#baronyofthesilverwolf

She finds him in his office with Julius, deep in discussion, while Julius makes notes and shows them to his lord. The Satyr closes his notebook and bows when Nadeen enters. "Pardon me." He leaves, with a bit of a hidden smile. Isn't it boggans who are supposed to sense changes in social dynamics? Perhaps but some goats have a sense for shifts in relationship dynamics...

"Julius" She nods as he goes, then moves to Aiden, "The children are back. Briar is very clever. She knew something had changed ... and I had to tell her Calanthe would not be back for a year and a day" Nadeen looks Aiden over. Just as she looks closer to 21 than 18.. he now looks closer to his mid 20s than before, the gap has closed. In a way, it's almost as if I got to tag his renewed innocence "And, we need to talk about the thanes. See how sentimental I am? Greeting you not with a kiss but more news and tasks?" An apology in her eyes mixed with humor

He gazes at her, a small smile on his lips. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

But, he teases, and rises to greet her with a kiss, and then pulls her over - not to the desk with the straight-baked chairs, but to the sofa that previously was for gathering dust, or napping on when Aiden neglected to make it to bed.

He settles down with her at his side, an arm wrapped around her. "There." Satisfied at the closeness. "Now, what news of our Thanes?"

"Oh you triffle" But the kiss and drag to the sofa is joyous and she nestles into his arms "I neglected them and should have gotten up earlier in the morning but I think things are on the mend. Linnea , she saved my life but it partly broke her oath. I say partly because she was not afflicted with blindness... curious that. I have told her, and I stand by it, that if she wishes she can enter my service, a new oath to replace the old one , and I will swear to the Escheat in return. The new Oath will include more flexiblity, I trust her instincts and I may not be seelie but she saved my life and that's more reason to trust them I think. If she ever has to improvise again I want her to have more room to do it with. " A look at him to see how he responds to this first part

He listens, and nods. "For saving your life? She could have claimed any boon she wanted of me." He admits quietly. "Is service what she truly desires?"

"In Truth I thought of knighting her, but it would create an imbalance between sisters... or so I was warned yb a friend. She does require service, but... if I may?"

He nods in ascent.

"It is clear she has affection for Chief Hewitt, and by being willing to stand by her even with her broken state... I am as a woman, satisfied he's worthy of her. Now, I do not offer her up as a prize, or him as a prize to her... amusing as the thought of troll husbandry might be" She says "However, I plan to release her from an oath with honor if they finally become a couple, it will be our loss, but owe her that opening. I think" A beat "Not that I might not expect bargain with the Chief for some bride compensation for the hold's loss. JUST a bit.. What do you think, would that be a fair reward for making it possible for you and I to be together?"

"A romantic thought, my dear. I fear that we can ill afford to lose her, though. It is not simply that we are understaffed... though it is true that as Silverwolf finally rises to it's full potential, we will need to expand. But also that a vassal willing to put her honor and soul in jeopardy to protect you, when you are not even her sworn liege? I would be very loathe to let her go.

Can she not pursue romance, while remaining in your service?"

"OH I didn't say I was going to tell her she was free to go for romance purposes. She'd have to work up the nerve first " A smile "Or the Cheftain might." She does consider then "Have you another idea to grant her a boon? You know her longer than I"

An unhappy look. "I fear I have paid little attention to much of anything for quite some time. Julius has been showing me where our breeding lines suffered, possibilities went unpursued, and contracts lost. I will have much to do to return my holding to it's full potential."

A pause, and he corrects, "We. Our hold. ...perhaps in time something will come clear. For now, if an oath is what she wishes, by all means, let it be so."

He gets a kiss at the 'our hold' correction, it's something Nadeen noticed Hearth Kerri did. When Olgar corrected himself to proper thinking, that is, agreeing with her point and seeing she was right, he was given positive reinforcement. It seems a sound strategy to adopt with Aiden

Then Nadeen pulls back "Thank you. Now, about Dancia. She was dictumed, so I do not blame her, but she also sees things differently... her goal was protecting the hold first and foremost. She might have shot me on her own accord if she had the choice BUT again, to protect the bale from a mad nervousa. Remember, her source of information was Calanthe. I'd like to keep her in our service regardless, or at least the hold's service. She is more cynical and ruthless than her sister in some ways, but that might make her the ideal thane to guard you. If given a choice, she wishes to swear to you . She would like time to get to know me, in a year and a day she may change or expand the Oath. She seemed surprised I asked her opinion."

