Foxglove's ears remained upright. She watched the two women for several seconds, her attention shifting between their joined hands and the way Calenelda had gradually leaned closer to Talia without seeming to notice she was doing it. The Diviner's thumb moved slowly across Talia's knuckles. It was an absent gesture. Comfortable. Almost intimate.
Foxglove watched her for several seconds.
"You really don't know, do you?" Foxglove finally asked.
Calenelda tilted her head. "Know what?"
"What she means to you."
Talia looked at Foxglove. "Foxglove…"
"No." The Nyxir's voice was gentle. "I"m a Nyxir but I'm not stupid. You both keep circling around it."
Calenelda frowned. "I know what Talia means to me."
Foxglove's ear twitched. "Do you?"
"Yes." There was no hesitation in her answer.
Foxglove stepped closer. "Then tell her."
Calenelda's confidence faltered. "I…"
She looked toward Talia. The paladin was watching her with an expression that was almost painfully soft.
Calenelda swallowed. "I love her."
The words came easily. Almost too easily. Talia's breath caught. She looked down at their hands, suddenly very interested in the sand beneath her boots. Calenelda continued before she could respond.
"I know that much."
Foxglove nodded slowly. "But that's not what I meant."
Calenelda's brow furrowed. She shifted where she sat, drawing one knee closer to her chest. Her fingers continued to play with Talia's, but the movement had become nervous rather than playful.
"What did you mean?"
"You know you love her." Foxglove said. "But there is something both of you keep circling around, isn't there?"
The Diviner went still. Even Stonefang seemed to notice the change. The great wolf lifted his head from his paws and looked between them. Talia's expression changed. She knew exactly what Foxglove was talking about.
The kiss. The moment neither of them had spoken about since.
Calenelda's fingers tightened around Talia's hand. "I think so."
"Then say it."
Calenelda looked away. For perhaps the first time since Foxglove had met her, she seemed genuinely uncomfortable with words.
"I don't know how."
For several heartbeats, nobody spoke. The desert wind moved gently around them, carrying fine grains of sand across the ruins. Calenelda finally lowered her head.
"You've been trying to tell her for a long time." Foxglove probed.
"Not this."
Foxglove's ears lowered slightly. "Then start with what happened."
Calenelda drew a slow breath. "You kissed me."
Talia's face immediately warmed.
Foxglove glanced between them. "You kissed her?"
Talia looked away. "It wasn't exactly planned."
Calenelda gave a tiny smile. "No. It wasn't." She took a deep breath. "I had never…" She stopped.
Talia looked at her. "Never what?"
Calenelda swallowed. "I had never been kissed like that."
Talia's expression softened. "I didn't know."
"How could you?" Calenelda gave a small, embarrassed laugh. "I didn't exactly advertise it." She looked down at their hands. "I've never been in love before."
Talia's eyes glistened slightly.
Calenelda continued. "I've never had someone look at me like that. Never had someone choose me like that. And then…" Her smile faded. "And then you walked away."
Talia's eyes lowered. "I had to."
"I know." Calenelda's voice was quiet. "That was the problem."
Talia looked up. "What do you mean?"
Calenelda hesitated. "I understood why you walked away."
She rubbed her thumb against Talia's hand. "There was a patrol. There were people around us. You were responsible for them."
"I was."
"I know." She paused. "But you didn't just walk away."
Talia's expression tightened before Calenelda continued. "You pretended it didn't happen."
Calenelda's answer came softly. She didn't pull away.
"That was the problem."
Talia looked at her. Calenelda's expression was difficult to read. Her pale green eyes remained unfocused as always, but there was something vulnerable in the way she held herself.
The paladin lowered her gaze. "I didn't know what else to do."
Calenelda gave a small, humorless laugh. "I know."
Her thumb stopped moving. "But I did."
Talia looked back at her. "What did you do?"
Calenelda hesitated. Then she turned her hand over, palm upward, and gently traced the lines of Talia's fingers.
"I tried to convince myself I'd imagined it."
Talia's eyes widened. "You didn't."
"I know that now." Calenelda's voice was barely above a whisper. "But I didn't understand why someone could kiss me like that…"
She stopped. Her fingers tightened around Talia's.
"…and then act as though it meant nothing."
Talia's expression crumpled slightly. Calenelda turned her face away.
"I thought maybe I'd misunderstood you."
Foxglove finally spoke. "And that's why you were hurt."
Calenelda nodded. "It wasn't just rejection." Talia looked at her. "It was feeling like something incredibly important to me had become something you were ashamed of."
Talia's expression crumpled slightly. "I wasn't ashamed of you."
"I know."
"You didn't imagine it." Talia's voice was immediate. "You have to believe me."
Calenelda looked back toward her. "I do." She gave Talia's hand a gentle squeeze. "I believe you now."
