The Goddess's Gift

I chewed my lip, staring at the salves lined up on the table in front of me.

Lear had insisted that I take it slow and let myself recover before just diving back into all the work I usually did, and I was only just starting to feel like my usual self now, thanks to the miserable bout of sore throat and stuffy sinuses I'd woke up with the day after Veris' attack. Since I'd been taking it easy, I'd not had a chance to work on any salves, and instead had spent the days reading my favorite books, doing a little embroidery, and loving on my kitties, not to mention thanking the goddess that I hadn't lost anyone to Veris.

But now I needed to get back into the swing of things, and that meant starting to make salves again, but I'd just run headlong into a massive problem.

“You look concerned, what’s up?” Lear asked, coming to stand beside me.

“Well, Diana usually helps me enchant the salves I make.” I muttered. This was a repercussion of Diana losing most of her power that I hadn’t thought of until just now. “All the ones I’ve made so far have already been enchanted, including these here, but…I can’t make any more that’ll have any worthwhile healing effects in them without her help.”

Lear’s gorgeous green eyes blinked, and he frowned. “I see." he paused, then asked, "They’re your livelihood, aren’t they?” His throat was much better now, and was now all but healed, though every now and again a note of hoarseness still crept in, especially when he was concerned.

“Mostly, yes. I-I hadn’t had the chance to get the shawls enchanted yet, either.” I motioned vaguely in the direction of the loom. “I only just thought about it. It’s…kind of a problem.”

“More than kind of a problem.” the fey man muttered. “I’d offer to let you use my magic in place of Diana’s, but I don’t think it’d work as well.”

“No. It was one thing to direct it into her when she just needed magic in her, this is far more delicate, specific work.” I shook my head, and stared down at the rows of jars.

It was quiet for a few moments.

A deep sense of sadness and panic filled me. “What…what am I going to do?” My voice broke, and tears rolled down my face. Embarrassed that I was crying over losing my main source of income, instead of just being grateful that Diana and Lear were both even alive, I covered my face.

Lear’s strong arms came up around my shoulders, and he pulled me back into him. “Shh…it’s alright.” he murmured. “I think you’ll find that the shawls will sell regardless of if they’re enchanted or not. You’re very gifted at weaving and embroidery.” he paused, “So you’re not going to worry about anything, you have a very relevant, marketable skill to fall back on.”

“Th-they take me too long to make, though!”

“In the meantime,” the fey man continued, “I’m going to start doing some research.”

“Research?”

“We’re going to figure out a little family history, and track down which goddess gave your family both your gift and Diana.” His voice was firm, “And then, we’ll take a trip to the closest temple, and we’ll ask the goddess to replenish Diana’s magic, and to hopefully reaffirm your own gift. Although asking for two things might be a bit much, you might have to choose.”

“I would ask for Diana’s magic to be returned.” I told him immediately. Between having my own magic made stronger, or giving Diana her full power back, and getting to keep her with me, it was no contest, and never would be. Besides, if Diana's magic was restored, there was no need for mine to be any stronger than it already was.

Lear smiled. “I know.” He bent, hesitated, then kissed my temple very lightly. “Everything is going to be fine, alright?”

“But wh-what if she ignores the request to return Annie's magic?!” I whimpered. It was entirely possible.

“It’s less likely that it’ll be her ignoring it, and more likely that the answer is just no, if nothing happens.” Lear told me, “But if the answer is no, we’ll go back to the drawing board and think of something else.”

“I-I don’t want to have to s-sell the cottage because I-I can't support myself a-anymore! I-I could maybe go live with one of my brothers, but…I-I…I belong here!” Panic began to rise in me, making my heart pound, and quickened my breathing like I’d just been sprinting. I struggled, trying to pull away, feeling the desperate need to pace.

But Lear didn't let go, and instead squeezed me gently, keeping me close. “Winna, it’s alright. I’m not going to let you have to leave your home. We’ll figure it out, okay?” His tone was warm, firm, and reassuring.

“B-but-” I started to protest.

