Session 31 | Chapter 3
My body hums as I lay next to Lendys in bed. Playing with my hair, he leans in, breathing deep and plants a kiss on my head. I lay with my head on his chest, savoring the feeling of being this close with him, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. My eyes start to close, content to slip back to sleep and stay in this room the entire day.
Lendys groans, the sound amplified with my ear against his chest, “We should join the others for breakfast.” I feel him shift to look out the window before adding, “Though it might be a bit late for that now.”
Nuzzling into him more, I pull the bedsheets tighter against us. The smile that forms on my face is unlike anything I’ve experienced in my life. The lightness in my mind, the weightlessness of my body–everything feels right. After feeling so lost and unseen in such a profound way by not only my party members, but by someone who claimed to care for me, it feels strange to be so genuinely happy so soon after.
And after you just destroyed the Eladrin last night. Nicely done, Huntress.
A chill runs down my spine and I snuggle tighter against Lendys trying to fight the uneasiness the Priest infects my mind with. His presence lingers though and as much as I want to hide away with Lendys, I have to face the aftermath of last night.
And this morning. His laughter echoes briefly before slipping into the recesses of my mind.
Lifting my head a little so I can look at him squarely, I ask, “So what does this mean now?” I add, stammering, “I–like with the others?”
He rolls on top of me, pushing me into the pillows as he kisses me deeply. Too soon, he pulls back, hovering above me and states, “I think this means that within these four walls, I’m yours.” He quickly kisses me once more and continues, “And outside these walls, to them and the rest of the world, I’ll still just be Lendys, the Platinum Dragon.”
His declaration has me holding my breath, consumed by his eyes holding my gaze intently. Every fiber in my body hums, soothing the momentary fear the Priest planted in my mind. His gaze flicks back and forth, studying my expression before diving back into a longer, heavier kiss.
When we break, a bright smile flashes on my face and I reply, “Lendys, I really hate to tell you this, but you’re mine everywhere.” Laughter dances across my words as my fingers absentmindedly play with the hair that falls lightly against his forehead. I smile wide and add, “Can you promise me one thing though?”
“What?” he says, holding my gaze with such eagerness I fear my chest might crack open with how full it makes my heart.
Smiling coyly, I respond, “Please don’t use that godsdammed kid form anymore!” My words break into laughter and I add, “I can’t be looking at you as a teenager after what we just did!” Heat rises to my cheeks and I shake my head, slipping back into the reverie of this morning briefly.
As I finish replying, another voice enters my thoughts, exclaiming, She called me hers! She finally said it!
My eyes widen, recognizing the voice as Lendys’. “What was that?” I gasp, staring at him trying to determine if somehow I missed his mouth moving.
Like a quiet forest bathed in afternoon sun, his voice slides inside my mind again, warming me from the inside out. Is our connection deep enough now? Can you hear this, Maire?
He clearly searches my features for any recognition and my eyes widen further, Lendys? I–you–I can hear your thoughts?
Lendys’s smile lights up his face like wildfire before he consumes me in a kiss once again. His kiss is passionate, the smile never leaving his lips as they continue to taste me over and over. Without breaking, he speaks into my mind, Yes, Maire, I can hear you loud and clear, and now you can hear me too!
He pulls back, panting, “I could not be happier than this moment!” His laughter bounces around my mind, knocking the cobwebs from the space that for so long has been haunted by the Priest. His inky form has darkened my mind for as long as I can remember, and this is the first time that I can’t feel his presence at the edges of my consciousness. Lendys’ warmth and joy brighten and ease my mind, calming every part of me.
Cocking a wry grin, I muse, So you heard me earlier? My mind drifts back to the moment his body landed on top of me as we tumbled out of bed–the moment that propelled us to this place.
A slight tint of pink rises to his face as he replies cautiously, Yes, does that make you uncomfortable?
I study his face as I search for the right words to explain the way I feel. A moment later, I admit, nervously laughing, Not so much ‘uncomfortable’ as a little embarrassed.
Why would you be embarrassed?
Because! My face breaks out in a shocked grin. I mean I was having those thoughts about my…my best friend.
