25 Days of Elriel Solstice!
As a personal Writing Challenge, I will be writing these fun prompts for the next 25 days.
I am setting all of these pieces (which I will try to keep on a short-ish side) in my 3 Elriel worlds:
La Dolce Vita - Modern AU
Of Fawns and Shadows - Canon, present
The Heirs of Shadows - Canon, future (post Of Fawns and Shadows)
Day I
(3366 words/Fluff)
Ice Skating (Modern AU/set in the world of La Dolce Vita)
Elain was sitting behind the marble counter of her flower and bakery, watching the snowflakes drift and swirl behind the floor to ceiling windows. It was 4:15 in the afternoon and she was readying for the evening rush. It was a busy season, with endless holiday parties, all of which needed gorgeous flowers and cakes and pastries. So she spent day in and day out at the shop, waking at 5 am to come here and start making cookies and buns, then it was on to flower shipments and sorting, and then more baking, pastries and cakes and special orders.
She drummed her fingers on the counter, thinking that it’s probably time for a manicure and…
No, there would be no rest.
Desirable, but impossible.
She recalled last year--it was pandemonium, especially when the time came for Christmas. However, last year, she only owned the flower shop, and she was single to boot. So very single.
Cassian, or rather Nesta, threatened Gray, ordering him to leave her alone following the disastrous Thanksgiving dinner. Graysen tried to act tough, taunting Nesta and asking whether she was going to send her ‘beefy boyfriend’ after him for an ‘ass whooping’. Nesta reminded Gray that she didn't need Cass to fight her battles and that she was perfectly capable of delivering the said ‘whooping’ herself. Cassian laughed and kissed her hand gallantly and said ‘my queen’. And Elain, eyes puffy and sticky from tears, cheeks burning from being called a ‘teasing cunt’, heart broken, yet also light with relief--she smiled at the pair of them, and secretly wished for what they had. She couldn't stop the envy in her chest, couldn't stop wanting the same bond that they possessed. Her envy wasn’t dark or venomous, but rather desperate and probably a little pathetic.
Her phone dinged.
How’s my flower girl?
She smiled, looking down at the text, and quickly typed,
Full of sugar and spice and all things nice.
Yum! I wouldn't mind some of that sugar myself. Just a taste. And that would be it.
It’s never just a taste with you.
She reminded him, grinning to herself with delight and happiness.
You wound me, young Anrcheron! But you can’t blame me for finding you so delectable and sweet that I can never get enough.
You are sweet to tease, she typed quickly, feeling her cheek warm up with a blush.
There was a pause and then the door opened and a couple stomped in, laughing and brushing snowflakes off their heads and arms.
They bought half a dozen eclairs, four Mont Blanc and four meringue Merveilleux. The Merveilleux were Elain’s specialty--a French, (by way of Belgium), pastry, made of two meringues sandwiched with whipped cream, rolled in more cream and then dusted with chocolate shavings. No one really made these classic pastries in NYC, but it was Azriel’s all-time favourite treat, and she’d never take it off her menu. Besides, being the business woman that she was, her return on investment was incredible with these! Six bucks for a pastry which cost less than fifty cents to make.
Elain also managed to sell a small, but expensive bouquet of flowers to the man, so overall, it was a very productive ten minutes.
When she glanced at her phone again, she saw another message.
I am sweet to tease. That’s why I am surprising you tonight. I know you are tired and would just want a nice bath and a glass of wine,
Yes, she would want both of those things. He knew her too well.
But I am picking you up and we are going to have some fun.
After a thirteen-hour day Elain didn’t necessarily yearn for fun, but she didn't want to refuse him.
Because it was Azriel.
And whatever Azriel did was always magical. He was magical. Her life was pure magic, because of him.
Whatever Elain Archeron desired in her life, Azriel offered it to her--provided her with joy and with love that was indescribable. Love that was as passionate as it was beautiful, as tender as it was savage. A love that was her own.
“My beautiful Elain,” Azriel greeted her with a smile, sizing her up. She wore a tweed pant suit, a fitted wool jacket, and a big scarf. “Are you ready?”
“I am, whatever I am supposed to be ready for,” she took his arm and they walked to the idling car.
