CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Pharen stood, transfixed, in front of the portal she had created. It was only when she became acutely aware of Fen'Harel's lips next to her ear that she broke from her reverie. "I'm sorry, what?" She made eye contact with him, and couldn't stop the flush that creeped across her chest at his mouth so very close to her own. He smiled, prideful, and repeated, "I said we should probably let the pantheon know you are, in fact, a goddess now. Though I will admit I am curious what we will find on the other side. Shall we?" Pharen nodded, not realizing she grabbed his hand for reassurance as she placed her other hand, palm up, on the surface of the eluvian.
She felt her stomach lurch forward then back, as if skidding to a halt after sprinting. What her eyes feasted on was absolutely beautiful – a rich green forest floor rose up in between her toes, the blades tickling against her skin. Large trees surrounded them, some of their trunks as large as the Fen'Harel statue that sat within his temple. Their eyes reached ever-skyward, noting how far up the treetops reached, up into the clear sky, which she noticed after a fashion, was tinged with a swirling green mist. Pharen's jaw audibly dropped, and was met with a chuckle at her side.
"It is beautiful, is it not?" Fen'Harel squeezed her hand gently, assuring her it was all very much real. Pharen began to move forward, following a pathway through the massive trees. They wound themselves through the thicket, and eventually came upon a clearing with a fountain at its center. The fountain, she realized, looked like a large mage's staff, the bauble at the top gleaming from the sunlight reflect off its waters. Looking around, she saw several halla, a few fennecs, and the Dread Wolf at her side, watching her.
"It is beautiful, for certain. Though…where are we? Are we still in Elvhenan?" Fen paused, pondering his answer. "I believe we are, yes, though this area is unfamiliar to me. Perhaps it has yet to be claimed?" He cautiously let go over her hand, immediately missing her warmth. Pharen walked to the very center of the clearing, and held her hand out for Fen'Harel to take. As he took it, she began to speak, "Garas atisha adahlen, in uth lath. Ar lath ma vhenan." As she spoke, blue and white orbs began to cross from the Beyond, forming large, ornate door to their right, dancing around them in happiness.
The orbs began to swirl faster and faster, much like a fast-flowing river, more orbs began to be summoned as the spell grew stronger the more her magic surged within her. They both watched as the orbs began crafting small statues, some of fennecs, some of wolves, others of great weapons, some of dragons, even some crows. The orbs surged upward in waves, creating crystalline walls that glimmered slightly before becoming solid in their presence. Stone steps were formed in front of the ornate door, and Pharen clutched to Fen'Harel's hand as she pulled him through. Looking up, all the pantheon's constellations lit the star-lit ceiling, the walls were bare, save for a few veilfire torches that had yet to be lit.
As they continued to walk down the pathway made of fennec fur, following the orbs' display, some of the walls remained glimmering, a small fragment of the Beyond anchoring them to this place. They walked until the orbs began construction of the final room – a room in which a behemoth statue was at its center, each of the pantheon's likeness formed in a corner of it. Clockwise beginning from the left was the carving of Mythal, which connected a wisp of her hair to Elgar'nan. Elgar'nan's hand extended to Andruil's bow at her back, and the base of the bow connected itself to June. June's hammer melded its way into Sylaise's fire, which burned brightly next to the Great Wolf. The Wolf's tail extended to Dirthamen's cloak, snaking its way upward, and the edge of Dirthamen's hood was molded into Falon'Din's friendly hand, as if he was trying to take it away.
The base of the statue began filling with water, each a different color from the last, depicting their auras. Fen'Harel stood in awe for a moment, before striding up to his own likeness, petting the Wolf's snout lovingly. The green pool at their feet began to glow brightly in his presence. Curious, Fen'Harel whispered "Fen'Harel enansal", and watched as the water glow ever brighter before forming a portal in front of their very eyes. "This goes to my temple, I assume?" He asked, turning to face Pharen. She nodded. "I can't tell you how I know that but…it seems all the different colors of the water do similar things once the passwords are said within a certain range of the statues themselves."
"You continue to impress me, vhenan. Welcome to your first temple." He smiled warmly, beckoning her to him. Pharen pressed her face into his robes, clutching at the fabric at his shoulders. She sighed contentedly as he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, his arms surrounding her and making her feel safe; she let out a small huff in annoyance when he pulled away. "I do believe I made a promise to you, da'enansal. One I was intent on keeping. If you would permit me?" Pharen furrowed her brows in confusion, before dropping her hands to her sides.