He smiles sweetly before kissing me, his lips delicately brushing against mine as he breathes, “If it makes you uncomfortable, I will never use the child form again.” He rolls me over to be on top of him, literally and figuratively putting me in control of the situation in front of us.
“Thank you,” I say, punctuating it with another long kiss. My stomach growls, abruptly throwing me back into reality. We can’t stay here all day–as much as I’d like to avoid the aftermath of last night and stay wrapped up in Lendys’ arms. Pulling back, I swing my leg over him and slip off the bed. As I walk over to the attached bathroom, I call teasingly over my shoulder, “Better get cleaned up for breakfast! We don’t want to keep everyone waiting.”
I spin around and walk backwards through the doorway. Lendys sits up, smiling and shaking his head as I pause, leaning against the door frame. Smiling coyly, I mentally say, Are you going to join me or do I have to shower alone?
Lendys laughs, getting out of bed and crossing the room with a wild look in his eyes. You do not have to ask me twice.
✦•······················•✦•······················•✦
A knock at the door sounds through the room, pulling my focus from Lendys’ lips and the way water drips from his hair. I peek around his body to the main bedroom and groan, “Shit, I think someone’s here.”
He leans down to kiss the curve of my neck before stating, “You finish up in here. I’ll go see who it is.” He kisses me deeply once more then exits the shower. Seamlessly, he transforms into his platinum dragon form, shaking the water off before padding to the door.
We had already finished bathing long before this, so I turn the water off and reach for my towel. Quickly drying off and scrunching most of the water from my hair, I pull on a robe in time to hear Lendys open the door with a thud. Without the other person saying a word, he states, “She’s in the shower.”
Of course she would show up and ruin the mood, Lendys comments.
I can’t help but smile as his voice enters my mind, Gods how do you have the energy to keep going?
You’re saying you don’t have energy to continue? I’ll make note of that next time.
Whoa, whoa! I never said that!
We’ll worry about that later–get out here, Ranger. The Elven popsicle looks more depressed than usual.
Cinching the robe around me, I slide out the cracked door to see Layna standing in the doorway to the hall, eyes wild and shaking. Her cloak is wrapped around her tight and where she clutches it, the fabric has frost blooming along it.
“Layna?” I gasp, pausing at the sight of her momentarily.
She looks at me sheepishly, “Hi.”
Immediately, I go to her side, wrapping my arm around her torso. Looking at Lendys, I ask, “Shut the door. Shu-shut the door.”
“Yeah I can,” Layna replies quietly, starting to turn back.
I hold her tight though and clarify, “No, I’m talking to him.” I nod my head in Lendys’ direction before turning back to Layna. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“Well–” she starts, but pauses. Her skin is a blueish purple color around the edges of her face and streaks of frost cut through her hair more prominently than usual.
“Last night things were good…I thought at least?” Recalling the moment she and I shared at the plate edge, sharing our stories and discovering the kinship between us.
Layna shakes her head, looking down at the floor. “I don’t know,” she stammers, “I-I talked to Perona this morning.”
My body goes cold and still. “Oh,” is all that my brain can muster.
“And that went about like how it went for you,” Layna continues, “And me the other times. I don’t know how to explain it right now. I don’t–” She stops, sighing and shaking her head.
My chest tightens slightly at the thought that I’ve caused this pain–for Perona and Layna both. Hesitantly, I ask, “How is she? I’m guessing it's not good…”
“Winter.”
“Oh, that level of ‘not good’,” I sigh.
Layna stares off, lost in the memory of this encounter, “Shoved me away.”
I sigh, shaking my head. You caused this, Huntress, the Priest sidles up beside my ear, hovering behind me and causing gooseflesh to rise on my neck.
“Said I’ve made assumptions–” Layna comments, her statements truncated as she seems to replay the conversation in her head.
Under my breath, I mutter, “That’s ironic.”
Layna continues, “About things that I guess we perceived differently–something… something is wrong and I don’t know what to do.”
My mind immediately jumps into problem solving mode, and I stand a little straighter. “Okay–” I start, but Layna cuts me off.
