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happywitch416 · 2 years

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Chapter 9: Many A Storm

The inn was near empty. The curtains hung across broken windows in tatters, strings unraveling in the flickering fire light. The innkeeper didn’t bother trying to look under the hood, letting his customer keep her secrets as she ordered two meads. She picked the furthest table from the others that still gave a straight shot to the door and settled down to wait. Idly she took a sip, bow digging into her back before she propped it up on the wall beside her, a tiny flower falling off into her hand. With a delicate twist of her fingers, she set it growing on the table, letting the leaves and vines dance around her fingers and ignoring the now curious stares.

The door opened again a short while later and a smile lit her face as he made his way to her, unwrapping the rain-soaked scarf from his shoulders. “You’re late.” She teased.

“I know.” He scooted the chair a little closer to her, letting out a low breath as he leaned back in the chair. “I had to go east towards the farms.”

“Any luck?”

He took her hand with a nod, lacing their fingers together, more tension falling from his shoulders even as he studied the room. “It’s been here, just sheep for now but.”

“But once its bored all hell will break loose.”

“You alright?” Lightning struck outside, the tilt of her chin letting its light across her features a moment.

She let out a tired sigh and shook her head. “I hate it here.” Her next words were cut short as sharp wind blew in the inn’s latest guests, and her heart lurched in her chest.

“It’s been a while.” Asra unwound his scarf, the brightness of it diminished by time and wear. “Muri, Rhena.” His smile was tired and didn’t reach his eyes.

“Been giving us the run around.” Julian waved to the bartender and sat down.

Rhena met Muriel's eyes for a breath. “If we were hard to find, it’s because we didn't want to be found.” Rhena watched silently as she took a drink, Julian’s irritation shifting his hardened demeanor into something like a snarl.

When the silence drug on she finally spoke. “You should leave.”

“You have to know that isn’t happening.” Asra settled his elbows on the table expectantly.

She sighed, looking away and feeling every muscle ache as they tensed. “Then why are you here?”

“Because it’s time to come home.” A hard-edged smile appeared on Julian’s face as Rhena stared him down. She wanted to laugh, or scream, so she took another drink knowing if she did either, she’d do both.

“Rhena, Muriel, no one in Vesuvia blames either of you.” Asra pleaded quietly, reaching out the briefest of moments.

Muriel scoffed, squeezing her hand with a quick glance to her side. “Tell that to the townsfolk that ran us out.” Rhena let her hood fall back and shook out her hair with a pointed look around them. Several other patrons shifted as far as they could, others left, and several grew hard angry lines on their faces. But not a single one moved towards them, the glint in her eyes brighter than the gold that was woven through her hair.

“Nadia’s handled that.”

Rhena’s laugh made several patrons shift uneasily. “Are you so sure? You want to know what happened the last time I had to go into the outskirts?” With a wave of her finger’s vines grew from the cracks in the table, taking on eerily human forms. One facing down a dozen before the dozen flattened like crops in a stiff wind. “Here they have enough sense to be afraid.”

Asra swallowed, voice growing soft. “We just want you to come back.”

Muriel snorted and took a long drink. “Really? No great new evils arrived?” He shared a glance with Rhena. “Nadia doesn't need us for something?”

“Another trip to hell and back is short enough.” Rhena bit out.

“You’re our friends.” His eyes grew wide and pleading. “Vesuvia’s your home”

“Rhena’s my home.” They stared each other down.

“Look, if you won’t spit it out, I will.” Julian’s mug hit the table hard, fingers steepling together a moment. “We need you. We’re trying to fix this mess. Put things back the way they used to be.”

Rhena made a derisive sound bordering on a laugh as Muriel glared at the both of them. “What’s there to fix? The world is broken beyond repair.”

“Says who? So, things are a little worse for wear-.” Asra tried to sound so desperately hopeful.

“Monsters burst forth from nothing every damn day, Asra! Entire villages gone overnight.” Muriel shook his head and took another drink as Rhena slid hers towards him, no longer thirsty.

“We know, Muriel, we know.” Asra swallowed hard. “That’s why I can’t just sit and watch it happen. I have to believe there’s still something to fix. As long as were alive, we can still fight.”

Rhena cut him off. “Dreaming about the past doesn't do shit.” Asra blinked at her. “Some things are better forgotten.” She waved her hand. “Adapt or literally die these days, staring at the past won’t keep teeth from your neck.”

“Is that what the Wood says?” Julian scoffed freezing as soon as it left his mouth.

“Would you like to find out?” She hissed, hair raising on their arms as the lumber creaked around them.

“Rhena.” Muriel reached out, hand gentle on hers that was clawed, nails lodged in the table before he spoke to Asra pointedly. “You think I could do anything but make it worse?

“If you’d at least try-.”

Muriel settled sullenly back in his seat with a scoff. “If you haven’t noticed, Asra, the whole world went to hell the last time I tried. Vesuvia doesn't need me.”

Asra tried to hide the hurt in his eyes “You both feel this way?”

“Muriel is the nice one.” Her smile was empty. “Where he goes, I go, and I would not be here if he was not.”

“You don’t have to.” Muriel started, even as tension fell from him.

“Too bad.”

Julian scoffed. “I told you this was a waste of time, Asra.”

“Yes, it was.” Muriel did not sound pleased to be agreeing with Julian.

A villager slammed through the door, shrieking about the fey wyvern. Rhena and Muriel were on their feet before they finished, axe and bow in hand.

“Let us help y-.”

“No.” they cut Asra off with matching hostile glares. Rhena tossed a gold piece at the bar as they made their way out.

Darkness shadowed the world around them, the lightning blinding in the cracked sky. The beast was hiding in the clouds, its outline just visible with each flash of the light, misshapen and massive. “It’s as ugly as it is useless.”

Muriel snorted. “Ready?”

She went up on her tiptoes, kissed him and grinned. “Now I am.”

They needed open space, so Rhena took off, pausing to fire a light filled arrow skyward, barely missing the great beast as it swooped. Muriel dropped into the shadows. The field she led it to was barren like so many others. It flung itself at her, maw open, gouging chunks out of the ground, hissing when it missed her. She fired again, the vines entangling it giving off a pulsing glow. Muriel rushed forward, taking a swing but it freed itself, and blocked the axe. Not that Muriel seemed to notice, even as stinging nettle erupted from an arrow at the beast's shoulder, making it hiss and shake.

“COME ON!” Rhena’s heart froze as he dropped his guard with a yell, but she let free another arrow catching it in the eye before it could sink its teeth in. He swung the axe home, severing its head from its neck.

Rhena slipped past the still twitching limbs, watching it swing down again as he let out an inhuman roar, each hit as bone crunching as the last. She pressed her hand to his lower back, and the axe sank to the ground, its last swing dying before it started. Muriel stared at her wide eyed as she moved between him and the carcass. “I’m here.”

“I.” He started only to be interrupted.

“Muriel?” Asra’s voice shook, him and Julian wearing matching shocked expressions.

“I’m sorry.” He pulled away from Rhena and ran. She watched after him, noting the blurs of black and white finding him before all three disappeared.

She turned back to Asra and Julian who were staring at her now even as she started her spell to drag it beneath the earth, a field of glowing mushrooms taking its place. She opened her mouth to speak, the words dying on her lips as she shook her head and sprinted into the forest after him.

Rhena found him standing in one the glades, Warg and Inanna watching over him as the rain lightened. The line of his shoulder, changed, grew hard when she purposefully stepped on a branch to announce her presence. Her hand was up, almost against his shoulder when he spoke. “You should go back. With them.”

“Without you?”

“Yes.”

She stepped in front of him, eyes narrowed. “No.” He went to argue, and she reached up with a finger to his lips. “Do not.”

“You know its dangerous out here! A-and it’s not that you can’t handle yourself I just...” He shrugged, looking around wildly a moment.” You deserve better. Then this life.” His voice dropped, eyes on the ground. “Then me.”

She was quiet for a long moment, before reaching out to rearrange his cloak. “Do you want me to leave?”

“It doesn't matter.”

“It does to me.”

“I broke the world, Rhena all of this, it’s my fault. I don’t deserve you.” His lip trembled.

She sighed, the weight of it all falling like stones. “You are forgetting one very important thing.” He gave her a perplexed look. “You didn't kill him, I did.” She shook her head and grinned then. “And considering I would kill his ass again.” He huffed as she sobered. “The stars fell, but I promised you for ever after.”

He closed his eyes and buried his face against her neck as he pulled her close. “We should head back to the inn.”

“They can keep the damned gold. I want to go home.” A huff of laughter left him, the rain pouring down even heavier as he kissed her.

After walking in silence for a time, wet blurs of wolves dancing about them from time to time, Muriel spoke. “Did you mean what you said?”

“Hm?”

“That you were only there because of me.”

