Luvena
Luvena had forgotten how much work it was running a kingdom. Crucis had been hard since it was still recovering from the fire. Denocte was hard in a different way. The people had been without structure for so long. She had only just moved into the Citadel with Israfel a few weeks ago, and was still running the clinic on top of things She intended to speak to Pol soon, and see if she would take over for her. The girl had shown so much promise, she had no doubt that she could run the clinic on her own.
Already she’d been running around all day everyday. Running the clinic all day, and spending her evenings making sure the markets were following safety procedures with the stalls. - only a year ago she’d almost had a beam crash down on her. Ensuring that the medics were following laws on herb usage and what not. Already they had fallen into a rhythm. Israfel dealt with the big things, the soldiers, and the safety, while Luvena dealt with the day to day measures that required a delicate hand. And she’d been running around Novus trying to introduce herself to the other sovereigns, give them the news in person.
Two days prior she’d gotten herself into a mess in the pass going towards delumine, tangled in a trap, her whole side still throbbed where it had slammed into the rocks, and the day before that she’d been to dusk and back to talk to Liam. Despite it she’d decided to travel to Solterra and back today, and she was shaking and exhausted by the time she had returned, just an hour ago, avoiding the conversation with Israfel about where she had been. She had ignored the supper that had been brought up to them.
It was busy, but she didn’t mind. She had missed all the delicate bits of ruling. It was strange though, to do it this time around with someone who she truly adored. She loved every night where she could share a bed with Israfel, the other woman's wing wrapped gently around her. In fact she loved every bit of living with her. They had settled into the rhythm of it quickly. She was happy. For the first time in a long time, truly happy.
Yara and Mithra had settled right in too. They had their own bed across the room, however Yara had a tendency to sneak into their bed next to Luvena in the middle of the night. She didn’t mind. Secretly she suspected that Isra didn’t either.
That night they sat in their room together getting ready for bed. She stood in front of one of the huge mirrors, unravelling the braids in her mane, letting down loose thin waves, before walking over to Israfel’s side and laying her head briefly into her neck. “I’m going to go to bed early. I’m tired” she murmured, “goodnight” before pressing a kiss into the dip of the mare's neck, and laying herself gently into their bed.
The days worth of travel had wiped her out, and she fell asleep before Isra joined her, curled in under the layers of blankets that decorated her side of the bed. Lu slept fitfully, tossing and turning, said blankets a mess around her. It wasn’t long before her mind delved into dreams.
They always started the same way. With smoke billowing into the air. Filling her lungs, her head. The smell was sickenly strong, and the smoke so thick she could hardly see. And then came the flames. She didn’t know why it went this way, as if things were going backwards. The heat always enveloped her all at once. And it didn’t make sense. Really on that day the flames had never touched her. She knew this part well. The flames would start to spin, and curl, and at the center they’d reveal a man of dragonfire and fury. Except it was different tonight. It wasn’t Obyana who stood there.
It was Israfel.
She woke up with a small start, but instantly froze, waiting to see if she’d woken her partner. She struggled to keep her breaths even, and found herself repeating in her head that it had only been a dream. She knew, she knew Israfel was not him. And would never be him, and she quickly shook the thought of the dream out of her head. Israfel had taken her usual spot in the bed, her wing draped gently over Luvena. Cold, she curled herself closer into Israfel’s side -the other mare was always warm, something to do with her magic - and let herself fall back asleep.
When she woke up again she didn’t want to open her eyes. She felt like she’d been hit by a running clydesdale. She pushed herself deeper still into Israfel’s side, shivering. She knew the heat of a fever must be rolling off her in waves but she was freezing, like there was ice in her bones. She forced herself to open her eyes as a knock sounded at the door. Begrudgingly she hauled herself off the bed, nearly staggering over to the large double doors.Yara immediately had risen from her bed and had come to take her place beside lu with a slow wag of her tail. She took a moment before she opened the door
Squaring her feet and shoulders, lifting her neck into an arch, pain splitting her head in the process, before finally pulling the door open. A short mare stood on the other side. “The half- hall is ready for your meeting with the staff” she stated simply, though Luvena did not miss the quick glance over she was given. Right. She had forgotten about that one, but she had promised the citadel staff a meeting, to clarify their responsibilities. Thinking now she remembered the list of things she was supposed to do that day. The meeting with the staff was only the first. She was supposed to have lunch with Caelum at the tea-shop after, and then she had to run the clinic for the afternoon. Then later she was supposed to do a follow up check on the markets. Even the first task seemed impossible right now.
She nodded, looking at the woman with glazed eyes. “I’ll be there in an hour as scheduled” she answered, summoning the clearest voice she could manage. “Thank you Faerna” She shut the door as the ladymaid left, and immediately slumped against it with a soft but audible thunk, dropping her head between her knees, still shivering.
@Israfel
Table © Camy
