#✧･ﾟ: there’s so much history in my head ☾ interactions

[moonlightazriel]

The Solstice Surprise /// A Gwynriel fic

Summary: When secrets start to appear in their relationship, Gwyn wonders what is going wrong with them, but not everything is what it seems.

Warnings: Miscomuniaction, mentions of cheating and angst.

Word Count: 2,8K

Note: Participating in the @acotargiftexchange is always a joy, but even more when I get to explore one of my favorite couples in the series and fall in love with them all over again. It's also a great surprise every year to meet such wonderful souls, and that's what you are @letstrytoohard, a wonderful person and I love every interaction we had while you helped me create this piece for this lovely couple we all love so much! Have a great holiday, I wish you all that is good in this world and I hope you like this just as much as I do, it was made with love! Merry Christmas girl, and to you all! 🎄🎁

Main Masterlist

Gwyneth took a deep breath, puffing the air through her nose, a stray strand of red hair flying away from her face with the sudden movement, her palms squishing her freckled cheeks together as her blue eyes scanned the stunned faces of her two best friends.

“I don’t think Azriel would ever think about cheating on you,” Nesta said, trying to be as sensitive as she could towards the priestess' feelings, she knew Gwyn had the tendency of overthinking everything and she didn’t want to add fuel to the fire.

“But..” She tried but Emerie stopped her before the full sentence could spill from her lips.

“Nesta’s right, you know? Azriel waited his whole life for you, his mate. He’s crazy over you, he would never do anything to hurt you.” Gwyn hated the fact that the both of them were right, Azriel would never hurt her in any way, but her heart still clenched and bled a bit at the thought that he might be hiding something from her.

“I know he has his secrets, but these past few weeks he’s been distant, he goes out early in the morning and doesn't return until late in the night, what if?” Nesta waved her hand in the redheaded’s face.

“Nonsense, child.” She said in a serious voice, but a smile cracked her facade as soon as she said it, the three females laughing together at her antics, Gwyn feeling the weight on her shoulders a little bit easier to carry with the help of her friends.

“I think we need to forget about this and head to the city and get some hot chocolate.” Emerie suggested to which Gwyneth enthusiastically nodded, picking up her fluffy coat and heading towards the snowy street outside, unbeknownst to her, the two other females shared a knowing look. Gwyn would have a real surprise by the end of the week.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Giggles caught her attention, after she accepted the mating bond, she became bolder and bolder, wandering around places she only dreamed to go before. So she followed the sound, sneaking around a wall, her head poking just enough to catch a glimpse of Elain’s brown hair, the female shared a few unheard words with someone before giggling again.

She moved her body just enough to see who it was, surprised to see Azriel there, his body turned with his back to her, facing Elain. She knew they had some past history, it never bothered her before, but with how secretive and sneaky he has been, what if he had regretted his decision of pursuing her and missed what he had with Elain? What if he wanted to split things between them and be with the middle Archeron?

Doubt creeped out and spread like poison, making her organs twist and spin inside her, the content of her stomach threatening to spill as she silently watched the whole interaction unfold before her eyes. How Azriel slowly looked around to make sure no one was watching, his hands holding a box to Elain, the female gasping and whispering.

“It's perfect, I love it.” Gwyn watched as she grasped the box, inspecting the content inside, turning to the side to see it in a better light, a ring shining bright inside. What? Anger started to burn, an array of feelings that she hadn't felt in a long time making a thunderstorm brew inside of her heart. She started to struggle with her breath, the air didn't seem to be enough to fill her lungs and her heart hammered against her ribcage making it even harder to breath and keep focused.

Azriel’s shadows scattered around, recoiling behind his shoulders during the whole time he talked with Elain, now rushing towards the exit, quickly reaching the panicking female on the other side. Azriel caught a flicker of red and distress filled his chest, as Gwyn couldn't keep hold of her emotions anymore. His shadows rushed around her, desperate to find out what was wrong, but they found nothing.

Azriel moved, his footsteps getting closer to where Gwyn stood, but she was faster, spinning onher own axis. She fled, running inside so fast, down the corridor and towards the hidden entry to the library, wanting to be in the comforting presence of her sisters to feel better. In her frenzy to be away from them, she bumped into someone, lifting her troubled gaze upwards, meeting the eyes of Merrill.

The older priestess raised an eyebrow, noticing the distress in the youngest. With a soft voice that Gwyn never knew she possessed, Merrill commanded Gwyneth inside her study room.

“What happened?” she asked, gesturing to the chair in the corner, next to the table where steaming tea waited for them. The female stirred a mug with a few drops of sugar and handed it to her, the exact way she preferred to drink her tea, Merrill had always paid much attention to details like this.

