They find each other when the night is darkest.
Eik had sensed Isra’s presence from the moment he stepped foot on the strange island. Her magic here was like a second sun– he could feel it on his back, dappled in the forest, blazing on the sandy beaches. Around that two stars orbitted, laughing, dancing, writhing around each other like two magnets inextricably attracted and repulsed by each other. Each gave off a warmth and color of its own, and they confused him. He did not understand. Was it Fable? Was it himself?
She went one way and he followed, tracing trails of iron and cobalt, flowers and gemstones. It was difficult, but not impossible to tell what was her work and what was the island’s. Perhaps it was the result of his magic, or his love, but regardless– everything of hers had a signature, if you knew what to look for… although, it was not so much about looking as it was about feeling, like reaching about in the dark for something. And of course you don’t know what it is you’re feeling for, not until you find it, so you can’t really explain it to anyone else.
(It’s beginning to sound less like magic and more like love, the secret to his knowing, for it is a well known fact that magic follows the laws of reality more closely than love)
He follows patiently, stopping every so often to look, and listen, and wonder. Does she know he follows? She must. His magic comes to life here, too; He’s certain she can feel it caress her cheek with the warm salty air.
It is deep in the jungle where they finally meet, in an ancient grove (as ancient as a thing born yesterday) of banyan trees. Oddly, it is almost bright as day here, for the clearing is full of fireflies. Most of them hover close to the forest floor, a shallow sea of light, and many of them crawl as though they are sick. Eik tries to move gingerly through them but every step crunches in a way that makes his stomach cringe.
crunch, crunch, like a god and his toys–
crunch, crunch, do they prey for mercy? He can't hear. Maybe he's not listening hard enough–
crunch. crunch. He feels sick, like he’s about to wake from a bad dream but also-- he feels nothing. The significance of all things falls away to the distance between the two lovers. They meet in the middle of the grove. The light of the fireflies are gently pulsing now (when did they start? were they always pulsing like that?) both in brightness and color. The yellow glow fades to violet, to white, to blue… but he’s not looking at the fireflies. He’s looking at Isra, and how her face seems to change with each color. Yellow and she is sovereign of Night Court, rebuilding the court alongside her people. Violet and she is on the mountain, streaked with blood and dust, alive with vengeance. White and she is in Solterra, blazing like a star about to collapse on itself.
Blue and he can’t see her face anymore, the short distance between them is no more. His lips greet her cheek, her neck, her shoulder, her belly– her belly–
The two stars he felt, they’re–
They’re twins.
He looks at her, surprise draining all other emotion from his face. “Did you know?” He searches her eyes, wondering if from them he can sift the answer before she can speak it. It does not occur to him to use his magic.
“Did you know there are two?”
the world, a double blossom, opens:
sadness of having come,
joy of being here.
Preggo @Isra :D
(Those poor fireflies xD I used the relic hunt tag in case they branch off from here and explore, but they certainly don't have to! I'll edit it out if no exploring happens)
Time makes fools of us all