A sigh. "I worry that the fault is truly mine. I misjudged Calanthe. I truly believed when she said she had our best interests at heart. So much might be different now if I had listened to you when you first had concerns."

"Hold onto that part of 'listen to Nadeen' and we'll get along fine" A chuckle then sobering "You were a man devastated by loss and grief, and Calanthe thought she was helping you, but she began to rationalize her methods, what was meant to hold you together became.. .strings of influence. She crossed a line with your son early on. Oddly that's the one thing I ... I really do resent. Even above having me nearly murdered. Odd " A Look at him "I will not miss Calanthe. Despite her duties and knowledge, she turned herself into a slow acting poison on the place. Dancia doesn't trust me, she doesn't hate me, but she won't trust any other sidhe besides maybe yourself who she at least knows, for a bit. She has been burned and needs time to heal that. I think Dancia will serve you very well. What do YOU think? Linnea serving me, and Dancia seving you? Both thanes to the hold in general but sworn to each?"

He frowns and considers this. "I will accept Danica's service, if you feel it wise. I ask this of you not only because I trust your opinion, but because it was you who she attacked. If she had succeeded? Even if in doing so, she HAD protected my own life and the Bale?" His face is a mixture of anger and despair.

"Let us not speak of what ifs."

She strokes his cheek "We are very fortunate, and not just for that one incident. It's my nature to read into patterns and how they could go, or could have gone but I'll try not to talk of the what ifs if they upset you. Do you think you can focus on the fact that in the end, at least to me, no harm was done? Indeed, I am better than I was before for I have you whole and with me"

He rests his head on her shoulder for a time. With her, it seems, even an Ailil lord can show weakness without fear.

"We will accept their oaths, and be stronger for it, as we will oath to them in return and fulfill our duties as well. When do you wish to have this done? The Balefire yet awaits you as well, though perhaps you may prefer that as a separate, private bond."

"That was the other thing, love. I... I am embarrassed to admit, that sharing the a balefire with a lord, marrying my way into power, was once given great consideration to me. So please forgive me if this sounds proscripted? It .. might of been, sometime ago," A llight blush, the pearl of her cheeks gaining a lovely rose luster, then a deep breath "Do you wish to rule side by side all year as co rulers? We shall need to prepare for those hopefully rare times we do not agree and how to work out such things. Do you prefer one of us rule for one half of the year while the other serves as Chancelior, and then the other half of the year the matters flip? Should we co rule, but with strict sets or areas of dominion to play to our strengths? Is a dowry to be involved as it would be in some mortal cultures for a marriage? "

He is surprised at first at this, and then thoughtful. "These are all strong points of consideration. Tell me, my love - to whom would I pay your dowry? It would, I must say, amuse me greatly to deliver a chest of fine furs and precious gems to your hold of Fosterage, and inform the Baroness Grimhand that I have bought my bride."

A fit of giggles escapes her, and she has to cover her mouth at the traitorous jubilence threatening to destroy her dignity

"Perhaps you should inform her that as my fosterage, they're supposed to provide you my dowry to join to your own holding? " A snerk

"There are merits to each suggestion." He answers, once the shared laughter has passed.

"The turn of seasons appeals. Half a year to each Court was the way that the Dreaming gave unto fae to share the courts, though Gwydion greed has taken all." He shakes his head, not wanting to bring politics into THIS discussion.

"Or by each season, say, Summer bounty and Winter's Sun to the Lady, Autumn's hunt and Spring's Reawakening to the Lord."

"If we were to rule in tandem, issues of Hawk, Hound, and Horse would be my domain, and of our Vassals and commonfolk to thee?"

He welcomes her feedback.

"It sounds like you prefer the seasonal shift, but would you be willing to be powered below at that time? You have ruled for... " A thought "No I suppose you haven't ruled for a while now." Again she curses Calanthe in her head, then says "Seasonal sounds more traditional, though as neither of us is Seelie, whoever ruled the sunnier seasons would no more so than the darker ones. But then as you point out, there is something an imbalance against sso if ianything it might counter balance. I know you are ... more into omens than I, and I can see the seasonal perhaps showing a touch of humility before D'aan if you like. But Co rule is no shame. I suppose you are right that I could handle the splitting of domains but you cannot play the recluse with all but animals forever love"

"Then let us co rule. If the seasonal shift meets your approval, then choose which ones call to you. In those times, I shall bow to your judgement shall we happen to disagree. And for the others, so shall you to me? Let this be shared be between you and I, that we present a united front for our people, together."

