Hands On

Touch

The first thing Gwyn noticed as she emerged from the doorway and into the light to Velaris was Azriel. As promised, he was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. Gwyn sees him before she can see the city beyond. "I don't understand why you just didn't let me fly you down," he said.

Gwyn takes a deep breath before replying. Ten thousand stairs is quite the distance to travel. "For my first official visit I wanted to get there on my own," she explained. "I wanted to prove to myself that I was ready."

Azriel nods in understanding. By now he is familiar with most, if not all, of her personality quirks. The Valkyries might be her new sisters, but something about the fact that she opened up to Azriel first has forged a different kind friendship between them. Not that she keeps things from Nesta and Emerie. The honesty fostered between them on the side of Ramiel has only deepened her connection to her best friends. But Gwyn and Azriel agreed not hide and that commitment has brought them closer. It started with touch but has grown to include much more. No hiding if they had a bad day. No hiding if they were plagued by nightmares. No hiding that they need help. And now Gwyn has enlisted him to help with her next step: no more hiding from the world.

Azriel turns to the side as Gwyn steps forward. The two of them stand side by side with the House of Wind behind them. Velaris extends before them, beckoning. But Gwyn remains rooted in place. She's come so far, hiked down the seemingly endless spiral of stairs, only to hesitate on the edge of the city she longs to join. Part of her hesitation might be due to her disbelief; some part of her that did not believe that this moment would become a reality. How does one live out a dream in the real world?

Gwyn is startled by the sudden squeeze of her hand. Azriel, as if sensing her hesitation, has laced the fingers of his hand into hers. She glances down at where they are joined and is reminded of their promise. Gwyn returns his squeeze, her teal eyes lighting. There is no one she wants here with her for this moment.

"Just say the word and I'll fly you back up," Azriel offers. Gwyn knows he will and he won't judge her for it if she asks. She also knows that he would stand her with her for as long as it takes for her to take that first step away from the house. That's something she's learned about Azriel from their deal. He's incredibly patient and kind, but he also has a way of knowing exactly what she needs. If she needs a push, he'd shove her right off a cliff. But if she needs a moment, he would give her the whole day.

She shakes her head in reply. "Just having last second jitters," she confesses. Gwyn gives his hand another squeeze.

This moment is long overdue. Gwyn had asked Azriel to go with her last month, but their plans had been derailed when Azriel was called to the Court of Nightmares unexpectedly the night before they were to visit Velaris. Cassian had made excuses for his brother the next morning at training, but Gwyn got the sense that there was something he wasn't telling her. She surmised that Azriel was there to extract information from someone and Cassian was attempting to shield her for the unsavory nature of Azriel's job.

Gwyn had bumped into Azriel when he returned to the House of Wind two day later. She was slipping out of Nesta's private library, arms filled with new books to read, when Azriel slunk into the hall. He looked haggard and hollow; tired and troubled. He apologized to Gwyn for being called away and reaffirmed his promise to take her to Velaris soon. He reached out a hand to help her close the library door, but when he caught Gwyn's eyes tracking his movements, he quickly dropped his hand back to his side. Azriel's shadows flowed down his arm to obscure his hands, hiding them. Feeling bold, Gwyn shifts the pile of books to one arm before reaching her hand into his shadows. Finding his fingers, she gave them a gentle squeeze. Azriel started at the contact, but then smiled warmly. Neither of them said anything as his shadows receded. It was the first time they've touched each other away from the training ring,