The distinction hurt. Talia could hear it.
"But I didn't then."
Talia slowly moved closer. She didn't touch Calenelda yet. She seemed almost afraid to. Foxglove remained silent. Calenelda drew a long breath.
"It wasn't just rejection." Her voice trembled. Talia's hand finally moved.
She placed it gently over Calenelda's.
"No." Calenelda shook her head. "It was feeling like something incredibly important to me had suddenly become something you were ashamed of."
Talia's eyes closed. "I wasn't ashamed of you."
"I know."
"You have to know that."
"I do." Calenelda's voice was quiet but certain. She turned her hand beneath Talia's and intertwined their fingers. "I didn't know then."
That distinction seemed to hurt Talia more than anything else. She looked down at their hands.
"I was afraid."
Calenelda tilted her head. "Of me?"
"No." Talia's thumb brushed over Calenelda's palm. "Of loving you."
Calenelda went completely still. Foxglove's ears lowered slightly. There it was. The thing neither of them had quite been willing to say. Talia took a slow breath.
"I've spent my entire life being told what I was supposed to want. Who I was supposed to be with. What my future was supposed to look like." She stared toward the distant dunes. "And then you came along."
Calenelda's lips curved. "Sorry."
Talia let out a quiet laugh despite herself. "You're impossible."
"I've been told."
"You made everything complicated."
"I've been told that too."
Talia finally looked back at her. "But you also made everything feel real."
Calenelda's smile slowly disappeared. Talia shifted closer until their shoulders touched.
"When I kissed you, I wasn't thinking about the council." Her voice became quieter. "Or my family." Her fingers tightened around Calenelda's. "I wasn't thinking about what anyone expected from me." She swallowed. "I just wanted you." Calenelda's breath caught. "And that scared me."
Foxglove watched Calenelda's reaction. The Diviner's shoulders had relaxed, but her fingers were trembling slightly.
"Why?" she asked.
Talia looked down. "Because I'd never felt anything like it."
Calenelda looked down. For several seconds, she said nothing. Then she leaned her shoulder against Talia's.
"I wish you'd told me."
"I know."
"I would've waited."
"I know."
"I would've given you time."
"I know."
Calenelda smiled faintly. "I'm still not very good at waiting."
Talia laughed. "No. You aren't."
Calenelda was quiet. Neither woman moved for several seconds. Then Calenelda's hand slowly rose. She hesitated halfway. Talia noticed. Instead of waiting for her to finish the gesture, she leaned into it. Calenelda's fingertips touched her cheek. The Diviner smiled faintly.
"You're warm."
Talia laughed softly. "I'm sitting next to a fire."
"I wasn't talking about the fire."
Talia's cheeks warmed.
Foxglove closed her eyes for a moment. "Are you two going to do this again?"
Calenelda's grin returned. "Probably."
Talia groaned and gently nudged her shoulder. Calenelda laughed. The tension broke. For a few seconds, the three of them simply listened to the wind. Then Calenelda's expression became thoughtful.
"I think I understand something now."
Talia raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"I think I know why I flirt with you."
Foxglove looked interested. Talia looked suspicious.
"That sounds dangerous."
Calenelda's smile widened. "When I flirt with you, I know what I'm saying." She lightly tapped Talia's knuckles with one finger. "I can make you laugh." Another tap. "I can make you blush."
Talia's cheeks immediately reddened.
Calenelda grinned. "Like that."
Talia rolled her eyes, though she couldn't suppress the smile forming at the corner of her mouth. "I can make you annoyed."
"You're exceptionally good at that one." Talia pointed out.
"And you don't walk away." Talia's smile slowly disappeared. Calenelda's teasing expression softened. "I think that's why I like doing it."
Foxglove tilted her head. "So flirting is safe."
Calenelda considered the word. "Yes."
She turned toward Talia. "When I flirt with you, I'm asking something."
"What?"
Calenelda's fingers gently curled around hers. "Are you still here?"
Talia's expression softened. "And when I flirt back…"
Calenelda smiled. "I know you're answering."
Talia shifted closer. Her shoulder pressed against Calenelda's. "I'm here."
Calenelda closed her eyes. For several seconds, she simply sat there, listening to Talia's breathing.
Then she whispered: "Good."
Foxglove looked away. Stonefang did the same. The wolf released an exhausted groan.
Foxglove glanced down at him. "I agree."
Stonefang's ears twitched. "I think they are exhausting you."
The wolf gave another low rumble. Calenelda laughed.
"You're just jealous."
Stonefang opened one eye. Talia scratched behind his ear.
"I think he's regretting saving us."
The wolf closed his eye again. Calenelda leaned against Talia's shoulder.
"I hope not."
Talia looked down at her. There was something almost childlike in the way Calenelda settled against her. Not weakness. Trust. The kind of trust that had taken them a long time to reach.
