#& evelina 014

[destinedgray]

"Forget about that now," he reassured. "Forget about it all." Andreas wouldn't, at least not all of it. But for that moment he could push it all to the side. He just wanted Evelina, to be with her, in whatever form or way as long as he got to just drown himself in the joy, the relief, the love. As long as he didn't have to think about the pain. Maybe that was selfish of him, maybe she wanted to talk about what happened. But as he was the one that had endured the 5 years without her, Andreas figured he'd be at least a little bit selfish that night.

He moved to sit on the bed, his hand holding her's because he couldn't let go of her just yet. Andreas pulled Evelina gently and waited for her to sit by him before he pulled her close to him again. If they would just sit there like this for a little while, that would be enough. "This is all that matters," he murmured. "We're here." The words became as quiet as a whisper and he closed his eyes to her scent and warmth. We're here. We're here.

END.

"I love you too," Evy offers, equally quietly as she presses her lips against his cheeks, his nose, his chin, anything she can reach, one kiss for every time he tells her he loves her. It's the sweetest of sounds, the relief that comes by being next to him once more overwhelming. It's so very sweet, so she hesitates when he asks but then nods as a rueful smile reaches her face and leans forward to press her lips again his. "I am just sad about all you suffered, babe. Your prayers might have been answered, we might be here, but you still suffered and I hate knowing that."

[destinedgray]

He had to be ready by Spring Equinox. The Druids would be celebrating Alban Eilir, one of many little rituals and celebrations they had over the year. But this one, 'The Light of the Earth', was a perfect metaphor for a proposal and only the ring was ready for the day. Or, it had been before Aren changed his mind about something in the design and was getting a part of it redone while also managing the druid lessons, his new part-time job and worrying about Octavian and Oztalun's every move. "What are you talking about? I have tons of Archdruid responsiblities," he argued playfully, looking through his closet while his mind was also on phone call that he had to make privately about the ring once he left Evy. Though it was true Andreas no longer had to worry about Oztalun's tree or Senate politics, both the bulk of what had been his responsibilities, his wayward brain made his mornings chaotic as though he had a million things to do. "I can't find... fucking christ, how many robes did I own?" He tossed 10th century BCE furs to the side of the floor. "Do you know where I put that black jacket with the, err," he mimed a hood to Evy, the word not coming to him in that moment. (The jacket was hung on the door a few meters away.) "Anyway, I have work in two hours and then I have to go check on Valsharra in the Fey Forest... make sure she hasn't eaten any people, say hi, then come back home on time for dinner with you. Very busy. Very much Archdruid responsibilities."

who? @destinedgray where? aren's private chambers notes: doing the randomize top songs thing and got genius by written by wolves

"For some who no longer has Archdruid responsibilities, you seem mighty busy lately," Evy coos playfully as she leans against the head of their bed, eyes alight with mischief as her gaze follows Andreas as he moves around the room. She knows, without a shadow of doubt, that he is up to something. She is very sure of what that something it's too, the tabs on his phone looking for jewelers and the sneakiness adding together with their conversation right before the war had begun.

[destinedgray]

"I love you," Andreas whispered. Once, then twice, then once more. He said it softer each time until it was just a quiet breath on his lips. "I prayed to anything and to everything that I would see you again... but I had little hope that those prayers would ever be answered. So every day I died a little more but I tried, I tried for you." This time, there was a bit of dampness on the side of his eyes as he looked down at her, hands gently running down the side of her face, brushing down her hair. But he could note the slight touch of sadness on Evelina. "You're alright?"

Evelina wakes with bleary eyes, Valsharra's grumbling rousing her enough that she is half-awake by the time her husband enters through the door. Blinking slowly, she smiles tiredly as she watches him approach, fondness filling her even as there is a thread of concern fluttering within her heart. Joy and relief wash away the pain and grief, but their presence on his eyes is alarming enough for her to shoot up and reach towards Andreas, meaning to comfort him. He gets there before her, as he picks her up and twirls her around with a joy that would have elated her if it hadn't made her heart give out a wounded keen at the thought of the grief Andreas must have gone through.

"Mini mlach usil," she greets softly, voice soft and quiet as she presses their foreheads together and rubs their noses in greeting. "I love you, 'Dreas, and I am so glad to see you again."

[destinedgray]

Damn the idea of some half-assed wedding even if they'd already done two of them, they were both alive. Really and properly alive. They'd made it out and Andreas was now willing to celebrate every second they were both breathing together with more fervor than ever before. He'd propose again, this time with flourish and a fucking ring. He'd build a house. Maybe he'd get a real job this time or go back to school, who the hell knew. His mind was awash with half-made thoughts all racing through in a chaotic flurry as his heart beat fast and he rushed back to his chambers. He'd heard from the other druids that they'd seen Evelina go that way and suddenly there was nothing more in this world that mattered more than seeing her again. Valsharra was in a bad mood (after dying the way she did, he didn't blame her.) He gave the drake some space as he instead rushed past and he knew before he even entered that Evelina was waiting there.

Andreas froze at the doorway, seeing her there on his bed. Tentatively, as though half afraid that this was all just a really good dream, 'Dreas slowly made his way over. His eyes did not leave her form. "I'd lost you," he murmured, their eyes finally meeting. It took a second before the grief and pain that he'd known washed away as the joy and relief hit him like a tsunami. Andreas let out a tearless sob and smiled wide as he pulled Evy up and picked her up, spinning her before putting the druid back down. "My love, my life, my hope," he whispered, face against her own. Briefly, he looked up at the ceiling, "Thank you," the Archdruid's voice lowered to something nearly imperceivable as he found himself thanking whatever the hell he could. Some sleeping God, some dead demigod, Time itself, Fate, death, 6 dead heroes, it didn't matter. He could get on his knees and thank the universe itself.

who? @destinedgray where? the pyramid, aren's chambers when? right after the war ended notes: look! i know it's been fucking forever since the plot drop but shhh I want to see andreas and evy's reuniooonnn. also doing the randomize top songs thing and got golden boy by bryce fox

The war ends abruptly, strangely. But she cannot help but be thankful for the oddness of the entire thing. If it not where for it, for the memories that had bursted into starlight at the back of her eyelids on the last possible moment, Evy knows she would have died. And this time, her death would have been permanent. No survival, no comforts to be found on the thought of reincarnation. Tiamat would have gotten her due, and she would not have the opportunity to avoid her fate.

Somehow, though, she had survived.

In the quiet that follows the discordance of victory, the druid slips away, the weight of her not-death heavy on her shoulders as she moves towards Andreas' chambers, hoping that she will find him there. As she greets the guardian's, she smiles softly, until she finally makes it to the inner chambers and finds them empty. Exhausted, and disappointed, she throws herself on the bed, and sinks into oblivion, waiting for Andreas' arrival.