#rqgiftexchange2024

[starfall-spirit]

@rq-gift-exchange

Read on Ao3 // Masterlist

Pairings: Bodhi Durran/Sloane Mairi, Violet Sorrengail/Xaden Riorson

Summary: Liam and Sloane Mairi have spent the past seven years caught between a rock and a hard place trying to put together what could have made their parents choose to side with Navarre in the apostasy. Since that day that twisted their fate so completely they've stood in silent grief of the home and friends they lost.At last their reckoning has arrived as the people they once called friends set foot on Navarrian soil to strike a bargain.

Happy Gifting Day, @hoeelliexx! This is far from the fluffy three or four part story I originally planned, but writer's block just had to shove it's way in. Thus a new concept was born. Don't worry, you'll still get your fluff and forced proximity, though.

Very short chapter, but I'll be posting what was supposed to be the rest of chapter one in the next few days. Hope you like it!

Chapter One

Violet

“They’re here. The Tyrrish delegation just landed on the flight field.” 

Violet swallowed hard, setting down her pen before the ink could expose her nervous energy to her classmates. Still, they knew her well, and Rhi was already giving her an odd look. “Hand cramped,” she muttered, rubbing where her thumb joined her palm.

“Violet.” She closed her eyes, blowing out a defeated sigh when Dain called her from the doorway of her room. 

“Also, it seems it's time to discover what great role I’ve been assigned when dealing with the Tyrrish delegation. They’ve just landed.”

“Want some backup?”

Her eyes slid to Liam, and though he held her stare, she saw the pain behind it—saw the clench of his jaw and the curl of his fist as he offered to stand beside her and face the people he once called family. Friends he was forced to leave behind because of his mother’s shift in loyalty during the secession. If it wasn’t for Colonel Mairi’s actions, he may be standing beside them now. He and Sloane both. Once the girl earned her dragon and flight leathers, that is. 

“An invitation was not extended to you, Cadet Mairi.” 

Violet rolled her eyes. “Oh high and mighty Wingleader,” she grumbled. “Thanks, Liam. I’ll be fine. And Tairn will be there if things go south for whatever reason.” She lowered her voice again. “I’ll fill you in when I get back.”

“Don’t lose your shit on Riorson,” Ridoc shouted after her. “On second thought, the guy could probably use a bloody nose.”

“He certainly could,” Dain grumbled beside her, setting a brisk pace down the hall, only slowing when they approached the door to the meeting room, raising his fist to knock a sharp pattern at its center. “Alright, Vi?”

“I don’t need you hovering. We’ve talked about this.”

The door swung open before he had a chance to respond, revealing his father who looked far too nervous for her to feel any better about the conversation that was about to be had. “Dain, you may return to your afternoon duties.”

“I—but Violet—”

“Violet has all the company and protection she needs. Any information you’re due as her wingleader has yet to be determined.” Violet clasped her hands behind her back, doing her best not to shuffle awkwardly between them. Dain had always been closer to his father than she had to her mother. Seeing them in any sort of standoff was just plain awkward. “You’re dismissed, Wingleader.��� His jaw feathered, but after giving her shoulder a light squeeze, Dain turned on his heel. “If you’re done chatting,” a new voice drawled, “the rest of us would like to resume this meeting.”

Taking a deep breath, Violet stepped around Colonel Aetos to at last lay eyes on the guests Navarre had received in the moments before her arrival. To her surprise, it wasn’t the full council waiting for her on either side. Instead she found only King Tauri, King Riorson, a single representative to his right—presumably his second in-command—and her own mother.

The young king was her focus. Only a few years older than her, she could help but admit the man was attractive. Her type, even, with the dark hair and muscular form his flight leathers only flattered. There was a great many things that put Violet apart from her fellow cadets, be they a physical weakness or a mental strength. But putting those differences aside, she was a woman before all else. And King Riorson was a very attractive man, more than capable of handling the steel at his side, she was sure.

“Violet Sorrengail,” he drawled, seeming to take her in with a genuine curiousity. “I heard the rumors. I had assumed when you bonded Tairn that they were exaggerated.”  She just kept from grinding her teeth, lacing her knuckes tightly to keep her hands from balling into fists. “I didn’t realize Tyrrish intelligence relied on the gossip mill alone. How disappointing.” King Tauri coughed into his fist. “Cadet Sorrengail, please make yourself comfortable.”

And close your mouth, his eyes seemed to say. She’d never seen the man so anxious. “Thank you. Is someone willing to explain why I’ve been summoned, now?”

“Of course,” Riorson said, lips curving into a smirk. “You’re here so we can discuss the fine points of the deal your mother and king have proposed.” She narrowed her eyes, trying to suppress the growing nervousness tightening her stomach and throat. “Or did they not tell you about the trade on the table?” His chuckle told her the answer was all over her face. “You’ve been traded, darling. A week from today you’ll be saying your vows. There are consequences to bonding a mated dragon, you know.”

