Pen returned to the freehold in a lighter heart. She found time to get to know Crevan as he was. She wrote down his stories, his memories of Ciri and monsters they fought. He seemed hesitant when she asked how he and Ciri fell in love. His hands would shake, telling her the subject was a sensitive one. She changed the subject to something else, like the worlds he'd seen. Of those, he regaled her with great pleasure.

Crevan found Pen delightful, a good listener and an attentive scribe. So much of Lara was in her as there had been in Ciri. But this was easier, her hair was dark rather than ashen blond and she was married. There were lines he would not step over, the tattoo he saw peeking from her sleeve was enough to enforce that choice. She soothed something in him, a pull he could not explain, he'd know this twice before, he did not know if he could do it a third time.

*
She called him to her study shortly before the mid-winter fair, informing him that he would be accompanying her to the fair. It would be a chance to see a bit more of the Royal seat and allow her children some time to see their sire. Before he left, She placed a bit of hardened honey in his palm and curled his fingers over it, an invitation should he decide.

"...Lady Thorn...I."

"You belong among us, Crevan." She said, softly. "You belong...and you do not have to answer yet."

He looked down at sweet in his hand and then at her, She levered up and kissed the corner of his mouth where a tic pulled at his lips. He all but fled, confused by her sudden change.

#

The Mid-Winter Fair held on the grounds of the Royal seat was the first time Crevan accompanied Pen to an event, not within the freehold. He was amazed by the delight taken in the snow and the children running from stall to stall for sweets. This included Pen's own children, the twins rand slightly ahead with one of the guards. In them, he saw his own, bright and without care.

"...They are as safe here as the freehold." She said when he watched them. "...Nuada would not hold the fair here otherwise."

As she said this, Nuada dressed very much as a commoner came up to them Deirdre hanging on to him. Nod trailing after with a large pastry still warm from the oven of the baker.

"Lady DeRosin...Aen Saevherne..." He said and watched the Sage stiffen. "...I see you are enjoying the fair..."

Pen smiled and kissed him. "...Happy birthday my love."

"In all the preparations, I'd near forgotten..." He said. "You will be staying for the feast..."

"Yes, I've had clothes brought..." She said as Nod came and offered her some of the pastry filled with a date paste. "...Thank you..."

Nod beamed, looking even more like his sire. He offered some to Crevan, who backed up slightly.

"...food." He said, holding it out to the sage. "...'Evan eat..."

~Perceptive, the sage does need to eat more~ Nuada sent.

~I know, I'm working on it.~ Pen sent back.

"I do not think he wants any." Pen said softly. "I think your Atar wants some..."

Nod turned to his sire and held up the pastry. Nuada took a bit, smiling down at his son he took the pastry it would be too sweet and spoil actual food.

"...Good." Nuada said as he swallowed the mouthful he'd taken. "I think I saw those sausage rolls Atara likes a few stalls up..." He set Deir down and gave them both a few coins. "Why don't you go get her some..."

Both ran off again, one of the guards following close behind.

"Where is Aethen, he likes the mid-winter fair..." Nuada said, as it was the Night elf that usually accompanied her to such functions.

"Tindel asked him to play bouncer." She said. "Cullen volunteered. I gave Rhi the day off, she and Aiden are here...

Nuada pulled a velvet pouch from the one on his hip and opened it.

"...Hold out your hand." He said, smiling at her. "I made something new, wear it tonight..."

Into her hand, he poured a necklace of jet and garnet set with silver. Crevan looked elsewhere, reminded of the line he could not cross. Nuada noticed and stepped in close to Pen.

"...Have him talk to Aethen..." He whispered. "I think the night elf could give him some insight."

"Yes, I plan upon it." She whispered back. "When he is ready..."

Nuada leaned in closer and kissed her. They both knew tongues would be wagging that Pen had a lover. Most of the time the "Lover" Was him, dressed in common clothes, the other part was Aethen. He stepped away, as the twins returned with several rolls.

#

The feast was a grand spectacle, as one would suspect for a monarch's birthday mixed with a holiday. Pen spent much of the time at the edge of the gathering with the twins. Crevan staid close, which set tongues on another wag fest. Thankfully Jareth and Sara were there since they often went to see Toby and his family during the winter holiday. Sarah joined their small group with her own children. Jareth led Crevan off to some male function within the feast.

"...So that is Crevan." Sarah said.

"Yes," Pen said. "...The rumors most likely have him in my bed already."

Sarah frowned. "...You do not wish to know what the Goblin-Sidhe courts are saying."

"...I have my guesses." Pen said, watching the revilers. "They have not stopped since I shoved an iron dagger into the rumor-mongering bitch..."

Sarah made a noise of disgust, she had been glad to get rid of that particular courtier.

"...The Aen Elle had been demanding access to the libraries of the Goblin high court." Sarah said, changing the subject. "...Jareth has denied them so far..."

"What good would that do them," Pen said.

"...Knowledge can be a dangerous tool." Sarah said. "I am kind of glad they cannot access the human libraries..."

"...Nor do they see the danger that Humans pose."

One of the subjects of gossip at the feast was of a raid where the Riders had their horses shot out from under them. The healers had heard no such thing, but then again the Aen Elle had their own healers.

"...They will before long." Sarah said. "...and they will request from you the knowledge on how to remove the bullets..."

"I know..." Pen said. "and it will chafe the viceroy's ass."

"Yes, I met him." She said. "Jareth threatened him with the bog when he insulted me..."

Pen had to grin, the Goblin King could even frighten his fellow Sidhe.

The feast ended and Pen decided it was too late to head back to the manse. Nuada had the twins tucked into the Royal nursery. Crevan was set in a guest suite. Pen was entrenched in a chair by the hearth sitting in Nuda's lap.

"...Tongues were wagging as usual." He said softly, "several asked if I knew that a Sage was sharing your bed."

"He isn't, not yet. I don't think he even knows what to do. I offered him a sweet.." Pen said.

He laughed softly, he could picture the poor sage not being able to back up fast enough.

"You know that, as do I." He said. "but I must ask..."

"No, I will not push him to the oath." She said.

"I was going to as if you were going to back him into an alcove, and...take care of him." He teased.

Pen shook her head. "Enough of what you want me to do to you..."

He snickered. "I quelled them, informing I would pull the tongue out of the next one who uttered such words."

"..I'd call you my hero."She said reaching up to pull him down for a kiss. "...If I didn't know you meant it."

"...A king must rule." He said. "Jareth asked if they could bring Toby and his children to the Court of Thorn's Yule ball..."

"Sara knows the answer to that, and I suspect he asked because then it would be an official visit."

Nuada nodded. "I was surrounded by Aen Elle, so that would sound about right for Jareth himself."

"The Goblin King and queen would have simply come."

"And I intend for my lady to do that several times tonight..."

She smirked and pulled him down for another kiss.