“It’s true.” She shrugged. “I wouldn’t have bothered going into town and just waited for it to eat some more sheep. And.” She continued tossing her hood back with a shake, the leaves blocking most of the rain. “I’m not sure I would bother helping people at all anymore. We’re as likely to be thanked as cursed, they are loud and obnoxious.” She trailed off with a huff, gently patting a tree they passed. “I really wouldn’t leave them without you.” She shuddered her voice dropping to whisper. “Some days I think I am more Wood than human. And it doesn't bother me, not like it should.”

His arm went around her shoulders. “You've always been weird.” She laughed then, hard enough she came to a stop.

Wiping away tears, she grinned up at him. “I see how it is. You just love me because I’m weird.”

He shook his head, fingers gentle on her cheek and eyes warm. “Because you are you.”

Lost in the Wood

Rhena’s Master List

The Witch Writes

#the witch writes #the arcana muriel #muriel x apprentice #apprentice rhena #ao3 link in the replies <3 #the arcana #otp: heart of the wood

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happywitch416 · 1 year

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I was tagged by @commander-krios to take this quiz for my OCs. Thank you for the tag and sorry it took me forever 😅

Elena Songschild

Scheherazade- "Tell me about the dream where we pull the bodies out of the lake / and dress them in warm clothes again." poem about the terrible and beautiful intensity of love. makes me feel like i'm sharing a space with a significant other and we have many new and beautiful moments together. and it doesn't fix everything but it makes it easier.

(Belle Faust and Rose Hawke also got Scheherazade)

Rhena of the Ailurus

Saying Your Names- "I came to tell you, we'll swim in the water / we'll swim like something sparkling underneath the waves." this is the poem i send excerpts of to the people i love. when i read this poem it makes me cry because it reminds me of the beautiful things in the world and also the beautiful things of love.

Silver- nothing posted for her yet but soon

Boot Theory-"Here we are in the bowels of the thing: your world doesn't make sense." poem about depression and the complexities of relationships. makes me feel the isolation of dreary grey sadness. the kind of feeling you wallow in when you spend all day in bed with the curtains closed.

#true story i have never read richard siken but noe i must #elena songschild #rose hawke #belle faust #apprentice rhena #nuka silver #the witch speaks

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happywitch416 · 1 year

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The full art for Lost in the Wood.

And no, the date is not a mix up. Both the art and the fic were finished last year. It is what it is.

#the witch sketches #apprentice rhena #ah. i did in fact never post this. two years later...lol #otp: heart of the wood

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happywitch416 · 2 years

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Chapter 8: The Hunt Begins

"That damned fey wyvern." Rhena shoved her hood back so hard rain splattered the wall. "Slaughtered an entire herd! Didn't even eat them!"

"Anything worth saving?" He was soaked to the bone too, they checked the forest twice a week normally but when a bear showed up a few weeks prior, blood covered and frightened they had started going out every day again. Anything capable of terrorizing one of forest bears, which lived in places deeper and darker than Muriel and Rhena dared to venture often, was a problem they couldn’t ignore. And when their hunt turned up nothing, they split up. He had seen it a few days prior to the south, a big one all bow legged and mean.

Rhena shook her head. "Most of it spoiled, last night at the soonest." She flopped into a chair, head falling over the back edge, her hair dripping on the floor. "Got some decent antlers, the ground took them, and the trees responded well. I'll check them in a few weeks and make sure they don't grow too fast."

Warg padded in, shaking himself from nose to tail and soaking whatever had still managed to be dry. Rhena wiped water from her face. "Find anything?"

Fawn. He stepped aside and there stood a shivering golden fawn, its spots blazing white. Trembling it took a step forward. Her herd.

Muriel settled cross legged on the floor and waited. Warg gave the fawn a gentle nudge and hesitantly it made its way to him. Rhena watched, the warmth in her chest expanding as she propped her head up on her hand, half twisted to the back of the chair. Muriel gently checked over the fawn with quiet murmurs before glancing her way. He shook his head at the look on her face before asking for a blanket and on silent feet she grabbed one from the chests. The soft red fabric was more than enough to dry the fawn off, and it happily curled up by the fire on the well warmed rugs with Warg curled protectively by it.

Fawn said it laughed, roared about a town that was just as easy. Muriel and Rhena exchanged uneasy glances. Inanna tracks it.

"Won't know more until she's back." Rhena nodded in agreement. "We can't let it continue." Muriel’s gaze was steady watching Rhena as she sighed, before leaning against the wall, elbows on the window sill where she looked out.

"I know."

"Maybe no one will recognize us."

She cast him a wry smile over her shoulder. "You think they've forgotten us?"

His eyes roved the solid breadth of her shoulders, the stark red tattoos that etched across her skin, the scar along her cheek. "Maybe you."

She turned then, arms crossing, the light catching on her jewelry almost as bright as the gleam in her eyes. "And when tall, dark and handsome gets grumpy you think they still won’t?" He rolled his eyes, only making her grin. "We can manage, I think. Maybe they have enough sense to keep their children inside."

"That one was smaller." He reminded her, chin resting in his hands, gaze peeking out from behind his bangs.

She shrugged, head tilting as she considered. "I could, probably, order the forest to eat it."

"Until it decides to eat everything."

"Yes, well." She twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "You can only destroy the world once, it'll stop eventually." At the look he shot her, the barest of smiles appeared. "Maybe it won't be near Vesuvia. A little trip to the Persephia might be nice."

"Maybe."

“It’s fast.” Muriel panted, hands on his knees as they watched the fey wyvern flap off into the early morning light. They had attacked at dawn, the sun at their backs.

“I think it was waiting for us.” Rhena rubbed her shoulder where the beast had slammed into her.

He made a noncommittal noise before coming over to her. “How’s your arm?”

“Eh.” She grimaced with a curse when she tried to shrug. “Going to be sore a while.” She looked around them, eyes narrowing. “More importantly, where the hell is my bow?”

Warg trotted out of the trees as if on cue with the bow in his mouth. His white fur was streaked with mud and blood. Inanna whined as she limped behind him. “Nana.” Muriel was beside the dark wolf in an instant, checking her over.

Rhena pressed her forehead to Warg’s head. “Thank you. What happened?”

Tossed.

“Tail got you both then.”

Inanna has pain.

“We will get her fixed up in no time.” She stared into his eyes, narrowing her gaze a moment. “Are you hurt?”

No.

“Hmm. So, if I check that place bleeding on your back, it won’t be yours?” Warg turned his head away from her. “Let me see it.” With a low whine he slumped and let her look. She parted the matting fur, the cut was shallow if a little jagged. “Hold still. I won’t need to stitch this.” She closed her eyes, calling warmth to her hands before pressing them against the wound. When she pulled them away, all that remained was a ropey pink scar. Her eyes swam a moment, but Warg wiggled away to scratch his ears vigorously.

Itchy magic.

“Better itchy for a minute then stitches again.” She reminded him with an arched look. “Nana?”

“Nothing’s broken.” He said gruffly, picking up the wolf.

“Hey, girl.” Rhena gently scratched under her chin. “We’ll get you home.” She licked Rhena’s face, prompting a smile for the barest of moments on the humans’ faces.

Inanna settled by the fire with the fawn, her limp already better, and Warg curled protectively around her. Thunder rolled and rumbled outside, bright flashes of lightning illuminating the windows. “Alright.” Rhena wiped her hands across her skirt, the filmy fabric of her scarf turned shirt clinging to every curve. “Now for you.”

“I’m fine.” Muriel scowled.

“Mhm.” She grabbed a clean rag and got another bowl for clean water. “I’m sure you are but I am still checking.” He glared at the floor when she stood in front of him, a smile curling her mouth. “You aren’t near as intimidating as you were.” She patted his arm and set to work examining the gouges its claws had raked across his chest. “And I had it.” He shook his head, hissing as she finished cleaning the wound. “You know I’m right, you can’t keep dropping your guard every time I look vaguely in trouble.” When he didn’t say anything, she sighed and gently took his face in his hands. “I mean it, Muriel. No more scars because of me.”

"I’ll take a thousand scars before I let something harm you." She sighed again, pressing her forehead to his and then a kiss to his lips. “I love you.” He half sighed, arms tightening around her.

"I love you too." She laughed a little then. "You’ll need to carry me around like a sack of potatoes all the time. Otherwise, I will continue to throw myself at the nearest thing and keep making that face when you block my shots." He snorted even as his eyes followed the long pale scar on her cheek.

"At least you haven’t fought anymore gorgons with your bare hands." Her braid fell over her shoulder as she ran her fingers across his skin, the warmth of her magic sealing the cuts.

She grinned at him. " Yes, well, more importantly, I won."

He laughed. "You did." He rested his forehead against hers, fingers sliding along her wet skin, making her shiver. "You're soaked."

A low laugh left her before catching his lips in a heated kiss. "You are distracted."

"...maybe." She pulled away to give him an arched look. His hands tightened at her waist, letting his eyes trail down her for a breath. “Can you blame me?”

“Hmm.” She giggled at the look he fixed her with, and she kissed his nose. “Maybe a little, my heart, but I don’t mind.”

