Nuada found Pen back at the Royal seat, in her usual place to brood. He noticed a nice bottle of Muscoto had been brought up from the cellar for her.
"...Aethen." He said. "You always drink sweet when you have to deal with him."
She shifted so he could sit behind her as usual.
"He talked to Crevan about the bonding, and it brought up old feelings." She said. "...I had to remind him of what he would lose if he chose another night in my bed."
Nuada smiled, she would have to spare the Night Elf from the flogging he'd recive for it.
"But not before teasing the hell out of him, or he out of you." He called up a glass to pour some of the sweet wine for himself. "...but that is not the reason you are here."
"...No, I realized something..." She said. "and it divides my feelings."
"Other life times?"
She had talked much of how she could have made a life with Aethen and Tindel after she had been made queen. It wasn't to hurt him or give him a thrill, but straighten out some boundary he'd wanted since her assertion.
"...Perhaps." She said. "...I know the possessiveness levels of Royal Fey."
He smiled as he sipped the wine, he could be vary possessive.
"...Crevan is noble, not Royal..." He said. "But yes this is a puzzle. Aethen may be expressing his own possessiveness by dragging up old feelings." He settled himself. "I know How I would show mine..."
Yes she knew exactly how he did, that had been an embarrassing thrill to be found in the throne room with just a blanket and about a dozen roses for cover. He'd carried her out wearing nothing but a smirk that said it was good to be the king.
"I had considered that." She said. "and he admitted to such with telling Crevan of the bonding."
"Then what stops you from arranging the rite?" He said. "You already have my permission, and I can easily choose the price...Pain I think this time."
"There is something else...something I'm missing about this." She said. "Like I don't have all the pieces and I don't want to dredge up anymore hurt..."
"Yes, I heard." He said. "I too was visited by an Aen Saevherne, with artifacts from Tor Lara earlier this day."
She thought of this, "After a thousand years, why..."
"You are a queen, Lara would have been queen..."
"And Crevan King." She smiled. "No he would have still been Avallac'h then..."
He smiled, thinking of a way to make the rite a formality for both her sanity and his own. Yes there was a way, to acknowledge him as her lover.
"Summon him here...tonight." He said.
She turned slightly to look at him. She felt what he intended. It would be dangerous, but give the Aen Elle a reason for peace if one of their own became part of the High Court.
"Are you sure of this path." She said. "to make him my acknowledged lover."
He finished his own glass and poured more.
"You are High Queen, you take lovers as you wish..." He said. "at least by the old law. Half the nobles still think I wed you for the alliance it gave me. Why else would I have granted you your own lands and manse..."
She thought of it, not the way she wanted to have Crevan in her court but they were already dancing the blade's edge having him reside in the manse proper and not with the other Sages. The Aen Elle already thought him a trader, tainted due to his love for Ciri...
"They will think you would do the same." She said. "I can ask Rhi to play mistress. Aiden would get a kick out of it."
He let out a laugh, he knew the Half-elven woman as Pen's spy mistress and her reputation a bit of a fabrication but had not known who had written the satires associated with her "conquests".
"Aiden the bard, that is her life partner."
"You didn't know."
"I had thought it was a singer's information that embarrassed that particular lord..."
"No that was all Rhi and Aiden..." She said. "Its the reason they make a good team and Rhi a good spy mistress..."
He held her as they fell into a comfortable silence.
Nuada smirked when he showed her the circlet, of thorns and black roses. He'd made it shortly after she'd told him of her feelings for the sage. Lover or not he intended for Crevan to become part of a court. He had clothing made as well, one set for this night and the other for when she officaly bonded. The final piece was a set of clasps, inlaid wth aquamarine.
"...The Viceroy is going to have a stroke..." She said as she looked over the items.
"My intention, and to make my queen happy. I know you would not dress your lover in less than this."
"No, I would not." She said. "do you want me to actually bed him tonight?"
Nuada paused, "Offer him the sweet again..."
She nodded, it would be Crevan's choice. She took one of his hands and kissed the palm, the rised scar from his own oath to her.
"...what gift will you give him." he asked.
"...I do not know yet, but it will make it more beliveable that He's been throughly bedded."
He kissed her, then backed away. They had a ball to quickly throw together.
Crevan frowned as he was bundled up on a horse with his belongings. He was informed he was being summoned to the High Court, but not the reason. Aethen was coming with him, if the night elf knew he was not saying.
"Who can say of the High Court's whims." Aethen said. "It was their majesties orders."
That did not help after he was funneled to a suite of rooms in the royal wing the moment he arrived. He found Pen there sitting at a table with a meal laid out.
"What is the meaning of this..." He demanded.
She rose and met him half way, leaning up to kiss the side of his mouth in greeting as one would greet a lover.
"...Eat, and then you will be dressed to attend court."
She moved past him and went out one of the doors in the back of the room.
He ate, though his stomach did not like the idea. There was something dangerous being played out around him. He was shown the bathing room, a sunken tub filled with steaming water waited. He washed the road from his skin, reminded of his own self destruction. The clothing was of silk, damask and fine fabric, reminding him of another time. He was plunked down and his hair brushed, trimmed and the braids woven with silver chain connecting to claps at each end.
The male looking back at him from the mirror reminded him of another life he could have lived, as consort to a queen. A ring that looked of thorns and roses was placed upon his left hand, along with the return of his brooch, now inlaid with ruby and emerald. The plaid of the thorn court was draped before the brooch fastened it in place.
He was led out to the throne room under the guard of two of the bloody thorn, Pen's personal guard. They paused, to be announced he did not believe the title that came from the herald's mouth.
"Lord Crevan Espane aep Cormain macha, Lord of the Court of thorns, advisor and companion to the High Queen."
He was ushered into the whirl of what looked like an impromptu ball. It took him a few moments to process what the herald had said. Companion, a plight court term for something short of a consort when applied to a male, at least to what he knew. He'd basically been introduced to the court as Pen's lover. To that end, the thorns escorted him to a seat slightly below that of the young Princes and princess. Nuada acknowledged him, a sign that he approved of this.
It was a little while later the tap of the steward's staff silenced the room. Pen rose from her seat, descending to where Crevan was. She held out her hand, he took it rising. She led him to the foot of the dais where two men came with some items on velvet. One a circlet of silver, Roses inlaid with stone so dark they looked black bloomed along its circumference, the other a blade to confer his oath to the court.
"Before the High Court..." She said. "I acknowledge you as my companion and advisor, as lord of the Court of thorns, and Aen Saevherne of the high court."
She took his left hand and sliced across the palm and did the same with her right. He clasped his hand over her own, binding his life to hers. Silk bound his hand when their hands parted as it did hers. The circlet was cold against his brow, it had weight despite its lightness.
He was barely aware of what happened after, his whole body seemed to vibrate. He remembered this feeling, danger, need and anticipation. He had felt this when Ciri had asked of him on that beltine night, to be the only male she would ever bed. He knew this would not be with his queen, but he had one to offer his loyalty again. He danced with her, showing her the dances of he Aen Elle court, feeling the eyes of the Delegation upon his back as he spun her around the floor.