"That.. is an excellent blend. Let's do this then. Co rule, but with advantage depending on the season.. unified front and.. that's rather ideal, lovely! "

"Summer and Winter to my Lady of Sun and Snow." He takes her hands and kissed them.

"Autumn and Spring to my Lord of Hunt and Howls"

her eyes dance

"Shall we go before the Balefire, my heart, or plan for an opportune moment? If you wish a ceremony, so you shall have. If you would consult the stars, for you, I would do so." He offers, "But I yearn to share this with you - and if you wished it, that moment shall be now."

"We must not steal the moment from Gwen. I would not betray her by upstaging her..." Now is SO tempting "I do see your point of now though. Haste would allow us to beging the transition smoothly"

"Would we not honor her by holding her saining as the first of many ceremonies to be held by Silverwolf's true Lord and Lady?" Perhaps he is greedy, and selfish, but oh, he wants this moment with her.

"You're right, you and I, right now" She takes his hands , or perhaps she had his already and now she takes advantage of it, "To the fire"

Hand in hand, they walk through the halls. With the lord present, it is a simple turn to find the door. "Soon, too, shall these halls recognize your steps." He promises.

"And joy it shall be" She admits and moves along taking it in. At times this place felt like a very dangerous house of Calanthe's traps embedded, now that she is gone, The Varich , who already loved it because of that, shines with confidence

The balefire room has been straightened from yesterday - was it just yesterday? Marigold is no slouch, it seems, all of the furniture restored in place, rugs straightened.

The Fire burns in silvery flames behind the blackened steel grate - not quite banked to the coals, but simmering low, as though waiting to be stoked.

He guides her to the fire, then takes her hand, standing before it. Into her ear, he murmurs the words of the oath he had sworn. "I would reaffirm my own bond along side you." He states, though it is a request, not a demand.

"I would have it no other way," She looks to him with adoration, "Shall we, my Dragon?" Her hand reaches to the balefire as she bids her glamour rise to feed it just a bit

He reaches in as well - hands clasped between them, free hands both reaches into the flame.

Together, they recite an oath...

"In the name of the Dreaming, under the sight of Da'an.
As the land supports the air, as the water nourishes all life, so shall we serve Silverwolf.
So long as we draw breath and the light Ingis Vesta burns, we shall be its rulers and guardians, else the dreaming avert it's eyes from us.
By Wintersun and SilverDragon witness, we so swear."

("In the name of the Dreaming, under the sight of Da'an.
As the land supports the air, as the water nourishes all life, so shall we serve Silverwolf.
So long as we draw breath and the light Ingis Vesta burns, we shall be its rulers and guardians, else the dreaming avert it's eyes from us.
By Wintersun and SilverDragon witness, we so swear.")

Yes , their voices blend in harmony... and each releases some glamour to mingle, hers like her name sake, dancingsnow

Even as she dips her hands into the flame and feels the strength of the bale - licking over her fingers, tasting, learning, and then seeping through her to touch her mind and soul. Aiden stretches his hand in as well, and the Flame welcomes him as an old friend, even as it explores Nadeen as someone new.

The flames lick up, growing, flaring, now with hints of gold and amber with the silver and black.

"Yes, yes... we are yours ,and you are ours, and I am at last who I was meant to be with whom I was meant to be" Pleasure and pride shudders up her finger tips and spine

"Nadeen, forgive me for stealing your moment... but there is something else that I wish to say." He locks eyes with her as they stand before the bale, and he lowers down onto one knee. "Will you grant me a moment more to speak?"

"My lord, say what you will, you have been held in silence far too long in a way"

He exhales, and gathers up glamour around him like a cloak.

"To Nadeen Dancingsnow, my savior and love, who risked her whole self to save a broken soul."

He holds her hands, and the Balefire dances between them, licking flames that warm without burning.

"I give to thee the gift of myself, heart, mind, and soul. I offer it freely, with nothing asked in return. I swear my love unto you, until the stars no longer shine upon me, until the dream no longer lights my eyes."

Is this... the Oath of True Hearts?! Surely he knows that she can't... But, the wording is not... it's just slightly different. He continues, with emphasis,

"Though you swear not in return, simply accept my oath, and through this Fire shall we share a bond that needs no songbird's call to know our hearts, linked through a flame that burns deeper than the pull of Dragon or Sun."

The oath spoken, lingers, unfulfilled, simply words that dance upon the glamour of the Bale, unless she accepts his vow.

"Nadeen, will you have me as your own?"