Lost in the Wood

Rhena’s Master List

The Witch Writes

#the witch writes #the arcana muriel #the arcana #muriel x apprentice #apprentice rhena #otp: heart of the wood

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happywitch416 · 2 years

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Chapter 7: The Brave and the Undead

Rhena was wandering the woods, checking the streams over and clearing them if needed, and sinking some rotting corpses into the ground. The natural wildlife of the wood she left untouched when they died. The realm beasts, nothing would touch them, and they befouled whole glades. Some scorched the earth they bled on and if she found them quick enough and buried them, forcing them to rot, the damage was minimized. There wasn’t many, winter turning its gaze on Vesuvia had sent many into hibernation. She stretched, a sheen of black catching her eye. She leaned back, trying to see what it was but it disappeared too fast. She pulled an arrow from her quiver, bow in hand and crept silently after it. It was headed towards one of the larger streams and at the undergrowth’s edge, Rhena dropped to a crouch and inched forward with her bow half drawn. And nearly dropped it.

Lifting water to its lips was a black-haired woman, her skin as pale as sun bleached bone twisting into gold sheened black scales along a thick tail. Rhena swallowed as the gorgon turned, scanning the tree line where she hid with a cock of its head. It snapped around at a broken twig from the other side of the stream, tail lashing as Warg trotted out of the undergrowth. Its hiss slithered down Rhena’s spine, every part of her brain screaming to run. When the gorgon slithered into the water, Rhena pulled back her bow and fired a warning burst of light, darting from the tree line. “Hey!”

It whipped around and hissed at Rhena, its forked tongue lashing between its long fangs. “We can be neighbors.” Rhena took a half step back when it rolled it shoulders. “But you can't eat the wolves.”

Rhena hadn't noticed the pouch draped across its chest until a rock was flying at her head. She hit the dirt, scrambling when the gorgon launched itself at her. “Warg, run!” She fired another arrow, the snake woman catching it bare handed and snapping it in half. Rhena froze wide eyed for a moment too long and only narrowly dodged when it struck out at her with its tail. But it was long enough for the gorgon to get close, grab her braid, and yank her backwards as its arm locked around her throat.

“You’ll be sssweet.” It hissed, tail beginning to wrap around Rhena and constricting. Its forked tongue drug up her face. “Very sssweet.”

Rhena’s lungs were beginning to burn, trying to wedge her fingers under the arm about her neck. When her vision started swimming, she twisted her head and punched backwards. It dropped her hissing and clutching its eye as Rhena gasped and struggled to her feet. The gorgon was between Rhena and her bow and it smiled, head tilting as it began to undulate, scales growing further up its torso, and down over its brows. “Nowhere to run, sssweet.”

Rhena glanced towards the stream, and when it laughed, she launched herself forward with a yell, arrow in hand as she swung forward. It glanced off a scale but cut along the still exposed flesh. The gorgon shrieked, scrambling to get ahold of her, clawing at her face even as Rhena brought her arm up, its sharp claws screeching across the metal and spells of her vambrace and hooking momentarily on a bangle, yanking her arm down. It had a hold of one bicep, pulling her closer to its fangs and Rhena used the momentum to slam her forehead into its nose. It jerked back, tumbling backward under their combined weight, and Rhena slammed the arrow home as they hit the ground.

She was still sitting on it and panting when Muriel appeared from the other side of the stream, Warg’s howl trailing off. Muriel pulled her to her feet. “What is that?”

“Gorgon.” She leaned over, trying to catch her breath. “Nana told tales of them.” When she straightened, he noticed the blood on her face, gently tilting her chin. “That was way too close.”

“Why didn't you open up a pit?”

“Um.” She coughed; her grin tinged with embarrassment. “I was busy.”

He shook his head, trying to hide a smile of his own. “Let’s go home.”

When she finished telling him what happened, he was quiet for a long moment. "I shouldn’t be surprised, you've always been brave." She gave him a drawl look and he shook his head, turning back to finishing the wards on the hut. "You are."

"Not as brave as you." Her arms circled his waist, burying her face against his back.

"You've gotten quieter." He grumbled. "Even with all that gold."

He felt her chuckle. "Someone told me he'd feel better if I wore them." She brushed a kiss to his back. "Enough of your wards that I might as well be wearing armor." She shook her wrist, the bangles there clinking gently against the leather and metal bracers. "I bet I can stop anything now."

"Let’s not test that." She rolled her eyes, he was still fretting about the blade she caught with her bracer. Unharmed, and the look on the mercenary's face still made her laugh. "I mean it."

"Fiiine." She mock pouted, drawing a snort from him as he kissed the top of her head. "You should let me make you a set."

"Hands are too big."

Her lip caught in her teeth a moment before she purred. "No, definitely the perfect size."

A huff left him at that, fingers catching her chin to kiss her hard. "You're right."

"I always am." She half sighed against him, a laugh leaving her when he picked her up and wrapped her legs around his waist.

Moments later Warg barreled in, franticly greeting Rhena who dropped to the floor to hug him. Inanna managed to appear with more dignity before hopping up to lick Muriel's face. Rhena laughed, fingers ruffling through Warg’s thick fur. "I wondered when you'd join us."

We smelled nothing. Warg informed them

Death. Inanna reminded him

Old death.

The humans’ brows furrowed. Inanna shook the last few leaves from her fur. Old death.

Rhena nodded. "Old death isn't so bad." A pained expression stole across her face. "Unless there is a necromancer." Muriel went to say something but stopped causing Rhena to give him a bemused smile. "We can't even say that isn't real anymore, I did just fight a creature from my childhood nightmares." She grew pensive. "What's the difference between necromancy and bringing someone back from the dead?"

"No." She grinned and he let out a huff. "Undead wouldn't have a soul."

"Or be anywhere near as adorable."

Lost in the Wood

Rhena’s Master List

The Witch Writes

#the witch writes #the arcana muriel #muriel x apprentice #the arcana #apprentice rhena #otp: heart of the wood

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happywitch416 · 2 years

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Chapter 6: Throwing Stones

They stared out from the little stand of trees, watching the chaos unfold before them. They only needed a few things. A simple in and out trip, the Woods would barely notice them being gone.

"You know." Rhena informed him. "I watched a play like this once."

"I did too."

She flashed him a grin, sobering when another scream rent the air. "We should probably do something."

The village's guards opened fire on the great winged beast that plummeted towards them, villagers scattering like leaves. The beast was too small it seemed to breath much fire, saving its energy for clawing and snapping. Her shoulders fell at the same moment Muriel groaned out. "Damn it."

She grimaced watching the child stand in the middle of lane hurling stones at the dragon. "Where are their parents?" Muriel gave her an arched look that made her huff before she hopped the fence and then shook her bow at him. "You better be ready for this; I am bad at it."

"What are you doing?" He cleared the fence after her, one eye on the dragon working through the guards.

She grinned at him. "Embracing my inner damsel." She took off before he could argue that was not a plan.

Muriel crept closer, waiting as Rhena hit the center of the road, pulled back the bow and fired. The arrow exploded into a twisting vine wrapping around her target's giant clawed foot. Its head snapped around to find her and with a wild laugh Rhena fired again. "Pick on someone your own size!"

The dragon tossed the guard in its talons and launched itself at her, not noticing the arrows bouncing off its scales. Muriel broke cover as it opened its giant maw to let out fire, barely catching the yelled curses from Rhena’s direction and trusted her to throw up a wall. The dragon smashed through it with ease, but she was already off the road, ducked behind a particularly large bush that had seen better days. It landed, head swiveling as it searched for her, village forgotten.

Until the kid yelled again, hurling another stone, the dragon’s head snapping back towards them with a hiss. "Rhena!"

"Got it!"

The dragon found her with a roar as soon as she yelled. Rhena ripped her hand skyward, a thorny vine erupting from the ground to pin its wing. She barely dodged the blaze of fire, and it didn't sense Muriel until it was too late.

Rhena grabbed the kid, kicking in the door of the closest low stone shed and shoving them in as she settled before the door, bow tossed aside as she pulled more vines from the ground; ensnaring the beast as quickly as it escaped, giving Muriel the openings he needed.

They were both soaked in sweat when it laid dead at his feet, and he wearily made his way to her.

"My baby!" A woman cried, stumbling as she ran to them. She knelt before the child checking them over and pressed kisses to their forehead and cheeks. "What were you doing?"

"Helping Papa." They answered stubbornly.

The woman sighed. "We are talking about this when we get home." She straightened staring at the awkwardly fidgeting couple who looked ready to bolt. "I can never thank you enough."

Muriel rubbed the back of his head as Rhena gave a halfhearted shrug. "We just happened to be passing by."

"Thank the realms you were." Several guards groaned to their feet with colorful curses. "Where are you from?"

Rhena and Muriel shared a glance before he answered. "The forest."

Her eyes widened. "Really? Its haunted!" A bemused smile then lit the strange woman’s face as the villager shook her head. "What's a few ghosts to a dragon?" She studied them intently before deciding. "Come on, we pay for good deeds here. And you look like you could use it."

"We don't." Rhena nudged him with a meaningful tilt of her head, and he sighed.