“That’s not why I came here,” she informs me. Her eyes focus on me, softening around the edges slightly. “I went into an astral trance last night.”
“After drinking? That feels really irresponsible,” I exclaim.
Layna shakes her head as she explains, “Well it was a little touch and go, but I wanted to find more information for you about the conclave.” She pauses, her brow furrowing as she adds, “I found something out that you need to know, Maire.”
I can’t help but laugh. The amount of information I’ve learned in the last week about my training and faith is more than enough for someone to deal with in a lifetime. The idea that there’s something else feels ludicrous to me. “I already know they worship Tiamat. How much worse can this get?” I sarcastically ask.
Her mouth forms a thin line and her eyes fill with concern. “You should sit down. Sit down, please,” She instructs, moving towards me and guiding me to sit on the chaise.
Holding my hands up to stop her briefly, I blurt, “Wait, you’re serious?”
“Yes,” Layna replies, drawing out the word nervously.
From where he lays, front legs crossed, on the bed, Lendys interjects, “How the fuck would the Elves know about your conclave?”
Layna turns her head and explains, “I can contact many planes, and my late husband is in Paradise. He interviews a lot of people, so he’s able to point me in the right direction.”
“Your late husband told you something about my conclave?” I ask. “Why didn’t we think to try this sooner?”
“I just didn’t think about it earlier in the day,” Layna responds, “Lendys only just told us about the conclave yesterday.”
Shocked at the whirlwind of the last day, I mutter, “Gods–that was yesterday.”
“Long day,” Layna mirrors my thoughts.
Mentally bracing myself, I state, “Okay–hit me with it. What’s going on?”
“You should never bow again…” she hesitantly says.
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah, just–I mean,” she stammers, quickly trying to get the words out, “I won’t bow with you. But you should never nod your head, or kneel, or bow–”
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I scoff, “I shouldn’t nod my head?”
“I wouldn’t,” Layna answers, “The conclave–how do I explain this? Okay, if someone says a certain phrase while you’re bowing–” she pauses, meeting my eyes.
“Like–” I say as I sarcastically mime bowing.
Lendys’ laughter fills my mind, Do you think she just shit herself? I bet she would be livid if she knew what you were doing earlier.
His voice calms me and I quip, And will be doing later.
He replies, voice low and rough, Oh, I definitely went too easy on you.
Layna’s eyes go wide. “We don’t want to risk it, but yeah. If they say that phrase while you’re bowing, you–you kill whoever’s around you…” she informs, struggling to get the words out.
“Excuse me?” I shriek.
“Yeah…”
Scoffing, I continue, “Okay, this is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!” A laugh coughs out of me, nervous that this might be true and pleading internally that it’s not.
Layna holds my gaze with a pitying look.
“For real?” I ask once more.
Her eyes are sorrowful as she states, “They brainwashed you, Maire.”
I shake my head, “Okay apparently it can get worse.” My body folds in on itself and I bury my face in my hands. My mind starts to fill with the sound of screams as the Priest slips to the forefront of my mind. He doesn’t say anything, simply lingers there. His presence and lack of commentary causes my breathing to quicken.
I reach out to Lendys, on the verge of panicking already, Is this even possible?
Now calm down–I don’t trust the Walking Problem at all, so take what she says with a grain of salt.
Well, Layna has given me no reason not to trust her. Either way this feels risky to ignore. Do you want me to risk our lives like that if this is true?
No, but something feels off about this. We’ll discuss this later.
Layna begins to speak, but Lendys cuts her off, “Yeah, but do you actually believe her?” He stands and lazily steps off the bed, coming to my side. He huffs, letting out a plume of steam from his nostrils that consumes the room with a sulfuric odor.
I shrug, trying to calm the noise in my head. “Well, no, but I believe that Layna believes this. I just don’t know that I trust–”
“That’s just what I was told. I would say try it out, but that would mean you’d probably kill someone…” Layna’s voice trails off. She’s relaxed a little, the cloak looser around her shoulders as the frost starts to thaw.