It was brisk outside, the air cold and crisp, with that snowy lightness that was particular to this chilly weather, the frost bringing a certain stillness to the city. Those who did not need to be outside stayed in, and as the car moved down the streets, it was quiet and icy around. Elain looked out the window.
She always enjoyed the solitude, the lack of people, because it felt like the world belonged only to her and to Azriel. NYC was a special place for the two of them and they had many of their own favourite spots and corners, but she recognized none of them, as he drove slowly, his fingers finding hers, squeezing gently.
“I like your suit,” he noted, giving her a quick side glance.
She looked down and smiled, “Yes? You were so mysterious about what I should wear, that’s all that came to mind…that’s all I had hanging in the closet.”
“It’s perfect,” he assured her, biting his lower lip. “Very perfect indeed.”
“You are full of secrets.”
A smile quirked his lips, “Always.”
Every time they passed a familiar restaurant or a gallery, Elain expected him to slow down, but he didn’t. He was also unusually quiet, even for him.
At last, he pulled to a curb and parked the car.
She furrowed her brow, looking around, “Where are we?”
With his usual concern, he tied her scarf tighter around her neck and then pulled a hat over her head.
“Alright dad,” she laughed, as he bundled her up.
“I am not your dad. I am your daddy,” he winked, and she burst out laughing, almost doubling over and soliciting a chuckle from him.
“Are we going to play, daddy?” she murmured innocently, threading her arm through his and following him along.
“Oh, we’ll play, baby,” he assured her, and as they rounded the corner, he made a wide sweep with his arm and said, “here we are!”
It was a small, quaint park, with a fountain in the middle, where the space around it was now turned into an ice rink, where dozens of people skated with various degrees of success.
“That’s where we were heading,” explained Azriel with a grin.
“You want me to skate?” she exclaimed. “I can’t!”
“You were just going on and on about how you skated with your sisters when you were little, so why not now?”
“That was a million years ago!”
“Even I am not that old,” he chuckled, grabbed her by the hand and pulled her after himself.
They went and rented their ice skates, while Elain was complaining,
“I am going to break something! It will be your fault.”
“It usually is,” he accepted calmly, as he put his skates on. “Mind you, don’t look at me for guidance. I am not much of a skater.”
“Oh, wonderful,” she was shaking her head.
Holding onto each other, they made their way to the ice and after stepping on it, promptly fell. Elain got up first, and then she gave Azriel her hand and helped him get up. And that’s how it went for the next few rounds--them falling and stumbling, but Elain managing to rise first, and then helping Azriel. Even when she was in the groove and succeeded in skating on her own, even if slowly, whenever Azriel fell, which was often, she made her way to him and lifted him up.
“You love me,” he noted after yet another tumble. Elain threaded her arms under his and pulled him up, but he was too heavy, and she slipped and landed on her butt on the ice. Azriel crawled to her, and cupped her cold, pink face between his hands.
“I love you,” he murmured, looking into her dark brown eyes. They sparkled with happiness. Her thick honey-golden tresses curled over her shoulders, escaping from under the knit hat that she was wearing. Elain reached towards him, as he pulled her face closer and kissed her deeply.
“They taught me never to leave a fallen man on the field,” she whispered against his lips, smiling.
“And I am the fallen man,” he concluded. “You have the heart of a Seal. An Illyrian warrior.”
“I do love you too,” she kissed him back. “You are a fallen man, whom I love. My Ilyrian warrior. But one who better be getting a little more capable at skating, or I will leave you on your own.”
“Alright, I will try,” he promised. “It’s hard to be perfect and successful in everything!”
“Perfect?” she laughed. “Hardly!”
Someone skating by hissed at them and told them to get a room and that this wasn’t the place.
“Tough crowd,” smiled Azriel, shaking his head. Elain laughed. She was enjoying herself, even if she was spending more time on her ass, as opposed to upright. The music selection was nice and the night was clear and pure, and all the buildings around them were lit up for a maximum effect. They knew how to make things look beautiful around here.