They followed her, her hand tight around the child's and she continued to tell them of the events. "That beast has been tearing up our fields and stealing our livestock for weeks. We've been collecting coin, hopping to hire someone." She shot them a grin over her shoulder. "It's not much but we do have some early corn and just butchered some pigs with some to spare." She paused at the door to the largest building and eyed them critically. "We might have some clothes that fit you."

Rhena’s bemusement broadened into a grin. "Are you saying we look like we crawled out of the woods?"

"I think they just wanted to get rid of stuff." Muriel pulled aside the vines that draped across the entrance of the hot spring cave.

"Yeah, but that bread tasted like happiness." She scrunched her nose. "Besides if you think I’m going to say no to free metal, you have too many leaves in that handsome head of yours."

He rolled his eyes before kissing her forehead, his clothes dropping to the warm floor as quickly as hers. "Any plans for it?"

She made a face. "More arrows." She waved her hand with a sigh before tying her hair up on top of her head. "We could use a new knife too."

"Nails." They needed to repair part of the roof after the last storm. And they needed to make a dry place to store wood. And so, the list continued in his mind of all the things they needed to do and make, especially before winter set in.

"My heart." Rhena groaned as she slipped into the water, every bruise and ache getting worse for a moment. "Let's not make that a habit."

"We don't go to town that often."

“I’m really not going to go often now.” Their laughter rang through the cave, dancing through the light and steam.

Lost in the Wood

Rhena’s Master List

The Witch Writes

#the witch writes #the arcana muriel #muriel x apprentice #apprentice rhena #the arcana #completed fic #ao3 link in the replies <3 #otp: heart of the wood

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happywitch416 · 2 years

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Chapter 5: Plenty to Share

Rhena stared at the small leathery winged creatures. She had almost tripped over them wandering through the woods, but they hadn't noticed her. The slightly larger of the five straightened, a long bony finger pointing at another.

"You! You said there was water!"

"That this would be home!" Cried a smaller one, the color of ivory coated in oil.

The one being shamed for their crimes launched themselves at the bigger one, hissing and claws flailing. Rhena stepped out of the trees, grabbing each one by the back of their necks and wrenched them apart.

They froze for a moment and then started screaming. "AHHH!"

"NO! BAD LONG LEGS!" The one swatted at her.

Rhena blinked a few times listening to their pleads and insults while the remaining three ran about the small clearing like their nonexistent hair was on fire. "If I put you down, will you talk to me?"

Five pairs of large black eyes fixed on her, shocked into stillness. The bigger one nodded. "We will speak to Long Legs."

She set them down, as far apart as her arms could reach when they hissed at each other. She sat cross legged on the forest floor and waited patiently for them to compose themselves. The tallest one nodded regally to the others and spoke. "What would Long Legs like to say?"

"Who are you?"

They blinked at her, conferring quietly in their language of chirps and hisses. "We are imps."

She nodded. "And your names?"

The smallest one came forward with a bow, their large ears flapping. "Thorn."

The ivory one bowed next. "Willow."

The two darkest ones came forward together. "Ash and Rowan!"

"And I." Announced the largest one. "Am Gump." They raised their long bony finger to point at her, the sharp black talon on the end catching the light. "Who is Long Legs?"

"Rhena." She shrugged. "As for what I am, I have been a jeweler and a magician."

"Shiny?" Thorn came forward hopefully.

Rhena broke into a grin and pulled 5 thin bands from her wrist. They glinted softly in the light as she held them out. "A gift."

The imps took them, inspecting their new prizes before slipping them on to their belts. "Why is a long legs being nice?"

She chafed her arms a moment, gaze falling to the dull grass, before giving them a soft but nervous smile. "This forest is my home; neighbors would be nice."

"Can't stay long." Willow lamented. "Food but no water."

"We have water." Rhena offered. "Plenty to share."

"Where?!" Gump grabbed her shoulders with a shake.

"The hut near the heart of the wood, it has green shutters." She pursed her lips at that, because there were so many other huts in their forest for it to be confused with.

Their eyes narrowed. "A trick."

She shook her head as she shrugged. "It’s just a stream, you'll find more of it further." She looked around before pointing. "That way."

"We shall look-." The screaming began again as Warg appeared, mouth wide in a wolfy grin. "DEATH!" They flapped their spindly wings, hissing from the branches above them.

Rhena hid her chuckle in Warg’s fur. "This is Warg. He won't hurt you." She added in her mind. Or play bite. Warg’s tail wagged shamelessly. "Our pack has two others, Muriel and Inanna. They won't hurt you either."

Gump nodded slowly, eyeing Warg with obvious distrust as he glided to the ground. He stood before Rhena, his pointy chin tilting up. “We would like to see the stream.” He nodded again. “Maybe then we stay.”

Rhena had to give Muriel credit, when she stepped into their clearing with Warg and five flapping imps around them, he only froze for a moment with wide eyes. Introductions were quick, complete with another chorus of death’s arrival when Inanna made herself known with a howl. The imps settled on the far side of the stream, eyeing them reproachfully between dipping their tiny bowls into water and whispering loudly.

Rhena looked up at him with a bemused smile. “They were looking for water.”

His brows furrowed as he waved vaguely at the stream. “There’s several?”

“And they couldn't find them.” She coughed a little to hide her laugh when five pairs of black eyes snapped towards them. “There's no such thing as too many friends in the Wood.”

“I can think of a time it was.”

“Were they really friends?” She sighed. “Not anymore at least.”

He reached out gently to tuck hair behind her ear. “Any luck?”

Her eyes fell, shoulders sagging. “No. I managed to reach the Clouded Mountains at least. I think it was the river. Maybe?” Her brows furrowed, gnawing the edge of her lip. “Maybe no one was there. Or they moved.” She shook her head. “The trees looked normal; the sky only had thin cracks. Maybe it hasn’t reached that far yet.”

“That’s good.” His fingers found her chin, tilted it with a gentle pressure. “It’ll be okay.” She nodded then and let him pull her against his chest.

Gump cleared his throat with something close to a shriek. “We shall build our nest in that tree.” He pointed into the forest across the stream. “Deaths are banished from our hollow. Long Legs are fine.” With that he flapped across the clearing and the imps faded into the leaves.

“Deaths?”

“Inanna and Warg.” Inanna was contentedly lounged by the door; Warg, however, was creeping along the forest edge towards where the imps had disappeared. “Who will not go bother them if he wants his dinner cooked tonight.” She called out.

Warg trotted back over to them, tail tucked between his legs and looking forlorn. She knelt to ruffle his fur. “I don’t think you are sorry for a single moment.” Warg licked her face with a wolfy grin.

Lost in the Wood

Rhena’s Master List

The Witch Writes

#the witch writes #the arcana muriel #muriel x apprentice #the arcana #apprentice rhena #otp: heart of the wood

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happywitch416 · 2 years

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Chapter 3: A Golden Apple

They scanned the crowd before them, pulling their hoods forward. "We should split up, the faster the better." She suggested, she still felt the pitchfork with every ragged breath. They could have waited a few more days, made do with what they had. It wasn’t Vesuvia at least, just a little village she couldn't recall the name of that settled outside the walls.

His hand tightened around hers. "I don't like it."

"I don't like them." She huffed. "I want gone as soon as we get what we need." The wolves watched anxiously from the tree line, invisible to all but the two of them. It was the most risk she was willing to take with Warg, and they would have been known on sight.

He grunted, pulling her close. "Stay safe." He reminded her, tilting her chin up to meet her eyes. "I mean it."

"I'll try." She grinned at his unamused look. "My heart, I'll be fine."

He sighed, leaning down to kiss her gently. "You better be."

The man grabbed her wrist with a vicious yank. "Who the hell are you?"

"Just passing through." She said quietly, averting her eyes and keeping her face bent low.

"Our market ain’t open to travelers." He snarled.

She yanked her hand back. "Build a wall then." She turned away from him, bent on ignoring him until he grabbed the back of her cloak and pulled. Her hood fell and a gasp sounded before the market fell silent. "Damn it." She muttered.

"The Magician." Someone hissed, some folks backed away, near tripping over their feet while others surged forward.

She turned to the man who just made her life more difficult. "You should have left me alone." The man's eyes widened as a hulking figure appeared silently behind her.

"The Scourge." He stammered.

Rhena smiled sweetly; the wind caught in her hair whipping it about. "We're going to buy what we need and leave. And you are all going to be very good." Her hard gaze left him to scan the crowd, fists tightening at her sides as some flinched. "All of you. You lay a hand on us, and I’ll level your little market like an ant hill."

Several nodded, others scrambled away as quickly as they could run. But they bought their goods in peace. One vendor tried to just give them their supplies. A smile quirked up the side of Rhena’s mouth as she tossed a coin at him, widening some when he caught it. "We aren't monsters."

