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It was a quiet night, Claudia had managed to make a little fire inside their cave, even though everything was lost, she seemed to be as optimistic as always, something Viren was glad for but couldn’t bring himself to share, his plan had failed completely, horribly even! Now the elves and dragons would never make even a truce with them, being honest, Viren was expecting to win, he had been so sure that he would conquer Xadia with the help of Aaravos… and the only thing that he managed was to lose everything… his life included, he felt quite hopeless.
Claudia had been gathering food these days, considering he barely can move due to literally dying, but she was good at it, so Viren wasn’t that worried, as long as she was careful. He had been expecting the questions from the girl, about Aaravos, but surprisingly they had yet to come.
“Dad! Guess what! Now, don’t be mad… but I managed to steal some honey from some bees that were close by! Well… I am not sure if it’s honey honestly… but is sweet so it is at least nectar-“ she explains while holding some plants and water, ready to boil it “We can make tea! And add that to make it sweet! Am I not amazing?” she claims playfully as she sits on the floor and puts more wood in their little fire, putting the water to boil inside a helmet she had taken from a corpse.
Viren barely can offer a tiny tired smile, even that hurt… he was sore all over, but his little girl kept him good company “Ah I see that’s nice Claudia, good job, but do not provoke unknown bugs, they can harm you… we can get something else to sweeten up your tea next time” he promises while sitting closer to her, they both leaning against the cave wall and facing the wall that held the shape of the elf inside a coccoon.
“…So… I was wondering if you would talk to me about that weird bug that apparently is not a bug…?” she starts while adding the herbs into the boiling water, stirring it gently with a stick she usually used to cook. Viren sighs softly, he knew this day would come… he just wished everything was clearer… even to him “Alright I guess is fair I explain… where do I even start? Umm… ah! Remember that mirror we couldn’t really decipher back at the castle…?” he decides to tell her everything.
Few hours pass and Viren had explained to her everything that he knew, a bit ashamed by some of his actions, but not sure why he still wanted to see Aaravos… was it because he was powerful? Probably… was it because he felt some sort of weird connection with him? There was also that, unsure if it was some form of sympathy or simply loneliness.
He is taken away from his thoughts as there’s suddenly a shocking noise coming from the coccoon. It was moving violently as Aaravos was now clawing to the walls of his prision in what little space he had in there. Viren was on his feet in a second, ignoring all form of pain as he rushes to it and tries to tear it open “Aaravos-!” he claims in panic while Claudia also tries to help, telling her father to slow down or he might get hurt.
They manage to open up a hole, Aaravos instantly reaching his arms out and latching into Viren’s neck, slime falling out of the coccoon as well as the elf, them both stumbling into the harsh cold floor of the cave, Aaravos now coughing out whatever stuff was in that thing “V-Viren?!” he gasps in surprise, now standing up in shaky legs, completely naked, making Claudia turn around in embarrassment “IT WORKED!” he gasps awed while now trying to clean himself from the slime that was clinging into his skin.
Viren looks at the elf like entranced, his eyes just stuck on his beauty “…What exactly worked? I am not sure what happened after I fell from a mountain…” he complains softly, the elf now looking at him with a wide smile, fuck… his delighted face was simply too handsome and cute, he looked like a kid on Chrismas Eve “I’m out of that mirror Viren!” He can’t help a delighted laugh, making Viren rise an eyebrow, but blush all the same at the cute act of the elf.
“Alright calm down a little, I am still kind of healing over here and having a constant headache is part of the symptoms… but please do explain what exactly happened-” he says while moving to lie against the wall.
Aaravos rolls his eyes “Oh you don’t need to worry about that, don’t be so dramatic, I can heal you up” he says dismissive, sitting down and drawing up some runes before starting the long process of fixing up Viren “After you fell, I thought we both were going to die- well you, and my half corporeal form… but your body slowed my fall-”
Viren frowns “Lovely…” he mutters in a sour tone. “Oh, don’t be like that, it all worked out perfectly, well you see, since you died, most of the magic we absorbed, if not all, went into me, so my plan was to try to complete my transition and try and revive you…? That’s… until I saw your body, I wasn’t so sure I could pull that out, BUT! Your daughter really is something else! I helped her bring you back to life, I told her what to do while I crafted my own spell, I can see she did an amazing job!” the elf hums while gently reaching a palm out to hold Viren’s cheek with a gentleness that was not very normal between a king and his supposed prisoner.
Viren bats Aaravos’ hand away with annoyance, a bit disappointed from the loss of warm though “Wait, YOU told Claudia to do that??? She could have died!” he complains, now clearly angry. Aaravos shrugs “You don’t give her enough credit, besides she would had hurt herself further had I not guided her towards the right spell, she was about ready to try some necromancy thing I had to stop her-“ he explains.
Viren’s eyes widen as he now looks at Claudia, who had been very quiet in the other side of the cave “You never told me any of this?!?” he complains as he sits up, Aaravos was right, he did know how to heal very well, most of the pain was gone by then.
Claudia looks over with a sheepish smile “I might or might not had avoided some parts of the story…? He makes it sound so nice but it wasn’t pretty I wasn't in a good mental state ok!?“ she complains as Viren just sighs in frustration and shakes his head “Alright but you won’t be doing any sort of magic that strong anymore… is not good for your health” he now tries to stand up, getting dragged down by the elf once again.
“Hold still, I am trying to work here” the sparkled elf explains while softly taking the pain away from his body “… I really missed you, those were some long 7 days you know?” he offers a charming smile, making Viren’s stomach do a flip at the sight, but he simply sighs in annoyance, rolling his eyes “You were trapped for a millennia and 5 days feel like too long? Geez, how did you survive in there?... and put something on-” he complains while trying to not look into Aaravos’ manhood.
The elf laughs and summons some clothes into him “Why I thought you were enjoying the view~” he teases, making Viren’s face flush “My DAUGHTER is right there!” he complains while Claudia can’t help to chuckle “Oh don’t mind me~! I will go search some nocturne moths anyways~!!!” she calls as she leaves the cave, making Viren’s mood even more sour.
You giving my daughter the wrong impression of us-” he instantly starts to complain, only to be silenced by a deep kiss, his brain simply stopping as he tries to process what was going on “Aara-! MPPH!” he gets kissed breathless about tree more times, and by the second one he had stopped complaining, simply melting into the feeling.
Aaravos pulls back while panting softly, cupping the mage’s face gently into his palm “Now, what impression where you exactly trying to hide from your daughter…?” he asks playfully while Viren just covers his blushing face with his hands “I hate you…” mutters the old man while Aaravos simply laughs softly, making Viren even more incapable of being mad at him.
“I love you too~ you little humans are all very adorable, but I got to admit you are the best one I have meet so far~” he hums and sits back, admiring the flustered man as if he was a piece of art.
Viren grunts and stands up “Enough of this-! If you’re ok, and I am now healed, we should start planning what to do! We can’t live in this cave forever!” he starts complaining and bossing around. Aaravos chuckles gently and stands up “I see~ well my king, it is about time I start telling you my new plan and see how we can both make it work don’t you think~?” he could easily just leave Viren there to fend for himself… but he had to admit… he got a little attached to him already.
Viren smirks, satisfied with that answer “I am all ears~”