The beginning of Gwyn and Azriel

Pillows

  Azriel watched from his window in the left wing as Gwyn conversed with the beast outside.

  A pang hit his chest as he realized that she had barely spoke to him, let alone, look at him, for weeks.

  But now, as he watched her...it was not envy.

  He only felt, pure reassurances. 

  Azriel knew his priestess was stronger than the wind itself. 

  He knew she would pick her self up every time she fell.

  She was her own saviour, even if she did not believe that yet.

  Gwyn just needed some time.

  Azriel could not be more proud as he watched her enjoying her morning in the sun.

  Gwyn had her head tilted back as she let the sun stain her pale skin. Her eyes widened as she had a taste of the orange, and Azriel wanted to run to her so he could experience it all with her.

  Something she said had made Tamlin laugh in a burst.  

  Azriel could see that she almost smiled and all of a sudden... his shadows began to dance again.

  They had been silenced for weeks and Azriel welcomed them back warmly.

  Azriel did not want to admit how it hurt him to see Gwyn sit on the floor for lunch yesterday.

  So he had something planned for that afternoon after their daily meeting.

  The two of them met with Lucien outside the estate.

 "I have some news from Dawn. They also have the same nightmare suriels stalking their grounds and are taking proper measures," Lucien started.

 "And what exactly are those measures, Fireling?"

 "Peace magic meditation, to overcome fear."

 "I have heard of this practice, but it usually used by the holy people," Azriel added.

 "Well, now we are going to give it a go."

  And so, they spent the morning practicing the first steps of the magic meditation. 

  Gwyn only looked uncomfortable at the presence of Lucien.

  After that meeting, which Gywn remained silent throughout, he led her to the dinning room.

  Azriel had completely destroyed every single table in the estate.

  So, the only thing left in the eating area, was a fort of pillows that circled trays of steaming food, all placed on the floor. 

  Azriel had worked through the night to set everything up as comfortably as possible.

 "If you are going to eat on the floor, might as well make the best of it," he scratched the back of his neck as he watched Gwyn observe the display.

 "I.." she had gone speechless.

  She pivoted her neck, slightly towards him, but still averted her eyes. "No one..has done anything like this," she paused, taking in the scene.

 "For me," Gwyn kept her face down.

 "Those tables were pretty ugly anyway," he did not want to make things uncomfortable. 

  Gwyn went to go sit in the pile of lush pillows, observing the plates of food.

  Azriel nodded and left her to it, heading to the kitchen.

 "Are you not going to stay?" Gwyn's voice shook.

  Azriel paused in his step, "Oh, I was not sure if you wanted me around."

 "Please sit with me, Azriel," Gwyn stood with one of the pillows and placed them farther than the pile.

  She had made a spot for him.

  He did not want to remark on that because he was too busy trying to calm his shadows. They had become excited at the sound of her voice.

  So, Azriel sat down on the floor beside the priestess and they enjoyed their lunch. 

  Gwyn did not speak to him, but there was always tomorrow.

  They had lunch and dinner in the same position's every single day for a week.

  However, Gwyn still never spoke to him.

  Azriel would be patient, he did want to rush her during that time.

  And on the day that her lips parted, his heart and shadows almost stood still.

 "You told me that I could handle almost anything, but not the nightmare suriels," she cleared her throat.

 "Not yet, you said," Gwyn cleared.

  The priestess was mentioning the moment right before the attack, when Azriel had begged her to run for her life.

  Azriel ran a hand through his hair, "I am sorry-"

 "No, you were right," she interrupted.

 She took in a shallow breath, "I was not ready. And I should have listened to you...."

 "I wish I was wrong, and I know one day I will be. I know one day, you will march into that forest and conquer it," Azriel declared.

 "You have too much faith in me, Shadowsinger."

 "I have never had more faith in a person in my entire life."

  During the next week, they continued to lounge in their fort of pillows, and sometimes Gwyn spoke.

 Those were the moments that Azriel memorized. He played them back in his head as he lay in his bed every night so that he could fall asleep.

  But tonight, something was different. His shadows stirred him out of his comfortable spot. 

  Azriel's bare feet padded down the hallway and his wings flared, ready for any sign of potential danger.

  Then he heard it.

  Screaming and wheezing.

  And he instantly understood why Gwyn wanted his room stationed away from hers....

  So that he did not hear her screaming from her terrors.

  Azriel did not know what to do as he walked towards her door. Gwyn sounded so pained and Azriel held a hand over his mouth.

  He leaned his head against the wood, determining if he should barge in and wrap her in his arms.

  Azriel did not know what to do.

  His scarred hands reached for the knob, and he began to twist, but paused.

  She had told him not to near her, and it may frighten Gwyn even more if he closed in on her space.

  So, the Shadowsinger headed down the stairs to collect some of the pillows in their fort. Then he ascended back to Gwyn's room and placed the pillows in front of her door.

  Azriel sat, cross legged, on the floor, for the remainder of the night.