“I think Azriel is having an affair.” Her eyes, the same colour of a twilight sky, inspected Gwyn and then she snorted, making Gwyn flinch and cringe further in her seat, maybe having this type of conversation with Merril, out of all people, wasn’t exactly a good idea.

“The devoted Shadowsinger? Who would erase both mortals and immortals from the face of the earth if they dared to lay a hand on you?” Everyone kept saying that, and Gwyn really wanted to believe their words, but she had seen it with her own eyes, and it was her heart that had been beating in pieces ever since.

“I know it sounds stupid,” she admitted.

“Good!” Merril intervened. “You must clear your head from such thoughts, Gwyneth.” It was like being scolded by her mother used to feel like, when she and Catrin did something that she disapproved of. “I’m sure that everything will be explained soon, you need to work on your patience.” Gwyn raised an eyebrow, Merrill never defended people like that, she wanted to push further to get some answers but she didn’t want to risk bursting the weird bubble she found herself in.

She took a deep breath and a sip of her tea, letting the hot liquid calm her insides, her thoughts a bit quieter and easier to bear. Maybe they were all right, and Azriel had a good reason for his behaviour, she would give him the benefit of the doubt. In the months they were together he had never given her any reasons to think otherwise and she wouldn’t allow herself to ruin this, so she finished her tea and held her head high, thanking Merrill and leaving her office, towards the pile of work that waited for her.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Gwyn excitedly kicked the covers away from her body, Azriel kept being secretive for the rest of the week, but she pushed any bad thoughts aside, telling herself that he was busy with Solstice preparations, if she only knew. Running downstairs, she found him there, his toned back turned to her as he flipped the heart shaped pancakes in a pan.

It was her first Solstice with his family and outside the Library, and she was so excited to experience it for the first time. Azriel turned to her, catching how her eyes admired the breakfast table he had prepared for her – Azriel had woken up early just to set it for her, snowflakes silly cut out of paper scattered around the table, little candles here and there.

“Happy Solstice, sunshine,” he said, his voice soft, always softer with her than with anyone else, placing a plate in front of her.

“Happy Solstice, Azzy,” she replied, waiting for him to sit down so they both could start eating. “What are the plans for the day?”

“I'm helping Elain set some things for the celebration and then I'm all yours.” He winked her way but the mention of Elain’s name made her deflate in her seat. “You're going to the library, right?”

“Yes, I'll pray during the morning.” She poked one of the heart shaped pancakes.

“Are you alright?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, peachy.” She replied and he nodded.

“Are you sure?” She raised her eyes towards him, a mischievous gleam in him, like he was having so much fun with this conversation.

“Just fine, Azriel.” Gwyn rose from her chair, leaving the kitchen so she could get ready, despite her conversation with Merril the other day, she wouldn't risk it to be scolded in front of the others for being late. The shadowsinger just shook his head, a smirk dancing on his lips as he sipped his coffee.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

As the day gave space to the night, Gwyn found herself surrounded by her two best friends, getting ready for the celebration ahead. Emerie was talking about how she was going to finally make a move on Morrigan, how tonight was the perfect night for that.

But her mind drifted far away from the moment, her thoughts poisoned by the blind jealousy and the nauseating pain of thinking about her mate spending all of his time with someone else, especially someone so beautiful and kind like Elain.

“Gwyn!” Nesta snapped her slender fingers in front of her face and she blinked a few times, being harshly pulled away from her own head. “Are you ready?” The redhead nodded. “Then let's go.”

She quickly looked around, watching how beautiful her two friends looked in their solstice outfits, her eyes drifting briefly to the floor length mirror, her dress was simple, a clear shade of blue, not showing much, but she still felt so beautiful. She smiled to herself and followed the two outside.

The party was wonderful, flowers and lights hang from the ceiling, people laughed and people danced, Gwyn felt the joyous atmosphere around her, making her smile involuntarily to everyone that greeted her like they were truly happy she was there with them, the feeling of belonging to a home making itself present in her heart.

Azriel wasn’t anywhere she could see, so she grabbed a glass of fizzling juice and went to watch Nesta and Cassian dance in the middle of the animated couples that tried to mimic their intricate moves.

“Having fun?” A soft voice sounded behind her and she turned, meeting the smiling face of Elain as she did.

“Yeah, I'm just waiting for Azriel to show up, he's a bit late.” Elaine chuckled and shook her head.

“That's unusual, I wonder if he's up to something.” The female winked and Gwyn raised an eyebrow.

“What?” she inquired.