He cut me off, “Shh. It’s alright.” The fey man rubbed my back gently in a circular pattern. “Just breathe. We’re going to figure this out. Things are going to work out. We’ll put our heads together and figure it out. Just breathe.”

I did as he said, and took a deep breath, leaning into him entirely. After a few moments, I regained some semblance of calm, and whispered, “Th-thank you.’

“Of course.”

“What…what will I do, Lear?” I was no longer in a hysterical panic, but I was still very concerned. “I might be okay at weaving and embroidery, but I just don't think I can sustain myself with it. Not long-term, anyways. Especially if I can't enchant the shawls or anything anymore."

“Like I said, we’ll think of something. Worst comes worst, we’ll just, you know, get married and then it won’t matter anyways.”

“Don’t…don’t be silly.” I mumbled, rubbing my tear-stained eyes.

“I’m not.” he snorted. “You could stay here and I’d send money.”

“Lear, that’s not-”

He cut me off gently, smiling, “I know. You don’t want that. It’s alright, just an option. I wouldn't be opposed to it in the slightest, just so you know, which is why I brought it up, but, well, it can be a last resort, if both of our heads together can’t come up with anything else that’s reasonable, and nothing else works. And I wouldn't just treat you like some kept woman, or anything. I'd do the thing properly." he paused, "And that means getting married."

“You would really marry me?!” I stared at him. I thought he'd just been sort of joking earlier, but in bringing it up again, Lear had made himself very clear.

“Of course.” I felt him kiss my neck. “I love you very much.” He couldn't lie.

Surprise washed over me.

It had been there, fairly plain for me to see, though he hadn't said exactly how he felt up until that moment. It was in his gentle touches, his concern for me, his willingness to help with anything, the sheer terror I'd seen on his face when he'd been shouting at me to stay in the cottage when Veris had attacked. And though it was…maybe silly, I did love him. He was funny, kind, and surprisingly gentle for a fey soldier who admitted readily to going on assassination missions.

Lately, he had really only used his outrageous flirting to make me laugh when I needed a reminder that the world wasn’t so bad. He probably wouldn't admit to it if I asked him though. And it was definitely a ridiculous way to go about making me laugh, but he was a ridiculous kind of person. Ridiculous, and I loved him for it.

But I did have one fairly large protest.

“B-but…I-I…you…we haven’t really known each other all that long!” I muttered, a little taken aback by his somewhat sudden admission.

He shrugged. “That’s not necessarily a requirement. Although it is more usual, especially for humans. It’s a bit different for fey.” he paused, “I do understand you probably aren’t on the same page, and that’s alright.”

“Oh.” I tried to turn over his words in my mind.

He wanted to marry me, someday. That was…quite a thought. I loved him, and had known, in my heart, that he felt the same, but I hadn’t considered, for whatever reason, that he might want to marry me. He hadn’t really seemed like the marrying type to me, I guess, but…well, obviously I was wrong.

It was all just so…so fast. We hadn’t known each other for more than a few weeks.

Neither of us spoke for a little while.

“Are you okay?” Lear’s tone was concerned.

“I-I…I think so.” I mumbled.

“I’m sorry if I upset you.”

“No, no, not…not upset. I-I’m just…a little caught off-guard.”

“That’s okay.” he shrugged again. “I know I’m not human, and that’s different to you. But sometimes humans meet and fall for someone in a very short time as well.”

I knew that, in my head, but it was still just a little jarring, somehow. Another reminder that he wasn’t human. But why would that be jarring when humans did meet and marry very quickly sometimes too? Maybe it was just my own slight apprehension over him not being human causing problems more than anything.

“True.” I mumbled.

“It’s…it’s okay that I’m not human, yeah?” he murmured, suddenly sounding a little worried. Apparently, our thoughts had been running along the same tracks.

“Yeah. Just…sometimes it catches me off guard,” I admitted, “but I’ll always adjust.”

“If you’re ever having trouble adjusting to something, just tell me. I want to be able to talk things through with you.” he said firmly.

“It…it won’t upset you?” I whispered. The last thing I wanted was to upset him because of my own preconceived notions about him, or because I assumed he was different than he was, since that would really be a me problem, not something that was his fault.