The vendor blinked at the sadness he saw in her smile, the gentle way the man's hand clasped her shoulder. He half followed them and watched the Scourge bend down to hand an apple to a child that approached them with hope in their eyes. The Magician ruffled the child's hair, a golden glow forming around the child that ceased their shivers. The little one stared after them in awe and the vendor wondered at the blame they shouldered on their once heroes.

Lost in the Wood

Rhena’s Master List

The Witch Writes

#the arcana muriel #muriel x apprentice #apprentice rhena #the arcana #the witch writes #ao3 link in the replies <3 #otp: heart of the wood

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happywitch416 · 3 years

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Chapter 66- Lemon

Their tent was blessedly quiet, it was the most peaceful the forest had been in months. Rhena was half bouncing with energy still as she kicked off her boots. "When this is all done I am not wearing shoes or pants ever again." She grinned at his snort, she was at least wearing a shirt that wasn’t covered in blood, gratefully taking it without question when Julian had offered it. She hadn’t been the only one changing out of blood-stained clothes, several older women adding them to baskets to soak them downstream between wrapping battle-shocked folk in hugs. She wiggled out of the leggings, adding them to the haphazard pile in the corner, before collapsing onto the ground. “It's over.”

“It's over.” Muriel echoed. He flushed almost immediately and after a moment’s confusion, she realized it too. This was the first moment of them being alone since the night before, no shouting or frantic, last minute work. She reached out to gently tangle her fingers with his and he squeezed back, turning a little redder with each passing moment.

Rhena grinned, pushing her hair back. “Still love me after all that?”

He blinked and let out a startled laugh. “Yes.” He turned to her, growing serious again and taking both her hands. “Always, Rhena. Always and forever.” He leaned forward and brushed a light kiss against her lips. “I've learned to stop doubting you.” He said quietly, resting his forehead against hers for a breath. “It always just makes me look foolish when you win.”

“About time since I am always right.” She stuck her tongue out a moment.

“Yes, you are.”

She flushed and spluttered at that, pulling away with a shake of her head. “I was kidding, you’re not supposed to agree with me.”

“Well, I do.” He grinned as he flopped backward onto the bedroll and let out a relieved sigh.

“Going to bed fully dressed?” Rhena poked him with a huff. “How's that comfortable after today?” He flushed adorably red again, growing more flustered when he met her eyes. Her eyes darkened as she smiled, voice dropping low. “I can help with that.” She traced her fingers slowly up his chest, watching him carefully before she gently undid the clasp on his cloak.

“I know how to undress myself.” He stammered, swallowing hard as he stared up at her.

“Are you sure?” She teased gently. “Because it did not look like you were going to.” He sat up slowly, but not telling her to stop, and almost leaned into her touch. If he hadn't been watching her the way he was, eyes growing dark and making her feel a warmth that started in the middle of her body and was turning her into a puddle of want, she would have stopped. Rhena gently set the cloak aside, his gaze following before it flicked back to her.

“Are you done yet?”

She laughed a little at his attempt of an indignant scowl before tapping a boot. “Do you sleep in these?”

“I used to.” She sat back on her heels, brows arching a moment. He scratched his head sheepishly but a smile appeared. “I didn't see the point.” He gave an adamant shake of his head. “But I do now. I don't want to kick you.” She looked away a moment, and when she looked back he was leaning forward gazing at her intently.

Rhena kissed him first, moving to straddle his lap. He let out a muffled noise of surprise even as he melted into the kiss. She tangled her hand in his hair a moment, before tracing her nails down his spine as his hands settled on her waist and pulled her closer.

"Rhena, I." His voice deep, but she pulled away with a grin, several buttons of his shirt undone. He blinked a moment before settling into a pout. "That's not playing fair."

“Unconventional tactics are my specialty. And." She added kissing his nose. "Neither is trying to distract me." Her fingers were gentle along the edge of his shirt as she grew serious. “Someone taking care of you makes you uncomfortable.”

“I. Yes.”

“Why?” She gently worked another button open with one hand, feeling a little rush that he still hadn't looked away from her.

“I'm just not. Used to it.” His voice fell almost to a near reverent whisper. “I should be taking care of you.”

She brushed a light kiss against his lips before pulling away, but still close enough he could feel her breath with every word, her eyes never leaving his. “You can undress me if you want, Muriel. You don’t have to let me have all the fun.”

He turned several shades of red. “That's not what I meant.”

“I know.” He let out an exasperated huff but let her finish with the buttons before letting it slide from his shoulders and she set it aside with his cloak. Her fingers trail across his shoulders then down his chest slowly, achingly slow keeping her eyes on his face. She paused at the base of his ribs with a bright grin. “We could always ask Nadia for pajamas.”

He blinked a moment before letting out a laugh. “I don't mind.”

Her eyes sparkled. “Don't mind what?”

“Anything, if it's with you.” He told her seriously, eyes searching her face but every time they sank lower his flush grew brighter.

Her fingers were gentle, thumb brushing his cheek as she smoothed his hair back. "Tell me if you want to stop." He nodded, fingers gently tracing along her bare thighs making her shiver as her lips met his again. When they smoothed up over her hips he made a soft surprised noise before pulling away with arched brows. She just grinned mischievously. "Have I mentioned I hate wearing pants? I mean all of them." He snorted at that.

"I don't." He swallowed hard, sobering fast. "I don't want to do this wrong."

"No such thing." She said softly, kissing him again before trailing them along his jaw, then down his neck and taking her time. "Promise." He nodded, breath catching when she sucked gently, feeling his pulse flutter under her lips. "Unless you don't like something." She kissed the space between his collarbones before trailing more open-mouthed kisses up the other side of his neck. Her breath warmed along his ear when she spoke again. "But that's an easy fix." She pulled away, feeling pleased with the hazy look in his eyes, lips parted. She caught it between hers, giving it a gentle tug. "What do you want, Muriel?"

He kissed her back, hand tangling in her hair leaving her breathless when he kissed his way down her neck. His teeth grazed gently against her pulse and she shuddered in his arms, his name a half purr that fell from her lips. "You." His fingers trailed down her spine. "I want you." He slid them under the shirt and helped her pull it over her head between heated kisses and she tossed it somewhere across the tent. His hands were gentle, exploring every part of her with an exquisite, torturous slowness. "Can I?" He whispered against her neck, and she nodded. A soft moan left her when he kissed his way down her chest, lip catching between her teeth when his lips and tongue followed the path his hands had already burned across her skin. Her nails gently dug into his skin as her back arched. She half whined when he stopped, drawing a rumble of laughter from him that shivered along her skin as he trailed bruising kisses back up her neck.

His mouth felt so good on her, how he kissed every place he could reach that she jumped when his fingers grazed along her inner thigh. She huffed, head falling against his shoulder, shivering as his stubble scraped against her skin. "Rhena?"

She nodded before leaning back a little. "You are very distracting." He did it again, slowly tracing up from the inside of her knee. Rhena pouted, her lower lip falling dramatically. "Now who's teasing?" Her lashes fluttered shut, lip catching against her teeth when he finally touched her. Watching her unravel a little more with each touch, the flush that crept down from her face to spread across her chest, was mesmerizing.

Hre breath stuttered as she clung to him, hips bucking as she ground against his hand. His fingers would hit just the right spot and then he'd move. "Muriel." He half pulled away at her pleading tone. She shook her head. "Please, don't stop." Her eyes were dark and wanting, lips parting when he started again with a little more pressure and confidence. Her lip caught between her teeth as her eyes rolled back in her head. "Mmm yes. Can I?" Her hand slipped between them as he nodded, swallowing hard as she made quick work of his belt only to tense and moan as her fingers tightened around him.

He trailed halting kisses down her throat again, setting his teeth against the junction of her neck and shoulder. "Fuck." She gasped, her entire body going taut. "Muriel." His name was a half whimper, her whole body jerked as she pressed her lips to his shoulder trying to muffle the sounds she made. His fingers moved against her again and she jumped, burying her face against his neck with a strangled sound as she lifted away from his hand. She was breathing hard, but he could feel her smile against his skin. "Have I told you I love you?" She half laughed.

"...I don't know if I heard you."

"Oh ho ho." She pulled away from him with a mock offended look that served only to widen his grin. She shook her head and kissed him. "I love you."

He went to tangle his hand in her hair but stopped, uncertain. Rhena considered him a moment before she softly nipped at his fingers, watching as he bit his lip when she sucked on them. She kissed him again and gently pushed his shoulders. "Lay back." He flustered, so she trailed kisses along his jaw before whispering low in his ear. "Unless you don't want to know that feels on you." He blinked a few times but laid back, pillowing his head on his arm as he watched her kiss her way down his body. She slowed a moment waiting until he nodded before sliding his pants down his hips.

Rhena ran her thumb gently up his shaft and over the head, breaking into a wicked grin before following with her tongue. His entire body tensed and turned the reddest she had ever seen him, breath catching and holding. She leaned back, a flicker of panic going down her spine. "Muriel?"

He shook his head, becoming more of a circle when halfway through he decided to nod. "Its. It's fine."

"Okay." Her laugh was breathy with relief, trailing her fingers along his thighs as she leaned forward again, tracing with the tip of her tongue as she met his eyes before taking him into her mouth.

