Chapter Text
He's finally arrived.
Ardyn Lucis Caelum, the love of your life, is standing in front of you after months spent apart.
You've missed him so much.
He took a step closer, and tucked a strand of your loose hair, adorned with a circlet, to the back of your ear. "Is it possible that from the time I've been gone, you're even more beautiful than I recall." He was taking in all your features while caressing your cheek.
"And is it possible that you've become even more charming?" You playfully teased while slightly tilting your head.
"It's all a matter of perspective." His accented voice said. "But where are my manners?" He said as he took your hand and bent himself so he could kiss it.
"I feel flattered, such composure."
"My love, if you knew how much I'm trying to keep myself composed with the site of you." You swore to yourself that you felt a shiver run through your body, the things he could do with only his way of speaking, but you managed to hide it, slightly raising your brow and curving your lips into a lopsided smirk. "But let us walk together, I believe that we will feel more at ease without prying eyes." He extended his arm and you interlocked yours with his.
The feelings you had for each other were no secret to the kingdom, but truth is you weren't still married, so you avoided exposing each other.
As you walked, the wind blew causing your ivory silk cape to float swiftly against the wind, almost as if dancing with it- in complete harmony.
"So, I believe your expedition went well?" You asked while looking at him as he responded.
"It was splendid."
"How many lives saved?"
"Countless." That felt good to hear, the fact that he could save so many innocents from this plague the world was facing.
"That's good to hear." You responded genuinely. "Although I wish I could have gone with you." But at the same time you felt uneasy because if you were there too, that meant that you could double the lives saved if not more.
Ardyn stopped in front of you and held both your hands. "My love, the life beyond the walls of this city is dangerous at the moment-"
"But-"
"Not only that but, you are needed here, as Oracle to save the wounded, as I save those consumed by the Starscourge." His eyes were full of expression and sparkled almost as gold with the sun shining upon you both.
"Look at those roses." He pointed and you turned to see a garden of them." Most of them if not all, are perfect, beautiful, and redder than blood itself." You nodded following his train of thought, and he lowered himself to his knees and took a rose. "But some, even if just one, might be in the verge of becoming lifeless, and we, you and I, as Oracle and chosen need to protect those out and in this land, and I need you, y/n." Ardyn closed your hands around the dying rose, and enclosed his around yours. You both closed your eyes and you felt a warm sensation coming from your palms, and small sparkles were released from your hands.
When you opened your eyes, Ardyn opened your hands and the rose, the rose was once again beautiful , full of life , maybe even more perfect than the others.
Ardyn called your name and lifted your chin so you looked at him. "When I become king, and the scourge is purged, we shall be forever together, you'll be my queen , I promise." Indeed Ardyn's intentions were truthful, but for that to happen he still has to consult the crystal, be crowned king, and purge the scourge, so much could happen till then.
"Is everything all right?" He asked, noticing the concern in your eyes.
"Yes, I was just thinking." He brought you back to his attention, but you averted his gaze, and searched for a place to sit and rest your legs. "I spot a gazebo from here maybe we could sit there." Ardyn agreed and you both went there.
"You seem uneasy, any unspoken thoughts?" He insisted once more.
"It's nothing that we haven't discussed yet. I was really just thinking about what we spoke." You were actually, but you didn't want to push those thoughts further, so you changed the core subject of your conversation. "But, did you sense my feelings?" You questioned him, as it made you recall of something. "It reminded me of the pact we did all those years ago." When you were both younger, you had had the idea of creating a spell, it was simple, but you cared so much for each other. If you thought and concentrated hard enough on him, or he in you, you could feel each others life presence, so you always knew he was safe when he was far away.
"Actually I was not making use of it kitten, because I know you so well, that just by looking at your beautiful face I read you better than a chiromancer reads ones palm." He caressed your hand but right after let go. "I almost forgot of this!" With enthusiasm his hand then went under his coat and retrieved a necklace that held a raw crystal pendant. "I found this crystal during my time away and had it made into a necklace." He handed it over to you and the light blue crystal slowly faded into a more vivid blue.
"It's beautiful." You murmured as you felt the edgy raw surface that was of the crystal.
"I believe that when one holds this crystal it manifests the holders feelings somehow." He commented watching your amused self, indulging the precious rock.
"Do you mind?" You asked him, as you faced him your back, and gently swept your hair to the side of your neck, exposing it to him.
" It's my pleasure." He said taking the jewel from your fingers and and resting it around your collarbone.
When you faced him again Ardyn was indulging you, his hand once again went to rest on your chin, and he began closing the distance between both of you, but you felt like teasing him, just for the fun of it, and turned your face to the side, his nose brushing your cheek. " Is it a game you want to play." He said in the calmest way, but you knew Ardyn, and this was more of a threat, a playful one, if you could call it that.
But that didn't mean you didn't play his game.
"Might I ask what game you have in mind?" You ask.
"Do you know the game of patience?"
"That I know too well, may I remind you I've been waiting months for you."
Ardyn's hand crept on your outer thigh slowly moving upwards, caressing your skin covered by the layer of your satin dress while slowly pulling you closer to him, soon his face was inches away from yours, the intensity in his eyes looking directly into yours all of it was too much for you, and for him, and as soon as you knew it, you felt his lips on yours. A soft, delicate kiss, that conveyed his affection for you, and how much he missed you.
But you knew the man you've fallen in love with, and soon his lips consumed yours with hunger, your arms crawling to his shoulders, responding to the kiss, but soon after, breaking contact by lowering your head.
"Ardyn, we shouldn't be doing this here." You whispered.
"I see nothing wrong in showing my affection towards my soon bride to be." That beautiful smile creeping his lips.
"Exactly, soon." You said scoffing in a playful tone. "I agree with you, but we can't display public affection like this yet, don't forget that I am an oracle and you are the future king of this nation, we must set an example."
"And that we shall." He said as he adjusted his composure and held both of your hands. "The passage of year ceremony, this night, be my escort."
"Who else would I be if not yours."
"Such a goddess must have infinite requests!" He mocks playfully. " But indeed i'd only let you be mine." He said while stealing a kiss from your neck and a giggle from your mouth.
Time seemed to stop when you were with him just a world shared between you, especially after all the time spent apart, so many little things that he told you about the expedition, never boring you, just the sound of his voice made you content, but you couldn't lose track of time.
"It's almost sunset, I should head back to commence my preparation for the ceremony."
"I can't imagine spending another second away from you, can't I go with you, or you stay here in the citadel?" As much as you'd like that, you really couldn't.
"No I can't, all of my clothing is at home, Brina must be waiting for me already, we'll see each other this night, what are more two hours, after months spent apart?" Ardyn nodded in agreement.
"Then I believe that I should at least have a kiss before you go."
"You want to much you know that." You quipped. "But I'll give you anything." You gave a lingering kiss to his cheek giving you time to appreciate the scent of his that you loved, earth and lavender suave but strong.
"Let me escort you to the entrance." He whispered to your ear breaking you from his enchantment.
"Uhh yes, of course."
As you got up you remembered to take the crimson rose you had brought to life, a symbol of hope you though.
Hope that the suffering from the scourge would soon be over.