JUDE X CARDAN ONESHOTS

A Dance With The Shadows

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Title: A Dance with Shadows

Jude Duarte, High Queen of Elfhame, stood at the balcony of the palace, gazing out over the shimmering sea. The wind tousled her dark hair, bringing with it the scent of salt and the promise of an impending storm. It was a familiar scent, one that reminded her of her childhood on the mortal side, but now, it held a deeper, more profound significance.

Footsteps echoed behind her, soft yet unmistakable. She didn’t need to turn to know who it was. Cardan, her king, and her husband. The one she loved and loathed in equal measure.

“Lost in thought, my queen?” Cardan’s voice was a smooth drawl, laced with the faintest hint of amusement.

Jude turned to face him, her heart skipping a beat as it always did when she saw him. He was dressed in his usual finery, dark clothes adorned with silver and emerald, the crown of Elfhame resting on his raven hair. But it was his eyes, those deep, black eyes, that held her captive.

“Just thinking about the peace we’ve managed to secure,” she replied, her voice steady. “It feels almost... fragile.”

Cardan stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers. “Peace is always fragile, Jude. But that’s what makes it worth fighting for.” He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “And I will fight for it, for you, for us.”

Jude’s breath caught in her throat. There was a sincerity in his words that touched her deeply. She had seen him at his worst, had battled him and with him, and yet, here they were. Together.

“Cardan,” she began, her voice softer, “I know we’ve been through hell and back. But there’s something I need to know. Do you regret any of it?”

He looked at her, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, slowly, he shook his head. “Regret? No, Jude. Every choice, every mistake, led us here. To this moment. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

She stepped closer, their bodies nearly touching. “Not even for a simpler life?”

Cardan’s lips curved into a wry smile. “A simpler life would be dreadfully boring. Besides,” he added, his voice dropping to a whisper, “I quite enjoy our complicated existence.”

Jude laughed softly, the sound mingling with the wind. “You’re impossible, Cardan.”

“And you love me for it,” he retorted, a playful glint in his eyes.

She didn’t deny it. Instead, she leaned in, capturing his lips in a kiss that spoke of all the battles fought and won, the love that had blossomed amidst the chaos. Cardan responded with equal fervor, his arms wrapping around her, pulling her close.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathless. Cardan rested his forehead against hers, a rare moment of vulnerability. “Stay with me, Jude. Through everything. Be my queen, my partner, my equal.”

Jude smiled, her heart full. “Always.”

As the storm rolled in, they stood together, ready to face whatever the future held. For in each other, they had found not just love, but strength, and the courage to face the shadows together.

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