Crossing Paths

26

Celaena's POV
The next morning-
"Dorian, your brother is making me play
dress up and it's incredibly exhausting." I knocked on the door a second time.
"And your mother has insisted I go with her to De Laurie this afternoon." I tapped my foot against the stone floor.
I huffed, and opened the door myself, and immediately felt the briskness of the room. I shut the door as fast as I could before it seeped out.
"Dorian?!" My breath clouded in front of me, and I wrapped my cloak further around myself. When I saw them on the floor, Dorian cradled in his arms, I took a step forward. But my feet did not hold and I almost slipped, so I stayed still.

"There was an incident." Maven whispered, his hand rubbing Dorian's head softly.
"Are you alright?" I murmured, going down to my knee to be level with him.
"I am, but Dorian frightens me..."

"He becomes unmanageable, lost in his own turmoil..and it's scary to see him like that." He stared at the floor as he said this, his voice a strained whisper.
"I worry about him." He started to stroke his hair more firmly.
"I love him." His voice, him now crying, is weak. He kissed his hair.
"This is my fault..it is all my fault!" He buried his head in Dorian's neck.
"Maven, we will get him the help he needs. Do not worry."
He coughed again, and then looked at me for a moment.
He put one of his hands on the floor, the ice coating began to melt away, creating a path to them.
His hand lifted off the floor, and then his attention went back to Dorian.
I went over to them, slowly, and sat next to Maven. I put a hand to Dorian's forehead.
"He feels fine." I murmured.
He nodded, "He's calm now."
I glanced at him. His eyes are sad and tears were still being held back.
"I'm sorry you had to go through this alone."
He shook his head. "I don't know what would've happened if others had been here. He...wasn't himself. Anything could have happened."
I placed my head on his shoulder, and we sat in silence a while.
"He could have hurt you."
He didn't hesitate to answer. "No, he loves me. He loves me so much." He giggled at Dorian who rubbed his nose in his sleep.
He gazed at him adoringly. "He's so beautiful."
I smiled at them, at Maven who continued to laugh at his boyfriend.
"Listen."
Maven turned and met my eyes.
"These are troubling times, Maven. But things will get better." He nodded sadly, and so I added, "For the both of you."
At this, I stood up and gathered my skirts. They've actually quite grown on me and I'm glad that I decided to continue to wear them.
"Now!" I smiled.

"Wake him up and we will all go to de Laurie together."
"Oh, no. I am not going with my mother." Dorian laughed out, already awake and still in Maven's arms.
"Well, that is just too bad." I muttered as I placed my hands on my hips. Dorian chuckled and Maven kissed the side of his head.
"Now, come on! Up and out!" I kicked Dorian's
foot and left the room to go and gather my things.

Dorian's POV
He smiled down at me, "When did you wake?"
"I've been up a while." Maven's face reddened slightly.
"So, you were just sitting there?" He questioned.
"Yes, for a little while." I laughed. "I heard when you called me beautiful."
His hand went to my hair. "You are beautiful."
"As you like to remind me, it is just nice to hear it as you aren't talking to me." I grinned.
He leaned down and kissed me softly.
I smiled against him and leaned forward.
He stopped,  "Come on, your mother is taking us to de Laurie."
Maven's POV
He moved off of me reluctantly to which I offered my hands and pulled him the rest of the way up. He huffed, like a child might, and went into his closet.
I grabbed my coat I had strewn against his desk, and my cloak I had hung. I turned back around to grab my crown when Dorian appeared, in only his underclothes.
"Now, are you sure you want to leave and go frolic with my mother?"
"Yes, as beautiful as you are." I chided, turning my back and going to the door.
"Maven!" He whined.
"Hurry up, Love. We haven't got all day." I spoke as I shut the door.