“All your questions will be answered at midnight, be at the cave where you meet your fellow priestesses to pray.” And with that she left, leaving an astonished Gwyneth behind.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

She tapped her fingers impatiently, it was almost midnight, all of the couples were together laughing and she was standing in a corner alone, waiting for a mate that didn't appear the whole night.

She discarded the empty glass she was holding on a nearby table, gathering her skirt and marching towards the library entry, curiosity filling every pore of her body, she wanted to see what was happening.

The cold winds of winter chilled her body as she entered the praying cave, the shadows danced as candle light flickered along the way to the open arch that led to the middle of the cave.

“What in the name of the mother is he doing here?” she mumbled to herself just to be shut up by voices echoing in the cavernous space.

The harmony that belonged to her sisters cradled her heart, she hadn't heard that song before, so she kicked her heels, her bare foot carrying her towards the place that emanated the song.

Gwyn came to a stop, the cave was filled with candles, Merrill stood on the side, guiding the choir of priestesses, the females harmonizing together to a slow melody.

Shadows moved and revealed the Shadowsinger standing with a black suit in the middle of a wave of blue the others wore. Her eyes immediately watered as she realized what was happening, all of those times begging him to sing to her, only to be dismissed, with him saying she was going to listen to him when the time was right.

Her heart hammered against her chest as he took a deep breath, his lips parted and a deep, melodic voice came out of him, the words flowing like the calmest river.

Boys workin on empty

Is that the kinda way to face the burning heat?

I just think about my baby

I'm so full of love, I could barely eat

Gwyn had never heard those lyrics before, and by the shy gleam in his eyes, she knew. He had written those words, that song, just for her.

There's nothing sweeter than my baby

I'd never want once from the cherry tree

Cause my baby's sweet as can be

She give me toothaches just from kissing me

When my time comes around

Lay me gently in the cold dark earth

No grave can hold my body down

I'll crawl home to her

The priestesses kept singing in the background with Merril guiding them, some doing the backing vocals for him, their voices working so beautifully together.

That’s when my baby found me

I was three days on a drunken sin

I woke with her walls around me

Nothin in her room, but an empty crib

And I was burnin up a fever

I didn't care much how long I lived

But I swear I thought I dreamed her

She never asked me once about the wrong I did

When my time comes around

Lay me gently in the cold dark earth

No grave can hold my body down

I'll crawl home to her

Tears rolled down her cheeks freely, she wanted to run towards him, throw herself into his arms and stay there forever, after everything she's been through, not even once she dreamed of someone like him loving someone like her, the feeling of knowing he was hers, nothing could compare in the entire world.

My baby never fret none

About what my hands and my body done

If the Lord don't forgive me

I'd still have my baby

And my babe would have me

When I was kissing on my baby

And she put her love down soft and sweet

In the low lamp light I was free

Heaven and hell were words to me

When my time comes around

Lay me gently in the cold dark earth

No grave can hold my body down

I'll crawl home to her

When my time comes around

Lay me gently in the cold dark earth

No grave can hold my body down

I'll crawl home to her

He repeated the chorus, the choir following him, humming the melody until their voices faded into the confined space of the cave, leaving a teary eyed Gwyn to watch in awe.

“Happy solstice, my love,” he said, his body moving towards her, until all that separated them was mere inches, his scarred hands cupping her cheeks.

“That was the most beautiful gift I've ever received.” She sobbed, letting the weight of her face fall to his soft palm.

“I'm so sorry I've been distant these past weeks, but arranging all of thistook time.” He smiled sheepishly at her, his own eyes glistening.

“I'm the one who's sorry, for doubting you, I know you would never do anything to hurt me, I'm so sorry. I love you so much” He brushed her face, wiping the tears away from her eyes.

“My love for you is the only thing that you should never doubt, what I feel for you, I know the Mother crafted my heart with her bare hands until all it could fit was you.” He lowered his head, capturing her lips in a soft, intimate kiss, her hands scratched the hair at the nape of his neck.

“Thank you for this, for loving me and proving that I was wrong.” She giggled. “But what about the ring?” He raised an eyebrow.

“What ring?” He pulled a box out of his pocket. “This ring?” He opened it and her eyes widened, she knew that gem anywhere, the piece of Catrin’s headpiece gem, crafted into a beautiful ring. “So you never forget that we both love you.” He slid the ring on her finger. “No matter where we are.”

More tears fell from her eyes and she threw her arms around his neck, her makeup ruined as she buried her face against his chest, inhaling his scent.

“You're the answer to all of my prayers,” she mumbled, her voice muffled by his shirt.

“And you are the answer to mine,” he replied, kissing the top of her head. Gwyn took a deep breath, her heart finally beating in peace, in the same rhythm as his.