“I don’t think we need to try that out,” I reply. “That feels pretty risky to test.”
Layna shrugs her shoulders, smiling weakly, “I would just practice caution.”
“Bow only around people I hate?” I scoff, rolling my eyes.
“It’s indiscriminate from what I heard,” Layna replies, missing the dark humor in my words. “I can tell you the phrase though. I don’t know if you want to tell the rest of the party, so we can avoid anything near that phrase.”
I lift my gaze and look up at her, expression hard as stone. “What’s the phrase?”
She purses her lips and reaches for me. “Okay, just stand up straight and then–” She fiddles with my shoulders, trying to get me into something far from resembling a bow. My body feels rigid, muscles taunt despite the release from this morning’s activities with Lendys.
Another plume of steam releases from his nostrils and a little movement returns to my body. Squaring my shoulders, I hold my head high and meet Layna’s eyes. Cocking an eyebrow, I cue her to share this dooming information.
“Okay–good. The opposite of bowing,” she mutters, hands hovering around my form to ensure she’s satisfied with my stance. She takes a breath and states clearly, “By our mother’s grace.”
My body physically recoils at the sound of these words. My stomach knots and my fist clenches as the Priest whispers in my ear, The Dark Queen…her followers were at least thorough with their infection of you, Huntress.
“Which is really vague,” Layna continues, nervously rambling. “You know, bowing at a temple to a goddess. That could be bad.”
It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes as she mentions bowing at another temple. Respecting the practices of other religions is understandable. But bowing to show devotion at a temple to another? Never. My relationship with Bahamut is tenuous enough with the recent information that’s been shared with me. It’s a miracle that I was even able to communicate with him last night after everything that's transpired.
To think–the sight of you, a Warrior of Bahamut, bowing to another god…another goddess. The Priest’s laughter echoes through my mind, and I squeeze my eyes shut to fight off the reaction that normally follows. I can’t lose myself this early in the morning. Not when I’ve been instructed to work on clearing my mind. Allowing the Priest control of me is the opposite of that in every way. And yet, when I open my eyes, black tendrils slip along the edges of my vision, causing my heart to race.
Lendys’ voice cuts through the incoming panic as he states, “Yeah, but normally they say, ‘By our mother’s embrace’ at Selune’s temple.”
A frustrated laugh coughs out of me, “So if someone mumbles, we’re in trouble.” I look over at him, meeting his skeptical expression.
He quirks his mouth slightly and adds, “Also, this still sounds outlandish.”
“I know,” I nod.
Layna almost at the same time says, “I know.”
For a brief moment, I almost forgot she was in the room–the Priest’s presence and Lendys’ immoveable support consuming my attention.
“But why would I lie?” Layna protests.
This causes my eyes to slip to her. Says most liars… The Priest observes and my gut constricts. Layna’s friendship is new, and new relationships can be delicate. It’s also something that I fear I will be clinging to more and more following the break up with Perona. Last night proved an understanding between us though right? She, of all those in the party, is the closest to understanding me and what I’m faced with. But hesitancy pings in the back of my mind. I’ve been lied to my entire life so it seems. By the conclave, by Bahamut, by different party members throughout our journey, and by Lendys too. With all this deceit surrounding me, altering my perception of reality, fear lingers alongside the Priest.
Where did she get this information, Huntress? Why would she share something like this with you when you could impose such a risk to the party? To her own interests? She could be wanting to control you–puppet you as the conclave–
I cut his ramblings off, shaking my head and explaining, “No, it’s not that I think you’re lying–”
“Well it’s not that you wouldn’t lie,” Lendys interjects, “But that you were drunk doing something that you–”
“Hey!” I shout. Annoyance at being cut off overshadows any uncertainty that I have in myself or Layna at this moment.
Lendys raises a brow, “What?”
As I’m facing Lendys now, Layna’s voice comes from beside me. “I can go back–”
Lendys ignores her words, holding my gaze and continuing our conversation without pause, “My opinions of Layna are pretty simple–she’s crazy.”