Talia slowly rested her head against Calenelda's. "I don't regret it."
Calenelda smiled. "You're talking about saving me?"
Talia's smile turned mischievous. "Maybe."
Calenelda lifted her head. "Oh?"
"Maybe I'm talking about the kiss."
The Diviner froze. For once, she had no clever answer. Talia smiled at the silence.
"I think," she continued softly, "I'm beginning to understand why you keep flirting with me."
Calenelda's cheeks warmed. "You do?"
"Yes." Talia squeezed her hand. "Because you're happy."
Calenelda tilted her head. "And?"
"And because it's easier for you to tease me than to tell me how much you care."
The Diviner remained silent. Then she gave a tiny nod.
"Maybe."
Talia smiled. "You're terrible at this."
"I know."
"But you're getting better."
Calenelda's grin returned. "So are you."
Talia narrowed her eyes. "Don't push it."
Calenelda leaned closer. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Foxglove glanced toward Stonefang. The wolf was staring at the two women with an expression that somehow managed to convey profound exhaustion despite being incapable of speech.
Foxglove whispered, "They almost died." Stonefang's ear twitched. "They faced a creature older than their civilization." Another twitch. "They've just encountered something large enough to have forests growing on its back." The wolf stared blankly ahead. "And now they're flirting."
Stonefang lowered his head onto his paws. Foxglove nodded solemnly.
"I understand." She paused. "I think this is how humans cope."
Calenelda heard her. "I heard that."
Foxglove smiled. "I know."
Calenelda laughed. The sound carried across the ruins. And perhaps that was the strangest part. Only moments ago, she had believed she might die.
She had stood beneath something so ancient and immense that her mind could barely comprehend it. She had felt the earth move beneath a creature that had existed before kingdoms, before cities, perhaps before her own people. And yet now she was sitting beside Talia, holding her hand, smiling because Talia had finally admitted she had been afraid to love her. Calenelda didn't understand everything that had happened. She didn't understand the Mountain. She didn't understand the strange new resonance inside her. She didn't understand what her future would become. But for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel the need to. There were still things left to discover. New powers. New dangers. New questions. And Talia was still beside her. For now, that was enough.
Calenelda rested her head against Talia's shoulder again. Then, after a moment, she whispered:
"You know…"
Talia sighed. "Here we go."
"I think I like you even more now."
Talia smiled despite herself. "I think I like you too."
Calenelda's entire face lit up. Foxglove looked at Stonefang. The wolf slowly closed his eyes.
"Don't worry," Foxglove murmured. Stonefang's ear twitched. "We'll get used to it."
The wolf groaned. Foxglove nodded.
"Eventually."
Talia squeezed Calenelda's hand. "I'm here."
Calenelda closed her eyes. For a moment, she simply breathed.
Then Talia leaned closer. "I should have told you that before."
"Yes." Calenelda nodded slowly.
"I should never have pretended that kiss meant nothing."
"No."
"And I'm sorry."
Calenelda turned toward her. She didn't tease. Didn't smile. She simply touched Talia's cheek.
"Thank you."
Talia leaned into her palm. Foxglove quietly stepped away. Stonefang did the same. The two exchanged a glance.
Foxglove whispered, "Should we leave?"
Stonefang gave a low rumble. "Yes?" Another rumble. Foxglove nodded solemnly. "I agree." They moved several paces away.
Behind them, Calenelda and Talia remained together. Neither rushed. Neither spoke for a while. Eventually Calenelda's fingers slipped down from Talia's cheek and found her hand again. Talia intertwined their fingers.
Calenelda smiled. "So…"
Talia immediately narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"You're still here."
"Yes."
"And you're holding my hand."
"Yes."
"And you haven't walked away."
"No."
Calenelda's grin slowly returned. "Good."
Talia sighed. "You're going to flirt with me again, aren't you?"
"Probably."
"You just had an emotional breakthrough." Talia gasped at how quickly Calenelda could go from emotional to happy.
"I know."
"You were crying."
"I know."
"You nearly died."
"I know."
"And somehow your conclusion is to flirt with me."
Calenelda smiled brightly. "I'm happy."
Talia shook her head, but she was smiling too. "I think I'm starting to understand you."
Calenelda leaned against her shoulder. "That's dangerous."
"Why?"
"Because then you'll know exactly how much I love you."
Talia's smile faded into something softer. "I think I already do."
Calenelda closed her eyes. For once, she didn't need to say anything clever. She simply stayed. And Talia stayed with her.
Finally Calenelda spoke softly. "Neither of us is very good at this, are we?".
Talia smiled faintly. "Guess we have our parents to blame for that."
"So?" Calenelda traced her fingers over Talia's arm. "How do we do this?"
Talia ruffled Calenelda's already messy hair. "Let's start with a date."