At last, Azriel stood up and then took her in his arms and they finally skated together, cautiously, and without fanfare, but relatively smoothly. It was the first time he and Elain danced together, and there was something warm and intimate in how her head lay on his shoulder, and how her warm breath bathed his neck. He could hardly feel her breasts through all their clothes, even though they were pressed closely to his chest, but it still felt wonderful, how her hips undulated against his, and how her small bottom felt beneath his palm when he cupped it.
“This is a lovely surprise,” murmured Elain into his ear, and kissed his cheek.
“I try.”
“You always do and you always succeed.”
“Or you have low expectations,” he joked.
“My expectations are what they are, but you seem to meet them with ease. For a man with little experience in courting…”
“I enjoy courting you and now I can put all my effort into it.”
“I like it. But what do I do for you?”
“It’s not your obligation to do anything for me. Your presence is enough. I love you. Hopefully, one day we’ll become a family, and that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? My love for you is my love for you, and the desire to build something between the two of us that will lead to something bigger…”
“What’s bigger?”
Azriel shrugged.
“Who knows? I just want us to be together.”
As they glided over the smooth ice, Azriel’s palm slipped down to her belly and he stroked it.
The temperature dropped and at last, Azriel proposed that they go get something to eat and warm up. Elain liked ice skating, but she was growing cold and she didn’t mind seeking some warmth.
They changed back into their boots, and walked among the stately buildings, as Elain was scouting for restaurants, since she wasn’t familiar with the neighbourhood, until she pointed at one and said “let’s go there!”
It was a simple and elegant space; the main room had large bay windows overlooking the street and earthenware tiles on the walls in cream, grey, and blue. The décor was sparse; the linen pressed and the silver and crystal on the tables sparkled. There were people inside, but it was not full. Azriel looked around and asked for a private room or table. The host looked at the two of them, smiled and took them upstairs. There, the upper dining room was practically empty, and it also revealed a wonderful secret--a gigantic window, which overlooked the entire Midtown. Glittering with millions of lights, the magnificent buildings stretched as far as the eye could see, and the host was pleased with the reaction that the view solicited from his guests. He did well, he thought, for the pretty girl gasped when she saw the window. He invited them to sit down at the table right in front of the window. It was all the entertainment that was needed for the night, but in addition, music came from the lower part of the restaurant, and created an even more wonderful ambiance.
“Good find,” approved Azriel, when they settled in and he loosened his tie and unbuttoned his cuffs. Elain nodded, and whispered, “I feel like I am underdressed.”
He waved his hand and said, “You always look lovely.”
“Well, thank you, but I can't trust you because you always say nice things and give compliments.”
Azriel laughed, “I think you can still trust me. I am just polite, that’s all. But I don’t flatter, if there is nothing good to say.”
“My darling, you are an interesting man indeed,” she concurred with a nod.
When the waiter came, Azriel said, “the lady and I will have champagne.”
“What are we celebrating?” she wondered.
“There is always something to celebrate. But not killing each other on the ice rink comes to mind,” he laughed.
“Yes! To that, we should drink!”
Azriel ordered a huge spread of delicacies--raw chopped tuna, which was, as he recently found out, Elain’s favourite food, cold lobster with hot butter, oysters, and crab salad. And that was just the beginning.
“Good Lord, pace yourself,” she chuckled, but he shook his head stubbornly and said, “Firstly, I am hungry. Secondly, I feel like feeding you good foods.”
Once their initial hunger was satiated and the effervescence of the wine hit them with its tingling sensation, Elain leaned back in her chair and sighed with delight, glancing at the mesmerizing view in front of them.
“I have such a strangely different life now...it’s like my third life.”
“Is your third life the best life?” he asked, chewing on his lobster, looking at her.
“Oh, by far.”
“Well, then my work here is done,” he smiled, while Elain reached out and stroked his face.
“You’ve given me everything,” she murmured and then brought his hand to her lips and kissed it.
“About giving, I am not sure, but you are free to take anything of mine. Whatever you desire, it will be yours. But you are such a strange girl, for you want nothing…”
“Not nothing,” she contradicted him. “I want you, very much. That’s all I really want, if I am being honest. Everything else, I feel, will come along.”
“And I am the easiest thing for you to have.”