His fingers tightened in the bedroll, breath stuttering and head falling back a moment as her name fell from his lips. He wasn't entirely sure if he wasn't going to pass out. Her hair fell forward to become a maddening light drag against his skin. He raised his head again, her eyes meeting his for a brief moment, surprising himself when he reached out to brush her hair back. Her name left him in a husky murmur when she nuzzled against his hand a moment.

When his hips bucked she pulled away, dragging her tongue from base to tip before speaking. "As much as I am enjoying this." He made a half-strangled noise that set her grinning. "Are you okay if we?" He nodded enthusiastically and she almost laughed. "Okay." She trailed kisses along his hip making him shiver before she continued up his chest, finally catching his lips with hers. "I can be on top if you want."

"What do you want?" He answered hoarsely, thumb sliding along her jaw.

She smiled, radiant as the sun with a pleased sparkle in her eyes. "Oh, I'm getting what I want."

"Oh." His mouth fell shut, tracing designs along her skin, memorizing her with just his fingertips, unable to take his wide eyes from her soft gaze.

She kissed him again. "We can change positions whenever you want, my heart." She swung her leg over him and waited. He swallowed hard but nodded. She brushed her lips softly against his before holding herself up one arm, her hand going between them to guide him. She slid down him slowly, stopping halfway when he never released his gasped breath. "Breathe." She reminded him gently and he nodded eyes never leaving hers as she sat up and sank down onto him entirely. Her lashes fluttered, taking the moment to feel everything, to bask in the look in his eyes.

"Ready?" She asked breathily. He nodded, fingers clenching and unclenching at his sides the only sign of uncertainty amongst all the want. She reached down and traced her fingers along his hands. "You can still touch me, I won't break." She gave the barest roll of her hips making his breath catch. He nodded again, hands smoothing up her legs stuttering at her thighs when she started to move, nice and slow.

She was smiling down at him, biting her lip when she found just the right spot that made her eyelids heavy and drug breathless sounds from his throat. Her head fell back, his eyes following the line of her throat. She squeaked when he sat up, hands holding her steady as he covered every inch of her he could reach with heady kisses that burned through her like a lightning strike. "Fuck. Muriel." It was the smile against her skin that sent her over the edge again, clinging to him as she shuddered and kissed him hard, wishing for more between them and the world than a flimsy tent wall. His own orgasm hit like a tidal wave, arms tightening around her just changed the way she felt around him making it better and worse until he half whimpered against her skin. Breathing raggedly they stay wrapped around each other until their hearts slowed, full of sweet kisses and half murmured words.

He leaned his forehead against hers. "I don't want to let you go." He wanted to see the smile that blossomed on her face every day for the rest of his life. She bumped her nose against his at a loss for words, a little breathless laugh all she could manage. "I love you, Rhena."

"I love you too." The gentle kiss was light, full of promise and hope. "I love you too."

Heart of the Wood

#the arcana #the arcana muriel #muriel x apprentice #apprentice rhena #the witch writes #what did you do this saturday? i edited and posted smut in the middle of the day #like the heathen i am lol #Ao3 link in the replies <3 #otp: heart of the wood

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happywitch416 · 3 years

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Chapter 56

Mazelinka had offered her home to them and Julian had led the way. Muriel had relaxed a bit when they got inside and Rhena smiled a little, it had a warm comfort that invited you to just be. Julian explained Mazelinka was going to meet some contacts of hers before clearing his throat. "She just, er, told me to tell you all not to set anything on fire, and that her expensive whiskey is off limits."

Everyone settled around the cozy living room. Almost as soon as she sat down in the armchair Volta curled up and went to sleep, softly snoring. Rhena dropped down beside Muriel in the window seat, head resting against his shoulder. "We survived the day." She said softly.

His eyes were closed. "There's still the night."

"And next week." He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer, lips twitching into a soft smile.

"I don't think that's how you make a hot toddy." Asra's concerned tone pulled Rhena’s gaze to them in time to see Julian pouring various bottles into a pot while Asra looked on dubiously.

Julian dumped in a few more, including a bottle of expensive looking whiskey. "Nonsense! It's an old Devorak specialty. We call it the Hot Todd." Asra snorted but continued to watch him. Eventually, Julian joined them in the living room offering everyone a steaming mug. Rhena took the cup, peering into it suspiciously with a curious sniff. It was a little herbal, a little spicy, and quite possibly the most potent drink she had ever held.

"I should test it first." Muriel still took a very careful first sip. Everyone watched, including Julian, as if waiting for him to drop dead or throw up but Muriel just shrugged. "Drinkable."

"See? I told you!"

Rhena stared into the cup again and took a deep breath before taking a sip. She coughed a little, eyes watering. "Oh. That's." She cleared her throat with a soft cough. "We have very different ideas of drinkable." Muriel rumbled next to her trying to hide his laugh. The second sip was better. She met his eyes and shrugged before tipping back the entire mug with a smile sparkling in her eyes. Once it had stopped burning, it was delicious.

They all eventually settled at the rickety table. Julian regaled them with tales, and Asra corrected his overly dramatic exaggerations. After a particularly awful one where Julian was very valiant until Asra reminded him he got punched in the face, Muriel snorted. "I like Asra's version better." He was so at ease, it made Rhena’s heart happy.

"You're all against me!" Rhena reached out and patted Julian’s arm trying to not look too condescending, even with her head feeling so warm and fuzzy.

"No, but we could be." Asra grinned and pulled out a deck of cards. "Cards anyone?"

Rhena chuckled, Asra cheated more than anyone she had ever met. Muriel nodded, fixing Asra a steady look. "Deal me in."

"Oho, I didn't know you played Muriel!" Julian crowed as Rhena watched bemusedly from behind her mug.

"I will destroy you." Muriel deadpanned, causing Rhena to choke on her drink.

Still coughing, everyone stared at her. "Deal me in." She said, wiping her eyes.

"That's the spirit, Rhena!" She wasn't entirely sure Julian hadn't had the most to drink out of all of them. She did know she was only a few behind him, but she took another sip anyway. "What's our game then? Drakr hold em? Old Maid?" Rhena snorted at that one.

"How about a little Prakran Poker?"

Rhena groaned. "That game is cursed." Asra just grinned deviously and began shuffling.

Muriel snorted with a knowing look. "Only if you take out the ace you hid up your sleeve."

"Who, me?" Asra's attempt to look innocent set Rhena off giggling. But he sighed and placed the card back on the table.

Muriel raised his brows at Julian. "You too."

"I would never." Two cards flew from his pocket with the dramatic swing of his arm. They fluttered uselessly to the ground and he flushed to the roots of his hair. "Alright, you got me."

With everyone distracted, Rhena let free the barest amount of magic forming a wind that rumpled the cards and an ace slid into her hand. Julian and Asra were none the wiser, still busy arguing animatedly. Her nose twitched as she met Muriel's eyes and tried not to grin. He gave her a small smile but looked away and said nothing.

After several rounds, and a lot more to drink, the only players left in the game were Muriel and Rhena. She had managed to respectfully lose most rounds, but only because Julian had even worse luck. She was ready to squirm out of her seat, Muriel’s face was unreadable. She was pretty sure hers could be read from the moon but she slid all her makeshift chips into the pile with stolen confidence. "All in."

"Ohoh, watch out Muriel, Rhena means business." Julian laughed, chin slipping off his arms to settle on the table.

Asra chuckled. "I taught you everything you know, Rhena."

She laid her cards down and instantly deflated when Muriel laid down a royal flush. He plucked one of her aces from the table examining it with a deeply amused look. Her lips quivered as she tried desperately not to grin. "I didn't know Prakran Poker had so many aces to play. What is this six total?"

She shrugged, attempting to be nonchalant. "Well, obviously, one of us cheated." Her nose twitched and she broke into a grin. “Must be you.”

Muriel threw his head back laughing and gathered the cards in his hands as they all laughed too. "Again?"

Another few games passed before Muriel excused himself from the table. Asra turned to Rhena. "You know, it's amazing how much Muriel has opened up since he met you." His smile was wide as he idly twirled some hair around his finger. "It makes me happy seeing you two together. You're like two matching puzzle pieces."

Rhena smiled, Asra sounded so genuinely happy. "I am too." She said softly. "This past week really, it's gotten easier for him as it went."

"It's because you are there, holding his hand. It makes him brave." He was quiet for a moment. "I really think we can win. And it's thanks to you." Julian muttered something in vague agreement, nearly passed out next to his pile of cards.

Muriel rejoined them at the table, eyeing them with mild suspicion when they both looked at him with bright smiles. "What? Is there something on my face?"

"A smile." Asra told him with a sly grin. Muriel harrumphed at that but the smile stayed.

Rhena yawned, held up only by the fact her elbows were on the table and her chin in her hands. Asra roused Julian on the other end of the table. "I think it's time for bed, Rhena." Muriel suggested, trying not to laugh as Julian slid out the chair entirely and slumped onto Asra’s feet.

