Ever After

eight | eikko

I didn't mean to fall asleep in my own room, I really didn't. After taking my family on a tour, having dinner (without Eadlyn and Ahren present, might I add), and taking Kaden, Josie, Osten, and Niko horseback riding with Eadlyn and Kile's fathers, I was wiped. 

So when I'm awakened to my door creaking open, I spy the figure illuminated by the dim hallway lights sneaking into my room and closing the door. I was normally a super deep sleeper, but the past couple nights have gotten me addicted to Eadlyn in my arms as I did so, so I must have been craving her presence.

Which I got, because she climbed into my bed softly, almost silently, and she about screamed when my hand closed around her wrist. 

"Hey," I said groggily, a little amused at her jumpiness. 

She sighed, a content smile on her face. "I didn't mean to wake you. When you didn't show up, I couldn't sleep."

"I meant to come," I promise, "I guess I just fell asleep."

"Yeah, Dad said you went riding with some others after dinner. Sorry I missed it. Ahren and I were on a roll."

She shifted, sliding under my covers, and slipping into my widespread arms without hesitation. I settled them around her, relishing the feeling of Eadlyn against me. She relaxed completely and snuggled into my chest. 

"It's alright." I kiss her hairline. 

She stretches and catches my lips before I can get far, and I laugh again at her desperate kisses. She hums against my smile. "I never thought we'd be able to do this."

"Me either. I'd resigned to having to leave brokenhearted."

"Now we're getting married." She smiles proudly at me when she speaks. "We get to say I do, and we get to spend all of our time with each other if we want."

I grin, imagining the future. My mind focuses on the wedding without meaning to. There will be so many people there, completely out of my comfort zone. For my rakas, though, I would do anything. I'd brave the cameras of the Report again, and I know I'll be doing that anyway, being the Queen's husband. 

Her hands against my chest, rubbing circles, reminds me of the other aspects of marriage- the wedding night, and every night afterwards. My cheeks redden, and I'm thankful for the dark to hide my sheepishness. Of course, it's not embarrassing to thing of Eadlyn and I that way- it's just nerve wracking.

She senses my tensed muscles and kisses my jawline, angling her head to sit in the crook of my neck. "I'm so happy you applied to be Henri's translator."

I laugh at the change of subject, but the thoughts running through my mind don't stray far from marrying Eadlyn. "Me too, darling."

We're silent after that, resting in each other's company. The only time we were ever truly alone was at night, and it was refreshing to be with her in this way. Not with her hanging on my arm, or sneaking kisses when we thought no one was watching. I loved when we just were, just Eadlyn and Eikko.

Her deep breathing slows, drawing me into sleep after her. I squeeze her hand tight, trying to fight the drowsiness so I can look at her longer. I don't succeed though, because I feel myself drop away.

***

The sight of Eadlyn and my father walking down the hall together, him cradling her arm like she's going to break and her speaking softly, hits me like a ton of bricks.

I didn't know it was possible for me to love her more, but in that moment, my feelings for her triple.

"There you are," she calls down the hall, still managing to speak softly around my father. He was a quiet man and hated attention, and I knew she was worried of scaring him.