with the gold ring with the sun emblem he'd begun to wear shortly after Zhaitan's death; Caoilfhionn had a silver ring with a moon emblem.
"Oh, come, see it for yourself! Things can take care of themselves for a little while. Elder Dragons take time to move; if an emergency occurs you can rush right back."
Trahearne was wavering, he could tell. "And I suppose your guild could do without you for a little while."
"Yes, definitely. Come with me, beloved – we've not had that much time to ourselves, all this year. I've been able to visit you, which I'm grateful for, but I want to be with you. Just us, without a care in the world, just for a little while." Longer than an afternoon, anyway.
Trahearne breathed, and then nodded. "Very well. I'd like to spend time with you as well. Where doesn't matter, but I'll let you show me this place. I'm sure it's hardly as safe as they claim, knowing them, but the danger doesn't disturb me, not when I'm with you."
"Two heroes can scarcely be afraid of a few karka," Caoilfhionn teased. Though he hoped the karka situation really was under control; that had been what brought him to Southsun in the first place, after all, and he didn't like to think that his efforts had been in vain.
And so that spring, Caoilfhionn and Trahearne went to Southsun for three weeks. Three weeks to explore the island together, to show him everything he'd seen before and discover new things, and just be together? Southsun might not have been the paradise the Consortium said it was, but Caoilfhionn had never been more in heaven. Each day was long and golden, the nights filled with stars beyond count, and the waves crashing constantly on the shore was the perfect music for his soul. Even the querulous Human nobles who had come from Divinity's Reach to lounge about and be waited on hand and foot – as if that were any different for them than at home – couldn't bother him now. Besides the sleeping and dining accommodations, they had little to do with the other residents of the island, whether tourist or Consortium.
Simple things made him happy; lying on the beach, soaking in sunlight with a straw hat over his face to protect his eyes, feeling only the warm sand beneath him, the hot sun above him, the wind across his body, and Trahearne's hand in his. Or chasing each other through the shallows, until one of them caught up to the other and knocked them both into the cool water, splashing and laughing. Or actually putting on clothes and weapons for a little while and venturing up into the dangerous western side of the island, until they found a tiny grotto filled with hot springs where they lay naked tangled in each other's limbs for hours, talking of everything and nothing, learning each other's hearts and bodies. Or helping each other sluice off the salt and grime of the day before going to sleep in a tiny hut perched high above the ground, like a nest in a tree. He'd never seen Trahearne smile and laugh so much in his life, and Trahearne confessed he probably hadn't smiled and laughed so much before. Real smiles, sincere laughter, that did not cause him to die of happiness like he had once feared, but still made all the weight of the world seem nearly non-existent in this time.
It wasn't completely idyllic… Even when they weren't deliberately looking for danger, danger still came for them unexpectedly. Such as the time they were temporarily defenseless and taken by surprise by karka on the beach near Kiel's Outpost. "What's that?" Caoilfhionn cried, pointing at a lump in the sand as they ran for their lives.
"Picnic basket," Trahearne said, and they both made a dash for it. "Maybe there will be something you can use…"
"Ahah!" Caoilfhionn had dumped it out onto the sand and snatched at a butter knife. "Better than nothing!" He twirled it and sparks flew. Just having something to cast with made him feel much better about their chances.
Trahearne shook his head and grabbed a stick of driftwood. "It will be enough. But I think discretion is the better part of valour in this situation…" He summoned several minions, placing them between them and the charging young karka.
"I don't disagree," Caoilfhionn said, and summoned a couple stone elementals – he didn't use them on a regular basis, but Wegaff was more or less satisfied with his ability to use them now, which meant he was quite good at it.
They used their summons' distraction to make an escape, but they had not gone far when a chittering behind them warned them that the karka had overwhelmed both minions and elementals and were hot on their heels again, rolling over the sand faster than they could run. "Up there!" Caoilfhionn shouted, pointing to a rocky outcropping. Trahearne changed course with him, but Caoilfhionn paused just long enough to slam a burst of energy into the ground, sending Earth crashing into the karka that pursued them, giving them an extra second to leap to the top of the rocks.
They stood back to back, watching the dozen or so karka swarm below them. "Well this is exciting," Trahearne commented mildly. "How long do you think before they figure out how to climb up here?"
"Not long," Caoilfhionn said, relishing in Trahearne's solidity behind him despite the danger. "I wonder if they make good eating? I've never actually tried one."
"Probably because their shells are too tough for anything but Deldrimor steel, and there's precious little of that around here," Trahearne said. "However, magic is another matter entirely. Are you ready?"
"When you are!"
"Then cower and despair, you crustaceans!" Trahearne raised his driftwood, concentrating, and gestured sharply, necromantic magic flowing around him, ripping life force away from the monsters that surrounded them. Now that he'd gotten a feel for his 'weapon', it seemed he had no trouble channeling the immense power inside him. The karka struggled, suddenly rooted to the ground, mindlessly confused about the skeletal hands that pulled them down, about the pain that wracked them within their shells.