Fen'Harel kneeled before her, and held his palms downward on the floor. Casting his eyes upward and meeting her gaze, he began to recite an oath to her that was as old as time itself: "Ma asha, ma vhenan, ma atisha," he began. "I am lost, broken and weary, and unable to find my way. You have given me purpose. I am clearly unable to let this go…let you go. I am surrendering to the gravity of the unknown. I promise to protect you and visit vengeance upon those who harm you, a thousand nightmares unleashed upon they and their kin until their untimely death that will be foreseen for millennia. I promise to honor you as you deserve, not as Solas thought you did, but as I know you do. I love you."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized that he was baring himself to her, the most she'd seen of him. Fen'Harel rose up and drew her into a lover's embrace, softly twining his fingers in her hair, and bringing them close so he may never lose her scent. "I promised I would be your first worshipper, vhenan." He smiled, the warmth she saw there was nearly overpowering in its intensity. A flash of mischief danced in his eyes the more she locked her gaze with his, however.
"You worshipped me when none other would. Indeed, I find it only fair I return the favor." His words grew softer as his lips reached the tip of her ear, softly nipping at the edge of the hollow, causing her to shiver in his embrace. Tracing his tongue down to the lobe, he draws it into his mouth, eliciting a soft moan from his lover. Pharen's arms remained around his waist, though she would occasionally press her fingertips lightly into his back as he discovered a sensitive spot. He discovered very quickly that her neck was a favorite place for him to be. Fen dragged his tongue down the length of her neck, biting down where her pulse quickened against his touch.
Pharen tilted her head to the side, to provide him more access, and Fen quickly took advantage of the extra exposure. Biting down enough to leave a shallow mark, and forcing a guttural moan from her, his deft fingers found the hem of her shirt, right before he found her full lips parted for him. He did not hesitate to draw her lip into his mouth, and deft fingers found the belt keeping the goddess' robes together. Before he had a chance to undo the clasp, however, she pressed her hands over his own, effectively stopping his wandering.
"No, vhenan. Let me." Pharen stepped away from him, just out of arms reach, before undoing the clasp. She revealed one shoulder, then another, as she let the enchanted armor slide off her lithe frame. A feral growl could be heard rumbling low in his throat, and he made to move toward her, but she only stepped away. She softly admonished him, shaking her head in disapproval. He understood, and took a step back, though the wolf within him was straining for release, pacing back and forth at the edges of his consciousness.
The garment began to slide off of her once more, her full breasts shown to him inch by tantalizing inch, her arms freeing themselves of their restraints. Turning away from him, Pharen shimmied the rest of the robes down, allowing it to pool at her feet. She then hooked her thumbs in her smallclothes, swaying her hips slightly, before inching the offensive garment down her backside. She heard a louder, more possessive growl come from him this time, and did not stop him when he came for her.
Fen'Harel's arms encircled her small waist, his fingertips pressing into her hips as he kneaded her flesh and pulled her backward toward him. She fit perfectly against him, his straining length becoming encased within her cheeks, making him groan against her ear. Leaning his head down, she tilted her head to the side once more, and felt his lips ghost along the area in which he marked her earlier. This time, he bit her fully, drawing both blood and a pleased moan from her. The sight and smell only spurred him on, and he knew it would not be long until he lost control of the Wolf within him. He spun her around to face him; her lips parted and panting from his touch made him give her a feral grin. "You are aware what you do to me, vhenan?" He pushed his erection forward, causing her to gasp. "If you do not, I will show you. I cannot promise I will not hurt you, however. The Wolf is…not easy to control once allowed to roam free."
Pharen could see the concern etched in his face, yet she trusted him. Though the Wolf was, by all accounts, dangerous, something about it made her worry her lip in anticipation. It did not go unnoticed. "Ma nuvenin." Pressing against her enough to make her fall into the wall behind her, he reached down and deftly undid his own bindings before pressing into her once more. Grabbing the entirety of her ass in both hands, and pulling her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist, with one thrust he sheathed himself in her.
She desperately clawed at his back in a vain attempt to get traction as she slipped down from his grasp. This only made him growl, and he could begin to feel the welts and scratches she was leaving on him. Grasping her hips, he moved against her, sheathing himself fully each time, and each time his name was on her lips; he did not bother to silence her. Their breathing became ragged as he clutched her tightly to him, their mana pooling together and surging as if one. Pharen closed her eyes and allowed her head to go back against the wall before her own walls tightened and clenched around him. "Look at me, vhenan. I would see you come undone." She gave a loud cry of 'take me Dread Wolf' as he hit just the right spot, his words forcing her over the edge, moaning for him to go harder, faster, vhenan please.
He was not far behind. The Wolf growled and snarled, then howled as he spilled himself deep within her, grunting as his thrusts became more and more shallow. He held her there in his arms, pressing his forehead to hers before lifting her off of him. She gave a sultry wink as she walked by, causing heat to rise within him once more. He watched her gather up her things, his grin growing bigger when he saw the marks at her back and at her shoulders. She was truly marked now, by someone who would give their life for her. It was the most content the Dread Wolf had ever felt, sitting in her temple, with her laying in his lap as he watched over her.