If the dragon god thinks the elf is crazy, what will he think when he learns of me, Huntress? How can he not think you’re just as insane after learning all he knows about your history, and if this new information is true? Do you really think he trusts you? The Priest scoffs, wet and visceral, Cares for you?
“Let’s–” My words falter, the Priest lingering all too close to the surface of my mind. “Let’s cool this,” I manage to choke out.
“She’s equally as crazy as Crim,” Lendys adds with a shrug.
I roll my eyes, the skin on my neck prickling more with each passing comment from the two people in the room and the specter in my mind. “Okay, well they’re part of the party,” I observe. Feeling the lack of weight in that
in that statement, I add, “They’re our friends.”
“Yeah? The ones you hold from a distance with a sword between you right?” Lendys jabs, his words hitting me in the stomach and nearly knocking the breath from my lungs.
“Excuse me?” I hold his neutral gaze, my mouth agape. This moment stretches out as our minds connect.
I was trying before–before you…you know? My inner voice breaks, unable to hide the emotion.
Before you lead Perona on? Listen, I’m not trying to isolate you, but you need to start recognizing potential problems people have that could affect you later.
I fight to not outwardly roll my eyes at his assumption, Before you broke me, Lendys! And you need to realize trust goes both ways here–do you actually trust me?
My chest aches with a hurt I didn’t know was truly there for the party. We’ve been traveling for months now together and a camaraderie has formed, but genuine friendships have never been my strong suit. Beyond Lendys, I’ve held an odd affection for Raesh, a stillness with Zeref, and tumultuous affection for Perona. But to hear it said out loud that none of these people have been let into my circle of defenses leaves me feeling vulnerable and laid bare.
It’s a moment before his voice enters my mind again, I will always trust you, Maire, but the others are different.
Okay, then trust me. Part of this is not steamrolling my decisions. Please watch my back and keep an eye out for things I can’t see, but I’m not going to be someone’s puppet again.
Fine–I’ll always have your back. Just don’t do anything too reckless for both our sakes.
The Priest’s words echo back in my mind briefly before I focus and reply, Lendys, I’m not going to knowingly put you in danger, okay? My life is one thing, but I won’t do that with yours tied to mine.
His voice comes back a little more deflated, I wasn’t…just be careful.
Under her breath, Layna remarks, “I liked him better when he didn’t talk.”
Fire floods my veins and I turn to defend Lendys, but he’s already countering Layna’s comment with his own disdain, “And I liked you better when you were drinking more.”
They’re both glaring at each other in a stand off and all at once the absurdity of this conversation hits me. None of this information is verified and hurling insults back and forth will do nothing productive. “Can you two stop?” I shout. My stomach growls as the room falls silent, “I haven’t even had food yet! This is too much!” My gaze flicks between Lendys and Layna as I declare, “I trust Layna. We don’t know the source.”
Lendys grunts in reply, another sulphuric plume billowing into the room.
“Thus,” I continue, amplifying my voice to stop any further interruptions, “We will be skeptical. But this feels risky to ignore.”
Layna’s eyes are sympathetic, and I believe she’s truly wanting to help. “I will go back tonight and confirm just to be sure,” she offers.
Lendys scoffs, “I still don’t trust the elves.”
Aren’t you supposed to be working towards self-sufficiency? Feels an awful lot like these two are playing tug of war with you, Huntress. Bahamut will be most proud of your progress. His sarcasm coats my mind and I fight the urge to physically shiver at the sensation.
“I feel like I need to do my own recon on this,” I speak up, “If it’s something the conclave did to me, then maybe someone in the south has answers.”
Lendys smirks, “Or maybe we can activate them.”
“Dude!”
“Anyways,” Layna says, “Since we’re about to go to the Southern Forest, I thought the information was relevant.”
“Yeah…” My mind drifts, trying to sort through everything that’s happened in the last twenty four hours, but my stomach growls again, pulling me from the spiral. “I need food.”
“Okay?” Layna responds.
“I need food,” I repeat, focusing myself, “Give me a second to get dressed. We need food and then we need to get to the south.” The list of actions organizes the thoughts bouncing around in my mind.