Caoilfhionn looked up adoringly at his true love, so strong and commanding – and just a little bit sinister, but by the Tree he was all the more beautiful for it. But he couldn't admire for too long! He laughed and jumped down from the rock, hopping lightly across the backs of the karka while they were still confused. He tore a sparking channel through them, a leaf's breadth away from their claws, dodging the sticky goo they launched at him, spinning and ducking as fire and death wreathed him about, guarding him. These creatures might be impervious to regular steel, but he would see if they could withstand fire and lightning!
A few minutes later, they were seated on a pile of dead karka, as Caoilfhionn tried futilely to crack open a shell to see if he'd cooked the creature within adequately. They were just a little too old and tough for him to get into, even with Earth magic, but he was amused by the attempt, and Trahearne was, apparently, amused to watch him.
"Ho there!" came a cry, and they looked up the hill to see Consortium guards hurrying towards them with drawn weapons. "We're here to help…"
"Bit late, aren't you?" Trahearne chided them. "Where have you been?"
"We're very sorry, sir!" The lead guard, a Human, bowed low. "We only just got word of the attack. I am very pleased to see you're unhurt."
Caoilfhionn wondered if maybe it was a little bit unfair of them to cause the resort staff extra problems, but… they were Valiants, they could take responsibility for themselves. "I suppose it's forgivable," he said. "We were a little beyond your patrols."
"By choice," Trahearne said.
"Well, all's well that ends well," Caoilfhionn said cheerfully, getting up and tossing the butter knife behind him and walking off in the direction of the settlement. "Don't suppose you have anything that can crack those shells? I want to try eating the one I cooked."
Trahearne dropped his driftwood and followed him. "We should get attacked by younger ones next time."
"But that means fighting the older ones to get at the younger ones… It sounds a bit wrong when I say it like that, doesn't it?"
The guard followed, and he could feel their awe.
Near the end of their trip, they were once again sunning on a remote beach when they heard noises in the distance and Caoilfhionn sat up to see… Annhilda, with Rhyoll, Phiadi, and some Lionguards, running along the top of the beach, shouting. Even Trahearne opened an eye to see what all the fuss was about. Caoilfhionn stood and waved cheerfully, and Annhilda split off from them to come over. "Hello! Fancy meeting you here!"
"I know, right?" Annhilda said with a grin. She was sweating, Norn metabolism in full armour and a tropical climate. "Enjoying yourselves? Nice sandcastle."
"Very much," Caoilfhionn said. "Thank you. Is there trouble afoot?"
"Nothing we can't handle," Annhilda said. "Problems with the refugees and the Consortium… and those blasted karka, as usual."
"Refugees?" Caoilfhionn said blankly. He really had been out of it, focused so entirely on his lover that he'd missed everything else in the world around him.
"Who were displaced by the Molten Alliance?" Annhilda said. "Anyway, it's complicated. Don't worry about it."
"Do you require any assistance?" Now he felt a little guilty for being so blissful while others suffered…
She shook her head. "No, you're not allowed to help. You're on vacation! As second-in-command of the Pact, I order you to keep having fun. Forgive the insubordination, Marshal."
"Forgiven," Trahearne said laconically, and closed his eyes again. "Carry on, Commander. Rest assured we are well."
Annhilda grinned. "Right! I'll see you in another week, right? Have a good time and then we'll get back to saving more bits of the world!"
"Good fortune!" Caoilfhionn wished her as she jogged away to catch up to her group. "Say hello to the others for me!"
When she had gone, he lay down again on his stomach and propped his chin on his hands.
"What troubles you?" Trahearne asked, opening his eyes again and looking over at him.
"I… feel… confused," Caoilfhionn said. "I'm not sure how to feel."
"About… the world going by as we lie here being idle?"
"Yes, exactly. I had honestly forgotten that it would. I feel a bit of a fool."
Trahearne sighed affectionately and reached up to his shoulder. "It's a blessing for you, isn't it? To focus on what is before you above all else. That is not a failing."
"But people need… or at least, could use my help. People right here within my reach whom I didn't even see. I want to be here with you more than anything, and yet is it not horribly selfish of me-?"
"Caoilfhionn," Trahearne said, and rolled over to put an arm around him. "You are a true knight, always thinking of others before yourself. You have been through as much hardship as any of those you would help. It is not selfish to take pleasure when it comes, to make space for it now and then, for hardship will always return. And believe me, I must convince myself of it too," he muttered. "Annhilda and the others are here to help these people, so in these circumstances, we may yet guiltlessly take our ease."
Caoilfhionn put his head on one side, still only half convinced. "I suppose…"
Trahearne poked him, tapping gentle rhythms along the sensitive peach-coloured veins in his back, making him squirm. "What good will it be if you upset yourself here? No better off than if you kept working this whole time, except you weren't working. You cannot change the past. And the world will have need of your mettle soon enough. I haven't forgotten what's out there, and far better you're – we're called to face it well-rested and with strong hearts. Do you understand?"
"Yes." He gave up the rest of his guilty feelings and pushed Trahearne back into the sand so he was leaning over him. "In that case, I'll give it my all to be happy here with you."
"Weren't you already?" Trahearne asked before Caoilfhionn kissed him.