[hoeelliexx]

!! I loved it everyone go read it! Thank you!! 🖤

@rq-gift-exchange

Read on Ao3 // Masterlist

Pairings: Bodhi Durran/Sloane Mairi, Violet Sorrengail/Xaden Riorson

Summary: Liam and Sloane Mairi have spent the past seven years caught between a rock and a hard place trying to put together what could have made their parents choose to side with Navarre in the apostasy. Since that day that twisted their fate so completely they've stood in silent grief of the home and friends they lost.At last their reckoning has arrived as the people they once called friends set foot on Navarrian soil to strike a bargain.

Happy Gifting Day, @hoeelliexx! This is far from the fluffy three or four part story I originally planned, but writer's block just had to shove it's way in. Thus a new concept was born. Don't worry, you'll still get your fluff and forced proximity, though.

Very short chapter, but I'll be posting what was supposed to be the rest of chapter one in the next few days. Hope you like it!

Chapter One

Violet

“They’re here. The Tyrrish delegation just landed on the flight field.” 

Violet swallowed hard, setting down her pen before the ink could expose her nervous energy to her classmates. Still, they knew her well, and Rhi was already giving her an odd look. “Hand cramped,” she muttered, rubbing where her thumb joined her palm.

“Violet.” She closed her eyes, blowing out a defeated sigh when Dain called her from the doorway of her room. 

“Also, it seems it's time to discover what great role I’ve been assigned when dealing with the Tyrrish delegation. They’ve just landed.”

“Want some backup?”

Her eyes slid to Liam, and though he held her stare, she saw the pain behind it—saw the clench of his jaw and the curl of his fist as he offered to stand beside her and face the people he once called family. Friends he was forced to leave behind because of his mother’s shift in loyalty during the secession. If it wasn’t for Colonel Mairi’s actions, he may be standing beside them now. He and Sloane both. Once the girl earned her dragon and flight leathers, that is. 

“An invitation was not extended to you, Cadet Mairi.” 

Violet rolled her eyes. “Oh high and mighty Wingleader,” she grumbled. “Thanks, Liam. I’ll be fine. And Tairn will be there if things go south for whatever reason.” She lowered her voice again. “I’ll fill you in when I get back.”

“Don’t lose your shit on Riorson,” Ridoc shouted after her. “On second thought, the guy could probably use a bloody nose.”

“He certainly could,” Dain grumbled beside her, setting a brisk pace down the hall, only slowing when they approached the door to the meeting room, raising his fist to knock a sharp pattern at its center. “Alright, Vi?”

“I don’t need you hovering. We’ve talked about this.”

The door swung open before he had a chance to respond, revealing his father who looked far too nervous for her to feel any better about the conversation that was about to be had. “Dain, you may return to your afternoon duties.”

“I—but Violet—”

“Violet has all the company and protection she needs. Any information you’re due as her wingleader has yet to be determined.” Violet clasped her hands behind her back, doing her best not to shuffle awkwardly between them. Dain had always been closer to his father than she had to her mother. Seeing them in any sort of standoff was just plain awkward. “You’re dismissed, Wingleader.” His jaw feathered, but after giving her shoulder a light squeeze, Dain turned on his heel. “If you’re done chatting,” a new voice drawled, “the rest of us would like to resume this meeting.”

Taking a deep breath, Violet stepped around Colonel Aetos to at last lay eyes on the guests Navarre had received in the moments before her arrival. To her surprise, it wasn’t the full council waiting for her on either side. Instead she found only King Tauri, King Riorson, a single representative to his right—presumably his second in-command—and her own mother.

The young king was her focus. Only a few years older than her, she could help but admit the man was attractive. Her type, even, with the dark hair and muscular form his flight leathers only flattered. There was a great many things that put Violet apart from her fellow cadets, be they a physical weakness or a mental strength. But putting those differences aside, she was a woman before all else. And King Riorson was a very attractive man, more than capable of handling the steel at his side, she was sure.

“Violet Sorrengail,” he drawled, seeming to take her in with a genuine curiousity. “I heard the rumors. I had assumed when you bonded Tairn that they were exaggerated.”  She just kept from grinding her teeth, lacing her knuckes tightly to keep her hands from balling into fists. “I didn’t realize Tyrrish intelligence relied on the gossip mill alone. How disappointing.” King Tauri coughed into his fist. “Cadet Sorrengail, please make yourself comfortable.”

And close your mouth, his eyes seemed to say. She’d never seen the man so anxious. “Thank you. Is someone willing to explain why I’ve been summoned, now?”

“Of course,” Riorson said, lips curving into a smirk. “You’re here so we can discuss the fine points of the deal your mother and king have proposed.” She narrowed her eyes, trying to suppress the growing nervousness tightening her stomach and throat. “Or did they not tell you about the trade on the table?” His chuckle told her the answer was all over her face. “You’ve been traded, darling. A week from today you’ll be saying your vows. There are consequences to bonding a mated dragon, you know.”