Stella felt Royce climb into bed and rolled over to look out the window. It was dawn. She moaned and wrapped herself around him, and Royce chuckled.
"Sleep, my heart, it's too early." She rubbed her breasts on his arm, and she felt his grip tighten slightly.
"Well, it's not too early for some things." He murmured, as he kissed her slowly. She smiled drowsily and looked up at him.
"Where have you been Royce, I know you are up to something secret- and I have been trying to mind my own business? But I refuse to go to bed alone one more night unless you give me a good enough reason." Her eyes clearing, she frowned slightly and touched his scarred cheek.
"Together forever remember? What is going on?" Royce sighed and pulled Stella close.
"Well, I have been busy for two reasons. One-the soldiers ordered from the capital have arrived. Ian's got reports of the Men of the Grey on the edges of the village. We have a trap in place. I have been making sure our men go UN noticed and that we have a quick response when the trap is sprung." Stella sat up, and Royce pulled her back down beside him.
"I said I was busy with two things Stells, aren't you curious what the other thing was?" Royce teased her. Stella frowned. Now she was curious, she could not help it. He pulled a small velvet box out and handed it to her. Inside was a sapphire wedding ring - entwined in a delicate lace pattern, made of gold. It was the most delicate, beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"Oh, my Gods, Royce! Where did you find this? It is so beautiful!" Royce slipped it on her finger, and she stared at it, enthralled by its beauty.
"Remember when Kora needed an escort to the new mines? I asked her to go. To make it for me." Royce's voice was full of pride. "Designed it myself and Kora built it." Stella kissed him greedily. Coming up for air -
"Don't think this gets you out of the enemy trap deal - but we can talk about it later." Royce nodded eagerly, and they came together in a moment of heated passion and love. The sun rose, and they decided that staying in bed was precisely what the healer ordered.
Ludis was trying to reach a book on a higher shelf, when Kora walked up and used a puff of air to push the book from its resting place. Ludis caught it and thanked her. The ladies walked arm in arm back to the table Ludis had taken over for her research and as they sat, another maidservant came up to offer snacks and refreshment. Neither had breakfast, so they readily agreed.
"Ludis, what were you doing magic in the dungeons for?" Kora mentioned casually once the maidservant had finished bringing in the food. Ludis froze, Kora's question catching her surprise.
"ERM, they needed to be fortified. If we ever catch a Man of the Grey - they need to be able to hold and such individual." Ludis answered as truthfully as she could. Kora nodded.
"Why didn't anyone ask me to help? I had figured that with everyone striving to keep me so distracted-that might be a thing I would want to help with." Kora was looking right at Ludis now, and she could feel a bead of sweat run down her spine.
"Kora, we have been trying to keep you busy because we have been worried about you. Truthfully, since these visions started, you have become half of your former self. You second guess and doubt yourself constantly. You withdraw, and do not want to reach out or trust anyone. We just did not want to burden you with more thoughts of the men of the gray." Another truth. Kora looked down, suddenly shame faced.
"I admit, I have really let this situation get under my skin. I am trying to open myself up to those I trust most, but my heart is afraid." Kora whispered. Ludis grabbed her friend's hand and squeezed.
"No one blames you, Kora. Trauma leaves scars. And you have suffered more than most. We are honestly surprised it took this long and such a dramatic reason for it to come forth. I have been thinking a lot, and I wanted to suggest a healing session for your mind. There are wounds where no one can see Kora, and you need help. I can help you - if you can trust me." Ludis wanted to help Kora any way she could. She saw the confident, strong Fae Kora was, but the trauma was causing her to whither before her time. Kora looked up and hesitated.
"I've heard of the theory-do you really think it could help?" She sounded hopeful.
"Yes, it does involve sharing your mind with me. And sharing the trauma- I would see what you have seen. But the goal is to relieve the burden it puts on your mind and your soul. I am willing to share this with you, and to help you heal those wounds. If you are willing to try, that is." Kora looked thoughtful.
"May I think about it, Ludis? Sharing what has happened to me… It is a lot to ask." Kora looked at her apologetically. Ludis smiled and nodded.
"Of course, the offer is always here." Impulsively, Ludis reached over and hugged her friend fiercely.
"I owe you my life, Kora. Not only that, but you are one of my dearest friends. If there is ever something I can do to help you, please do not ever hesitate to ask." Kora moved, hugged Ludis back tightly. They separated after a few minutes - each wiping tears from their eyes when Malik and Ben approached.
"Everything alright Ladies?" Ben looked at Kora's tears, and his face was tight.
"It's fine, we were just … having a girl moment." Kora sniffed and laughed. Ludis joined in with a watery laugh of their own, and each man leaned down to peck a kiss on their respective woman's cheek.
"We are going for a ride to the mines, and we were going to see if Kora would come to detail some more of the veins she found or could identify any hotter spots for the mining project, would you like to ride with us, Ludis?" Malik asked, his hands resting on Ludis's shoulders, he smiled down at her and winked. She smiled back, and the women agreed.