“Sounds good,” Layna moves to lean up against the wall and wait.
I nod to her and then Lendys before slipping behind the screen. Shielded from view, my hands start to shake, the mask slipping ever so slightly. I take a shuddering breath, working to keep the act as silent as possible to keep Layna from hearing. Adrenaline fills my body and fights to be released. No matter what, I need to be composed when I return to view and we go downstairs.
A presence starts to enter my mind and my heart races as I brace for the Priest’s assault. Instead, Lendys’ coy voice fills my mind. Why are you hiding? It’s not something I haven’t seen before.
Unable to help myself, my face breaks out into a smile as his words mirror my own comment earlier this morning. The energy building in my body slowly starts to dissipate as my breathing evens out.
A little laugh creeps into my words as I reply, Do you want Layna to know about us yet?
I’m surprised she hasn’t said anything about the smell.
My body freezes, one pants leg on and the other half on. Fucking hells I forgot about that–you think she knows already?
This is Layna you’re talking about. Even without seeing him, I feel his eyes roll. Assume she can smell sex from a thousand yards away.
So much for keeping this quiet to not cause more issues in the party. I shake my head and button my pants before slipping my shirt over my head.
If she doesn’t say anything, then we’re in the clear for now.
Pulling on my boots, I look around the part of our room visible to me. We’re going to have to open a window or something next time.
As I come out from behind the screen, I’m quickly plaiting my hair into a single braid over my shoulder. Lendys is laying at the foot of the bed, already looking for me as I appear. Layna is playing with the edges of the cloak, but looks up when I clear my throat. “Ready?”
Layna perks up and states, “Oh, since you said Bahamut wanted you to seek Markus. I feel like you should know, he does not fuck. I’m sure you want a rebound or something, but–”
“Excuse me?” I nearly choke at her words.
Layna side-eyes me with a knowing look, “You haven’t met Markus yet, but trust me, I tried.”
“I don’t think Bahamut sent me to Markus to fuck,” I reason.
She shrugs her shoulders and adds, “Probably not, but I’m just saying, you might want to after you see him.”
As if. Knowing her taste, he probably has a few screws loose too, Lendys grumbles.
Be careful, dragon, your jealousy is showing.
“Oh my gods,” I cry out before composing myself and meeting her eyes squarely, “I’m good. I’m good.”
He scoffs, Well this dragon likes to keep his treasure close, so forgive my protective nature.
Heat rises to my cheeks, and I turn my head to hide the color from Layna. I giggle, I’m your treasure?
“Okay,” she replies skeptically.
“I’ll be fine.”
Easy, Ranger. His voice is rough and I hide a smile.
I thought you didn’t like easy?
I don’t, but apparently I went too easy on you. Blushing like a teenager from one little statement, it seems like I need to reinforce how valuable you are to me.
That’s not a little statement, and you know it! I’ll take it though. It’ll give me an opportunity to show you the same.
I look forward to it, Rasvim.
The draconic word for ‘treasure’ hits me like a wave, crashing over me and warming every fiber of my body. I shake my head and smile–this man.
She shrugs, pulling the cloak around her shoulders a little more, “Just wanted to let you know what to expect. Let’s go get breakfast.”
My head pounds, a headache starting to build behind my eyes. I press my fingers to my temples and mutter, “This is not setting up for a good head clearing day.”
Lendys chuckles, “Ah yes, let’s go get the other crazy one. That way we can have both crazies together, and they can talk bullshit to each other and not us.”
I groan and Layna retorts, “Oh fuck off!”
“You’d like that,” Lendys quips, starting to walk towards the door. He smacks the handle with his tail to open it. Before Layna or I have moved, he’s through the door and walking down the hallway.
Layna looks at me slightly and comments, “What’s his problem this morning?”
“It was a long…night…and morning,” I groan, “He’s hungry. Let’s just go get food.” I usher her out the door and pull it closed behind me. Uncertainty causes me to pause momentarily before latching the door, unsure what to expect down stairs with everyone.
With a breath, I tell myself, I can do this, and pull the door closed with a click.