Lear snorted, “No, of course not. You’re still fairly unused to fey folk, whereas I’m used to humans. We’re technically different species, I get it if there’s things that might unsettle or confuse or upset you about me.”

“So far it’s not necessarily been a very negative feeling I’ve had when your…feyishness hits me, it’s more just…something I know I need to adjust to.” I told him truthfully. “It catches me off-guard, and I remind myself that you’re not human, and it’s okay.”

“Well, good. Hopefully it’s mostly like that. If it’s ever not, like I said, just tell me. I want to work things through with you.” He reiterated.

“O-okay…what…what about when you have to go?”

“Let’s cross that bridge when we get there, alright? It won’t be any time soon, and you have enough stress right now, so it’s not worth worrying over at the moment.”

“That’s a fair point.”

Lear kissed my neck gently. “Can I kiss you more often?”

“Y-yeah.” I mumbled.

“Excellent.” I could hear his grin. He pulled away, finally turning me to face him. But instead of the cocky grin I expected to see, his expression was earnest. “We don't have to rush anything, either. We don’t have to get married anytime soon, or ever, if you don’t want it. I want you to take as much time as you need and figure things out. Alright?”

“Alright.” I whispered.

“Good.” he bent and pulled my lips very briefly to his. “There. Now we’ve kissed properly.” he flashed a bright smile at me, then grimaced slightly, “And on that note…uh. I don’t expect I’d ever accidentally let it happen, but my fangs are venomous, very venomous, so…just…know that. As much as I would really, really love a good make-out session, especially with you, the last thing I want is to cut your lip or your tongue or something on them. That’d be a pretty shitty way for you to go, and I’d hate myself forever.”

I blinked once, then burst into giggles, and leaned into him, setting my head on his chest. “I-I…I love you, Lear!”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, good.” he stroked my hair gently, then asked a little uncertainly, “Why…why was that so funny just now?”

“You were just so matter-of-fact about it!” I couldn't keep from giggling again.

“I wasn’t trying to be funny, but I’m glad you thought it was amusing instead of alarming. That might have been one of those things that would put you off.”

“No.” I sighed.

There was an annoyed sort of maow, and Lou tugged at my skirt. “Oh, fine, fine!” Lear snorted, pulling away to bend down and scoop the goofy, demanding cat up.

He trapped her between us as he pulled me against him again, and I bent to smother her little forehead with kisses. She purred loudly.

I’d have gone and gotten Diana as well, but my sweet queen of a cat was slumbering peacefully on the couch. She’d been sleeping even more than usual lately, trying to bounce back from saving all of our lives, I knew, so I wanted to let her rest.

-

“So…” Winna looked up at him.

“Yes?”

“You’re going to look in the old books upstairs for information?” she pulled the conversation back to the previous topic.

“Yes. There’s got to be a reason they’ve been around as long as they have.” he nodded. “I’ll also get out and about a little and talk to the older fey folk in the area.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea!” the young woman brightened visibly, and planted another kiss on Lou’s little face. The silly grey tabby was still purring loudly away, apparently in heaven.

“Would you like to come with me?”

“Yes, I would."

“How about we do that today, then? Having something to keep you busy might keep your mind off things." He motioned at the salves on the table.

Winna took a deep breath, “Yes. Then, when we get back, let’s start looking through the books upstairs together too. I know I can't read them, but it’ll help me to feel like I’m at least able to help do something about it instead of just leaving it all to you.”

“I'd much rather have your help with something.” He leaned down and kissed her briefly and gently again. She leaned into the kiss a little this time, and he cupped her face with one of his hands, but pulled away before he let himself get carried away. Again, venomous fangs and kissing didn't always mix very well. "I like being with you, believe it or not.”

“Noooo.” she rolled her eyes, tone sarcastic despite the flush he’d incited on her face.

He grinned, “You’re cute, Freckles.”

“Freckles?!” she was momentarily indignant.

“I like your freckles.” he grinned, reaching up to tap the freckles sprinkled across her face lightly, then leaned down and gently kissed that area, then moved over, continuing to kiss the places dotted with her freckles. “There.”