“I want to live here and watch the shadows of this beautiful city descend upon its buildings and bridges, the light just fading, and the water in all the canals sparkling...that is my favourite time of day. Dusk. And what is more beautiful than this witching hour here? And you, next to me, a towering figure in a fine suit, but the sleeves rolled up haphazardly, so I can see your arms...What else can I ever want?” she shrugged.
Azriel thought and figured that if that's what she needed and that’s where her happiness lay, then who was he to argue? She was a strange girl, and he already knew that, and that’s what he loved.
“I feel,” she murmured, sipping her champagne, “like I’ve been walking and walking…All my life I’ve been walking…And finally, I am here. With you.”
“You came for me.”
Suddenly, Azriel rose from his chair, and then slid on one knee in front of her.
“Elain, my love, you are everything to me. You are the blood of my blood, and my heart beats with insatiable love for you. Everything is good in my life when you are next to me and I think that you should be next to me for the rest of my days. I want to ask you to marry me, so that we are bound forever. So, with this,” and he pulled out a white box, “please accept my proposal.”
Elain cupped his face in her palms and glanced outside the window momentarily.
She was going to be Azriel’s wife. His wife. His partner. His friend for life. And she thanked all the golds silently. With Azriel, she was going to watch the fading lights of dusk forever.
“Yes,” she responded simply.
She didn’t screech or cry out or laugh hysterically. She just said ‘yes’, and that yes was all that Azriel needed.
She leaned towards him, her thumb brushing his cheek and then pressed her lips to his. He kissed her tenderly, and deeply, and by the time they separated her face was wet with tears. He brushed them off with his fingers and smiled happily.
“I love you.”
“I love you,” she answered, wiping her eyes.
“But why are you crying? You just agreed to marry me and now you are crying? That’s encouraging!”
She burst out laughing and then drew him into her arms, and he kneeled in front of her and put his head on her chest, where she held it lovingly, squeezed within his embrace. Her heart was beating loudly and evenly under his cheek.
Azriel was kneeling in front of her. In love.
“Don’t cry, all right?” he requested.
“Just a little bit,” she smiled. “I think that I am entitled, today.”
“Are these happy tears, I hope?”
“The happiest tears!”
“Well,” he looked up at her, “maybe instead of crying, you’d care to take a look at what’s in this box. You might like it.”
“I am sure that I will love it,” she took the box and opened it, revealing an absolutely astonishing diamond and sapphire ring. It was so overwhelmed with diamonds of every size and shape that when she picked it up, it felt heavy in her hand.
Azriel took it from her and put it on her finger. She was shaking her head, whispering, “why are you so extravagant?!”
“It’s fun!” he exclaimed with a grin. “Truly. Who else do I have to spoil? And how often do I get to do it?”
“Oh, my Lord,” muttered Elain in awe, as she turned and twisted her hand. The ring, with all its strands and designs simply glared in the flickering lights, like a chunk of purest ice on her finger. The craftsmanship was so intricate and exquisite that she could truthfully say that she’d never seen anything like this before. In it, she saw hers and his initials woven into the ancient runes of the Illyrian military incantations, spells of love and sexuality etched in the ancient language, and so many other things that she’d need to decipher later.
“For luck and glory,” he traced his finger over a diamond-encrusted writing.
“And this?” she whispered, awed, pointing at strange blue stones that dotted the ring here and there. Not a sapphire. Not an amethyst.
He hummed, and finally offered, “These stones…they are native to Illyria. When one became a warrior, they earned these…based on their strength, and some say “Killing Power’.’
“Killing Power?” Elain chuckled. “Well, that sounds romantic.”
He smiled, and took her hand in his, “They are special. To me…To Cass…That’s all we have of our culture. They were passed down from generation to generation,”
Elain’s eyes turned misty, and she gasped, “and you…you gave this to me? It’s,”
“It’s deserving,” he interrupted her. “You deserve it. I have seven…My grandfather, he kept them and would often show them to us. Turned out that he felt that I was the only one grandson that he felt was worthy of them, so he gave them to me, before I went to foster care. So here they are…Maybe one day, I can give them to our sons.”
“I’d like that,” she agreed. “I’d like that very much, Az.”
Azriel looked down at the lovely woman in front of him and all he felt was joy. His future wife. His Illyrian mate.
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