Taming the Queen of Beasts

ELRETH

She was Queen. She was supposed to be out there training to cross the traverse, finding answers to avoid a warn, and generally getting shit done.

But she didn't have to train now.

The Protectors were celebrating.

The people hadn't yet understood the full gravity of what was coming, and part of her didn't want to make sure they did.

So when Aaryn pulled her up from the dining table and towards the bathing pools, instead of telling him that she needed to work, she just… followed.

They grabbed towels and soap and barely spoke as they stepped down into the hot pool. Bu they didn't stop touching. Her hand on his shoulder, his at her waist. Without speaking about it, she started to wash his back, then he grinned and started to wash her front.

She held up her hair while he washed her neck, then rinsed it, then kissed it.

Then, at some point, he pulled her down to the bench seat that circled the pool, and they just sat there, shoulder to shoulder, hands clasped and resting on his thigh.

The rush and sprinkle of the waterfall was the only sound and it was… peaceful. As peaceful as Elreth had felt in weeks. She squeezed his hand, but still didn't speak.

"If you could do anything tonight, what would it be?" he asked her suddenly, turning to look at her. "Like, right now, if the Creator appeared and said, "El, this is your last day alive. Make the most of it!" What would you do?"

Elreth blinked. She'd never really thought in those terms before. What would she want to do if these were her last hours.

She smiled. "I'd want to go find a few more places to enjoy like the dining table," she snorted.

Aaryn chuckled, but kept hold of her hand, aware that she wasn't done.

Elreth sighed. "I'd want to have time with my family," she said. "All of us. Mom, Dad, you, Gar… and Rika, I suppose. You're the people I'd want to be with."

Aaryn nodded. "I propose that we have your parents for dinner tonight."

Elreth looked at him. "Are you saying this our last day alive?"

He didn't even hesitate before shaking his head. "No, but I feel like… I feel like we should make it count. Since we don't have to train. And we don't know when this is all going to explode, I feel like we should make the most of today. And tomorrow. And every day until we can't anymore."

Something in her chest twisted. The truth was, she'd always felt things deeply—and always worked not to show it. To not let others know her weakness.

The idea of gathering her family around to appreciate just being with them… made her want to cry.

But he was right.

"Let's do it," she said. "Though, unless Mom will cook, maybe we should get something sent over from the market. I don't like my chances of creating anything edible for more than a snack."

Aaryn chuckled. "Sure."

They sat there for another minute. "It's kinda sad that Gar and Rika won't be here," she said finally, admitting to herself that if she wasn't terrified of putting Rika through what she'd been through at Gar's hands, she might have sent someone to invite them.

"Maybe we'll have time for breakfast with them before Gahrye arrives?" Aaryn suggested.

Elreth wasn't so sure, but there was no point worrying about it. They would do what they ended up having time to do. And a night with her parents would be a nice end to a strange day.

"I'll go tell them when we get out of here," she said, nodding. "It's a good idea, thanks."

"I'll go tell the Protectors not to expect us at the feast—not that I think they'll care."

"They'll care," she said. "But then they'll be too drunk to think about it," she snorted.

Aaryn laughed and squeezed her hand again, then sighed. "I'm really, really glad that you're the one I share this with, El. Really glad."

"Me too," she whispered, then leaned into his shoulder, hugging his arm. "Me too."

*****

While Aaryn ran to talk to the Protectors, Elreth headed to her parent's tree. She only remembered her father had almost interrupted them again as she was about to walk in. Closing her eyes and shaking her head, she made herself keep walking.

"Hey, are you guys home?"

"Oh, look! The Queen has emerged from her very important royal duties," her father snorted.

"Reth!"

"what?"

"Hilarious, Dad. Did you roar it to the whole city, or just Mom?"

"Just Mom. And Gar."

Elreth pulled up short. Her parents were at their dining table—it must have been close to lunch time because her mother had two bowls in front of her and was shelling peas.

"Wait, Gar's back already? What went wrong?" El asked quickly, her stomach sinking.

"Nothing dramatic. He said he had something to talk to you about, but it wasn't important enough to… interrupt."

Elreth gave him a flat look. "Seriously, Dad, you're just a riot. But that's good, I wanted to talk to him, too."

"What's going on, El?" her mother asked, suddenly turning all her attention to Elreth, forgetting the vegetables in her hands.

"Nothing," she said, then grimaced. "But, you know, everything. I just… I know everything's changing and Aaryn said we should do stuff today that we would do to just appreciate our lives, you know? And I thought of you guys and I wondered… why don't we have a family dinner? At the cave?"

"Of course," her mother said, dropping the peas into the bowl and getting to her feet. "But I really think tomorrow's going to be fine, El. You'll go through and Gahrye and Kalle will—"

"We aren't going through anymore, I forgot you didn't know that."

"Wait, what?" Her mother stopped dead.

"Aaryn and Gar went this morning—before dawn. Aaryn wanted to test himself, he was worried about taking me on his first crossing. Gahrye said they can find the answers we need. He's coming through tonight, or tomorrow morning at the latest, depending what he finds."

Her mother looked at her father. There had always been an element of tension in her dad about Uncle Gahrye, and Elreth still wasn't entirely sure why. But her dad didn't look angry, he looked worried.

"Well," was all he said.

Her mom just stared at her. "El, are you okay? Did something—"

"No, no, I'm fine. It was Aaryn's idea actually. I think it's just coming home to us that this is it, you know? We're going to find out what to do when Gahrye comes and… then we'll do it. So it feels like this is the day we should… enjoy."

"I think that's a great plan," her mom said, her dad nodding behind them.

"Cool, then… Mom, do you mind cooking?"

Her mother giggled. "Sure. As long as I can do it in the cave. There's a lot more room."

"Yes, perfect. Okay, I'll go ask Gar and Rika I guess."

Then her eyes flashed with mischief. "In fact, I hope I catch them—"

"No, you don't!" her mother said sternly, one finger up, though her father was sniggering behind her.

"Why not? He deserves it!"

"Absolutely not, Elreth. That poor girl would never recover—promise me, both of you. Not today, not ever. For her sake."

Elreth rolled her eyes, but made the promise, and her father did too.

But then the door behind her creaked and Elreth turned to find Gar and Rika walking in. Rika smiled when she saw them, but behind her, Gar's face was… sad.

As they greeted her parents and Gar tried to force himself to smile, Elreth wondered what could be bothering him—why were they back?

Then she smelled them. And Rika. And…

Oh no…