Winna was deeply red, and looked way, muttering, “...’s not fair!”

“Sorry.” He snorted.

The clock chimed, and the young woman glanced over at it, “We should get going.”

“Yes, probably.”

They broke apart, which made Lou maow in protest, and Winna spent a few moments assuring the silly cat that she was still very loved, even if they couldn't hold her every moment of the day. Then she went to gather some things to presumably take with them on their outing.

“You’re bringing a lot.” Lear observed.

“You’ll thank me later, when you’re hungry or thirsty.” she replied mildly, filling up the second of two water-skins at the sink.

“I wasn’t criticizing. Just observing. I’m glad you think ahead, it’s a good skill.” Winna seemed to think that she wasn’t particularly smart or talented, but he knew otherwise, and wanted to make sure she knew how wonderful she really was.

“I try to. I can’t foresee or plan for all the issues we might run into, though.” she sighed, shutting off the sink. “And it’s less thinking ahead, and more like common sense, I think. I have a good deal of common sense.”

“Yes, yes you do.” He agreed, “Although it’s really not that common.”

“But for all my common sense, I went and fell for you, though.” She mumbled. “That’s the least sensible thing I could have gone and done.”

Lear grinned, “Well, being sensible is rarely fun. Even you have to live a little, Freckles.”

“Oh hush, you!” she rolled her pretty eyes at him, but smiled.

“And really, I’m not such an un-sensible person to have fallen for.” he said earnestly. “We get on well, and that’s half the battle. That I find you absurdly attractive is only icing on the cake. Fey folk are supposed to be the enchanting ones, but here I am, caught up in you.” he paused, then added in a murmur, “Your soul is a siren song to me.”

Winna turned, her dark eyes now wide. “Siren songs are dangerous though.”

“I’m okay with drowning, if it’s you.” He flashed his grin at her, letting her know he wasn’t trying to be dark.

She flushed a deep red, murmuring. “You’re silly.”

It was quiet for a few moments.

Her brow was creased, and she kept glancing back over at where Diana lay on the couch, clearly preoccupied with her familiar's condition.

“It’s…not your fault, you know. What happened, I mean. If anything, it’s mine. I never considered that Veris would follow me here. Nor am I really sure why he did. I thought that he assumed I’d gone off and died, but…well, apparently I was wrong. He may have caught word of me being in this area through the grapevine. Fey folk are the worst sort of gossips. I thought I'd gotten far enough away to be safe, but I guess not.”

Winna took a deep breath, then managed a smile as she turned to pick up the bag she’d packed with snacks and a few other supplies. “I-I know. It’s also not your fault. It’s Veris’ fault.”

“You’re right, it is.” he agreed, reaching out to take the bag and water skins.

“Oh, I can carry them.” she blinked.

“I’m a lot stronger. It’s only practical.” he told her, shaking his head.

“Fair point.” the young woman muttered as she went to slip into her shoes and coat.

Lear put the shoes he’d been using on as well, and took the cloak as well, suspecting Winna might want it before the day was up, as the temperature had turned properly cold again since the day before. They would be out for quite a while, and he didn't want her to freeze. That said, he could just hold her to keep her warm. Yes…that was a good thought. Lear filed it away for future use. Maybe even near-future use, if he had it his way. Having wings would help even more, since he could wrap her up in them while he held her close. Yes, that was an impressively good thought.

“Ready?” he asked.

“I think so.” she nodded then looked up, “Oh wait, I gotta kiss the girls goodbye!”

“Of course.”

Winna hurried to where both cats were now snoozing on the couch. “I love you so much!” she whispered, kissing them a ridiculous amount and hugging them gently.

Lou maowed and rolled onto her back for tummy pets, her white-socked feet sticking up cutely in the air, and Diana purred loudly, opening her lovely eyes and slow-blinking at her mistress as she loafed magnificently.

“They both said they love you too.” Lear translated.

Winna smiled, and stood. “Alright, now I’m ready.”

The young woman walked over to him, and he caught her hand, weaving their fingers together as best as he could. “That’s as good as it’s gonna get.” he sighed as they stepped from the house.