She tried to get to her feet only to fall back into the chair giggling. "Only if you carry me there, apparently."

"I, uh, um if you want me to." He flushed but before she could tell him she was mostly joking, she hoped, he had her swept up into his arms. "Where are our beds?" He asked Julian.

Their dear doctor was upright at last. "Right this way." He, staggering, led the way, revealing a rickety bed barely big enough for the two of them. "Asra and I will take the Hole tonight. I er don't think you'd fit down there, Muriel. And Rhena is mean in small rooms."

"Am not." She pouted.

"The Hole?" Muriel gave them an arched look.

Asra laughed. "It's not as bad as it sounds. it's actually pretty comfortable, I've stayed in it a few times." Rhena stared at him with a grin that made him shake his head.

Muriel shrugged. "We’ll make the bed work." Rhena hummed in agreement. Asra and Julian disappeared down a trapdoor in the kitchen. Muriel and Rhena set to getting ready for bed after he made sure her feet were going to stay under her for the most part. Muriel undid the braid in his hair, Rhena offered to help redo it, lightly scratching her nails against his scalp as his eyes fell closed. "Tomorrow? Do you think we are ready?"

"As ready as anyone can be."

He rested his head against her shoulder, cheeks turning pink. "I couldn't do this without you." He huffed. "I don't want to do it all but I definitely wouldn't without you."

She laid her head against his, still slightly swaying on her feet. "We are in this together."

He was quiet for a moment. "A few months ago I would not have found that comforting."

"And now?" She asked softly.

"That's none of your business." She couldn't help her snort of laughter. He shook his head and they settled in for the night, Rhena curled up in his arms and half draped across his chest.

Chapter 57

Asra was bright-eyed at the table when they got up, the table full of magical ingredients. "Are you ready for this?" He was about five times louder than necessary and far too cheerful.

Rhena grimaced taking a sip of water, feeling every drink she had the night before, and hoped the cure for it that Julian had given her would kick in quickly. Muriel stared at her a moment and then nodded. "If you are sure about this."

"We've got this." She sounded surer about it than she felt but it was fine. They were going to be fine.

Asra took a pinch of rainbow powder and blew it right into their faces. Rhena tried to not sneeze. For a moment, she thought it hadn't worked but when she glanced in the mirror she froze, staring at Lucio. She tugged on the shirt and then at the stupid cape with an offended huff. The horns were at least interesting, a strange weight that tugged on her head.

And beside her, Muriel was no longer Muriel. He lifted his hand slowly, staring at Valdemar’s pale green skin. "Let's get this over with."

Even his voice was different and Rhena had to remind herself it was really him. Asra spoke, breaking her panicked thoughts. “You remember the plan right?" She nodded still staring into the mirror, Lucio was taller than her, but with the spell so was she if nearly poking herself in the eye was a good measurement.

Muriel spoke, with Valdemar’s voice again and Rhena had to suppress a shiver. “Rhena and I infiltrate the Coliseum. We order the mercenaries out while pretending to be their boss."

"Asra and I will set up the trap beneath the city. When the time is right, we will lure Vulgora down there." Julian added seriously, arms crossed.

Rhena finished. "And then we challenge Vulgora to a fight, with no one to back him up." She grimaced when it was not her voice that left her throat.

Asra nodded brightly. "It's a good plan. It can work."

"As long as we beat Vulgora in the fight."

"We will." Rhena said, full of confidence and defiance. "I am not going to be this hideous for anything less."

Muriel and Rhena approached the Coliseum. If he was tense, she couldn't really tell. The mask over his face, Valdemar’s face, she reminded herself, she couldn't read any emotions. But there was a tightness through the shoulders that was not the distressing grace Valdemar had. She was struggling with being Lucio and whatever he even was anymore. She took a deep breath. "Are you okay?" If she had to guess, she would have said he was frowning judging by the creases around his eyes.

"I don't like seeing you like this. Showing me concern with that face.” He searched for a moment. “It's unsettling."

She bit back informing him that his entire appearance at the moment was absolutely terrifying. If he wasn't comfortable, the whole plan could go up in flames. She puffed up her chest and started strutting. The only one seeing her ridiculous charade was Muriel after all and she got him into this crazy plan. She held her hand to her throat with a flutter of her lashes. "Are you doubting me? The one, the only Lucio?" She wasn't sure if she had pulled off the right amount of whining, dramatic entitlement.

Muriel let out a snort, watching her theatrics with amusement in Valdemar's dead eyes. "Oh, I'd never doubt his lordly liegeship. Since when have you ever failed?"

"Well." Rhena continued. "There was that one time with the plague. And the whole dying business." She thumped her chest. "But I, Lucio, like to think of that as a minor setback more than anything!" She flounced forward, tripped over a cobblestone, and barely kept herself from falling. She cleared her throat, tugging on the ridiculous shirt. "I'm fine. You saw nothing, peons. The great Lucio doesn't fall."

"Well I, the creepy Valdemar, am personally disappointed." The more of a fool she made of herself, the less tense Muriel was, his demeanor easing into the role he needed to play. "My...long gross fingers yearn to wrap around your heart."

"Ha!" Rhena sounded a bit more like herself than Lucio still. "Good luck, that thing’s been shriveled and useless for years." She grinned seeing Valdemar’s eyes crinkle in a smile they would never have. "Now. I refuse to move a single inch until you give me compliments. It's my birthday don't you know!"

"Wasn't that last week?" He said with that eery head tilt Valdemar did.

"My birthday lasts an entire month and is a national holiday! Get with the times, Mu- Valdemar." She tried to not laugh, snickering at how ridiculous she felt, how freeing it was to take Lucio and make him ridiculous after everything.

"My apologies. The only holiday I celebrate is.." He stopped and shook his head. "I'm not as good at this as you are."

"Well, naturally." She raised her, Lucio’s, brows. "No one is as good at anything as I am."

He snorted again, the last of his tension gone. "It's true, Rhena." He was looking at her so sincerely now, she could see his face making that embarrassed expression she thought was so cute. "You are the best. At everything."

She blinked, cheeks growing warm and fumbling with her words. "Well, I, Lu-.,"

Muriel shook his head. "That's not what I meant. Lucio couldn't hold a candle to you. You're." He gave a vague wave of his hand, for all the words he couldn't say. After a moment, he adjusted his mask and looked away. "Not as interesting as my other specimens though."

Rhena just stared, not realizing her mouth fell open. Just like that, the persona was back up and it was like looking at a stranger. He pulled the mask back down and gave her a lopsided grin before pulling it back up. "Let's go show everyone who their boss is."

She gave herself a shake and grinned before throwing her arms skyward as she spun. "It's me, Lucio!" And together they headed to the Coliseum.

Heart of the Wood

#Ao3 link in the replies <3 #the arcana #the arcana muriel #muriel x apprentice #apprentice rhena #the witch writes #otp: heart of the wood

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happywitch416 · 3 years

Text

The End

They had been right to assume that others would arrive at the graveyard for the summer. They just had the date wrong.

“The first full moon of summer, every third year.” The man smiled a little sadly. “It's not the same, but we can honor our dead, visit, and trade.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe one day we will make a proper festival here but.” He shrugged as his wife joined them.

“We can introduce you to everyone who is still here.” She offered with a kind smile. “There is one or two that knew your parents, Muriel.”

He looked to Rhena who gave him a warm, encouraging smile with her hands buried in Warg’s fur for warmth. Warg had taken to complaining when she did it but had not bolted for the hills yet. He nodded, his gaze going back to them. “I’d like that.”

Khamgalai’s hut was nearly the same it seemed, a film of dust covering the surfaces and a few mice in the bed. It had taken them a few days to step foot in it, but most of the others were gone and their packs still had room. More importantly, they had permission to take what they could carry from the hut, so it could live on in loving hands, and to arrange the rest into a safe haven for travelers that told the story of what happened there.

Rhena was sorting the tapestries, which ones to come home, another pile for ones to stay, and a third for Muriel to decide on. She reached out, unseeing as she thought about how they were going to pack the bags, and held up another one. She nearly dropped it with a gasp at the two people that stared back at her from the woven portrait, their faces an echo of one she knew so well. “Muri!”

He stuck his head back in through the door where he was talking to one of the parties that were leaving and strode in to join her when he saw her face. She held it up wordlessly. A soft smile appeared, his fingers gentle along the threads. “This one goes home with us.”

“Well if you weren't going to say that I was.” She snorted. “I found some others I want you to look at. And some we need to hang before we leave.” He nodded, pulling her close for a moment before looking over her piles.

Rhena cleverly folded tapestries around some bowls and several plates as Muriel eyed the lap loom they assumed had made them. “I don't know how to use it.”

Rhena smiled a little, rearranging the inside of the pack again. “Well, there are worse things to learn.” He gave her an arched look. “What? You could!”

“With these hands?” he asked quietly, staring down at them.

