GODDESS | RYEJI AU

(the trials.)#5.

When Yeji and Ryujin entered the feasting hall, a hush fell over those gathered before raucous cheers broke out, and Yeji blushed madly, burying her face in Ryujin's neck. Ryujin laughed, and led Yeji to their seats at the great table at the end of the room.

"Yeji has returned!" Ryujin called over the din of the crown, "She is Goddess of the Moon!"

The cheers of the crowd seemed to explode, louder than before, and before Ryujin and Yeji had a chance to sit, the other gods descended upon them, hugging and congratulating them both.

"Ryujin was ready to bring about the end of the world if you didn't come home," Yuna said, smirking affectionately at Yeji as Ryujin stood beside her, looking vaguely embarrassed.

Yeji's heart broke a little at that, and she squeezed Ryujin's hand tightly, her vision of Ryujin during the last trial echoing in her head. "I would have been the same way," She said quietly, moving closer to Ryujin.

Ryujin saw the ghost of some agony in Yeji's eyes, and she held her closer, intending to ask about what Yeji had seen later when they retired to their chambers.

"Holly Girl suits you," Came a voice, interrupting Ryujin's thoughts. The Goddess of the Hunt and her wife approached them, smiling, and Yeji reached forward to hug them both, but refused to let go of Ryujin's hand.

Dami reached up and touched the holly that was twined around the antlers that sat atop Yeji's head, and Yeji laughed softly. "Seems so,"

Jiu touched Yeji's arm, her eyes soft as she looked at the new Goddess. "Are you alright?" She asked, a knowing look in her dark eyes.

Yeji smiled a little and nodded. "I'm alright," She said. "though I'm really hungry," She said with a small laugh.

"There's plenty of food," Ryujin said with a smile as she kissed Yeji's head, and led her over to their seats at the high table.

Ryujin and Dami's hunters had been working tirelessly to bring home enough meat for all the visitors, and an impressive spread of venison and wild boar, turkey, goose and fish weighed the tables down, surrounded by loafs of bread and jugs of wine and mead and vegetables from the temple's winter stores. In one corner of the feasting hall, a group of musicians played lively music, songs of celebration known to Dami's people. Dami's followers were known for their musical prowess.

As they ate, neither Ryujin nor Yeji made any move to let go of each other's hands, and soon Yeji found herself in Ryujin's lap, curled into her side. Ryujin refilled Yeji's drinking horn with wine and cupped her cheek after she put the jug of wine down, kissing her softly. Yeji set down her drinking horn so she wouldn't slosh the wine over the both of them, and tangled her fingers in Ryujin's hair, kissing her back.

Dami rolled her eyes affectionately, shaking her head slightly at the two of them.

"Oh hush," Jiu smiled, squeezing Dami's hand. "we weren't any better eighty years ago."

Dami leaned forward and kissed Jiu, grinning against her lips. "Fair enough," Dami murmured.

Soon Ryujin and Yeji were both full of food and wine, and Yeji found her eyelids drooping, but she didn't want to sleep.

She couldn't, anyway.

She'd noticed it when she'd found herself on the shores of Rin's Crown, but it hadn't been so strong. So pronounced.

Everything was sharper. Clearer, louder. She could see the dust flecks in the air where no light shone, and she could hear the clinking of cutlery against plates and goblets against the table, she could hear the sound of the musicians' fingers sliding up and down the strings of their instruments, the singer's breath. She could feel the weave of the fabric of her dress and she could hear the whoosh of Ryujin's breath through her lungs.