She crossed the room to him, taking his hands in hers, her thumbs smoothing over his knuckles. “Yes.” She said with a shake. “Do you know how much kindness you fit in these hands? They have room for weaving if you want to learn.” His ears turned red and she went up on her tiptoes to brush a kiss to his cheek. “And with all your carving, you definitely have the patience.” An impish grin grew on her face. “Although Asra and I, and Julian, probably try your patience more than carving ever has.”

He laughed then. “Maybe.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “Means we need to get sheep.”

“Oh.” She sighed delicately. “What a tragedy. I am just so sad.” She grinned when he laughed again. “I think that one trader is still here, Tamal? That had the super fluffy ones.”

“It's a long way back to Vesuvia.”

“And I am a very adorable, persuasive woman.”

He shook his head with a fond smile, smoothing her hair back from her face as he bent to kiss her. “You are.”

Heart of the Wood

#the arcana #the arcana muriel #muriel x apprentice #apprentice rhena #the witch writes #AND ITS DONE #Ao3 link in the replies <3 #otp: heart of the wood

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happywitch416 · 3 years

Text

Chapter 67

With the morning light came a soft scratch on the side of their tent. “Muriel, Rhena? You in there?”

“Not if it's morning already.” Rhena grumbled sleepily, tugging her hair over her eyes to block the sun.

Asra laughed, his footsteps already moving away. “We need you in the hut. Just head over when you are ready.”

Rhena propped up on her elbow and smiled warmly at Muriel, her naked form pressed into his side as she kissed him deeply. “There's worse ways to wake up though.” He laughed against her lips before he tangled his hand in her hair and pulled her back down on top of him.

When they made it to the hut, Nadia, Asra, Natiqa, Nasrin, Ris, and Orion were already gathered around the table and its map. Nadia looked up and gave them a smile. “Good morning, Muriel, Rhena. I hope you slept well.”

“Well enough.” Muriel half mumbled, cheeks flushing a little. Nasrin poured them two cups of steaming tea and slid them over. Rhena bit back a laugh at the face Orion made when he took a cautious sip from his. Vesuvian tea at its finest, even after drinking it for years it still pinched her face together.

Once everyone was properly caffeinated, Nadia cleared her throat. “Mother informed me that Prakran troops continue to trickle in. Yesterday was only the vanguard.” She nodded towards Orion. “Orion said more warriors are coming from the Clouded Mountains as well.”

“Ships move faster with magicians on them.” He chuckled with a wave of his hand, a wind tugging gently at the edges of the map. “The Clans will stand with you, fear not, Countess. If our Rhena had not named you a friend, we would have on the basis of family.”

When Rhena stared in confusion at her father, Natiqa leaned over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "We're cousins, tell you the rest later."

"Really?!" She turned to her brows arched in surprise before breaking into a grin. "Perfect." Natiqa laughed as she gave her squeeze before wandering off.

"That's not reassuring." Rhena just beamed up at Muriel before turning back to the conversation at hand.

“All I had to say was that you were in trouble, and the whole country rose to arms.” Nasrin informed Nadia proudly. “Prakra will always be there for you, my darling.”

“Not that you need it!” Natiqa informed her with a grin. "You were kicking ass, Dia."

“Yes, well. Ahem.” Nadia’s pleased, and slightly flustered, smile sobered quickly. “Scouts report that Lucio has entrenched himself in the palace.”

Natiqa twirled an orange in her hands. “Our troops did their best, but he's a slimy little weasel isn't he?”

"He is elusive for one so...obnoxious." Orion scowled, his brows knit together one hand leaving his cross-armed stance to jab a finger towards the city. "He should not have been able to outrun us, whether on horseback or leopard."

"We didn't have enough time." Natiqa reminded him, but the older man just shook his head. He had seen enough battlefields in his days and knew when something more was at work. "As soon as we reached the edge of the city, we pulled back. It's too dangerous to push in willy nilly. If we want to flush him out, we need a plan."

Orion made to say something but stopped at the look Rhena leveled at him with a slight shake of her head. He smiled serenely back, steepling his fingers as he saved his offer to raze the city for another time. Muriel broke the quiet. "What kind of plan?"

"The only plan there is, Muriel. We have no other options." Nadia met each of their gazes in turn. "We will lay Vesuvia under siege."

"Are we certain? It'll be long and ugly, he knows the layout well and has had the time to entrench himself and his cronies. And access to the palace armory and any of the guard stations in the city.” Rhena studied the map carefully and shook her head, hand skimming through her hair as she pushed it back before setting a finger on top of the palace. “If we could get a small group into the palace and toss him out on his ass, his army might scatter." She smiled thoughtfully. "Their paycheck would be gone, or whatever he's promised them. And." She gestured to Volta. "We have three of the four demons accounted for. Volgura is gone, Vlastomil is outside crying about his worms."

"Volta is here!"

"Yes." Rhena smiled warmly a moment before her gaze turned dark, burning a hole through the map. "Do we know where Valdemar is?"

"Who is this Vladmar?" Orion asked quietly as the others shook their heads.

She met his eyes, her gaze full of fury and burning light. "They owe us a heart, and I'll rip it out of them myself." Her eyes dropped back to the map, ignoring the worry on their faces.

"Revenge is not our way, Rhena." Orion reminded her calmly, watching his eldest child. Her shoulders were rigid, fists clenched so tight her knuckles blazed white. "Only as the Wood demands."

She sighed, letting the anger fall from her. She looked up again, eyes clear and calm before placing her fist over her heart. "Only as the Wood demands, Anax."

Chapter 68

Noon hadn’t arrived yet, yesterday’s battle was miles away as Rhena concentrated on her task of very nicely asking the ground to grow the vegetables a bit faster. "Wolf!!!" came a panicked shout from behind her.

Rhena whipped around magic crackling to her fingers, ready to get between a human and Inanna. Only to be barreled over by a heavy, white blur.

its you its you its you

The wolf immediately began slobbering all over her, paws digging into her shoulders but she laughed all the same, gently pushing until the wolf in question moved to let her sit up. He flopped down in front of her tail wagging as he made little whoofing sounds. Bright blue eyes stared at her over its wolfy grin. "Well. You aren't so little anymore are you?" His tail beat the ground, narrowly missing a cucumber. "What's your name?"

He howled, the inflections lost on her entirely but the voice in her head was loud and clear. Warg!

"Warg." Rhena reached out ruffling her hands in his fur, her grin warming when he flopped over for belly rubs. He sped through a commentary of his journey, how he had remembered the nice green-eyed woman that came with the tall man and the wolf that was pack. How they had worried when they didn’t come back, and the things he had done to convince them it was time for him to join her and that he’d find her and Inanna and the tall man safely.

He stopped when her hands froze. Rhena’s heart slammed into her ribs and she stared at him wide-eyed. "I can hear you."

Yes! He hopped to his feet and headbutted her. You didn't when I was small but now you do!!!

She wiped the tears she hadn't felt from her cheeks and let him settle his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry I didn't."

It's okay! You needed to learn! He bounded away from her. Wanna look and smell the new den! He trotted back to her when another person panicked, looking contrite. They don’t mind howl.

Rhena laughed a little as she stood, mind reeling and making her unsteady. "Most can't, Warg. But I can go with you and help.”

Warg bounced in happiness, pawprints sinking deep into the soft soil and mud splattering up his legs. Is tall man here? And packmate?

"Yes, Muriel and Inanna are here."

Want to meet!

Inanna found them first, Muriel not far behind. He huffed as they watched Inanna and Warg run circles around each other. "They were serious."

"He's hard to miss." She laughed.

Warg half barrelled Inanna over before he went to Muriel, tail wagging and headbutted his hand. Rhena’s mate.

Rhena flushed briefly. "His name is Muriel." A grin twitched up. "Although you are not wrong either." Warg howled enthusiastically before taking off to smell everything in sight.

Muriel's brows arched. "He's loud." Inanna followed Warg with far more dignity than the younger wolf was capable of possessing.

"You should hear him in my head." She made a face before breaking into a smile and reaching for him. "I didn't think." She huffed, tears burning along her lashes. "I didn't think I'd ever... not after Sweets." He nodded, pulling her into his arms completely. She settled against his chest and watched Warg and Inanna for several long moments. "You know what?"

"Hm?"

"There are no wolves in the Clouded Mountains."

He took a moment to answer. "Sounds like you were meant to be here."

She looked up at him, beaming, even more so when he realized how cheesy he had sounded again. "Maybe."

He laughed softly before kissing her. "I'm glad you are."

"Me too." The rest of her words were cut off by ecstatic howling. Rhena sighed wearily with a fall of her shoulders and a bemused smile.

LITTLE HUMANS WANT TO PLAY!

Another howl followed that set Muriel's shoulders shaking as he tried to not laugh. "Nana needs back up." There was a crash and a heartbeat later it was followed by yelling as a white blur raced toward them, children cackling in his wake.

Heart of the Wood

#the arcana #the arcana muriel #muriel x apprentice #apprentice rhena #i finally get to introduce Warg #I've been dying to #the witch writes #Ao3 link in the replies <3 #otp: heart of the wood

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