Return of the Queen [Kära]

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

​

Tháinbroek​

Training Grounds​

There was never a day without the steady clanging of steel versus steel in the training grounds of Tháinbroek, where warriors met to practise and hone their skill-at-arms. There was always a hustle and bustle, with archers firing away at dummy targets, riders breaking in newly-arrived steeds, and of course men and women training with sword, axe and spear. Just as normal a sight were large groups of youngsters gathering to get their first taste of battle with elders offering rudimentary instructions. Such had been the way of the Valkyri since the dawn of time, and such it would likely remain until the end of time.

On this particular occasion, the High King himself graced the courtyard along with his eldest son, Prince Thrand, for their increasingly more frequent sparring sessions. They always drew the eyes of their peers even when not actively practising, but young Thrand had long since learned to keep focus on his opponent rather than the goings-on around him.

The boy had grown tall and strong for his age, even by Valkyri standards, with defined musclemass developing at a fast rate. It was never difficult to spot him in a crowd, his snow-white hair marking him as blessed by Odiir himself. What impressed his peers even more was his stubborn sole use of the over-sized two-handed greatsword of his namesake; the mighty Dawn, constant companion of the Dawnbringer himself when still a mortal man. The weapon was massive, and at first the boy was barely able to lift it off the ground, let alone wield it. But through sheer willpower and patience Thrand was getting stronger every day.

"Watch your footing," Thyrian instructed his son as he chopped away at the poor dummy in his way, his arms crossed over his chest. "Maintaining your balance at all times is paramount, especially with a weapon like that. Otherwise you'll fall over after your first lunge--" Cue Thrand over-extending his reach and promptly taking a spill, stumbling into his father's unflinching form. The onlookers weren't shy about laughing at their prince's tumble, all of them grown men experienced in battle. Son looked up at father with beads of sweat on his brow, with Thyrian dabbing Thrand's forehead with a wet piece of cloth.

"Give it another go, son," he nodded with an encouraging smirk. "You make them choke on their laughter."

[member="Kära Hearthfire"]​

 

[Lief]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shdiTRxTJb4​

​

The ships have come to carry you home...​

​

It had been an eternity since pure white snow had graced the sights of mother and son, and tepid temperatures reigned supreme. Gone were the lush, verdant jungles her last born had grown within... and in their stead, a hostile, frigid landscape of stone and ice. And yet, despite all of this, despite the aches in her bones and the shiver which had befallen her little Snow Prince, Kära's heart could not have felt more alight. Blossomed with the throws of love.

For he was close, now. They both were.

The sound of metal clashing had drawn her attention. They had landed some time ago, away from the great City they had called home, without fanfare or announcement, smuggling their way into their homestead without detection. It was not for the Valkyri to see their Queen in such a way, it was not their eyes which were yearning for her return, she knew that much in her heart of hearts, there were just two in this whole City she had returned for.

And she would be damned if they were not the first to lay eyes upon her.

Upon them.

Theryn remained as fragile as he had been in his infancy, though the heat and humidity of Aurum had strengthened him remarkably. The young boy held her hand as tightly as he could muster, though his free hand clutched a tiny cage close to his breast with all the care and dedication of a mother. Fierce in his protection of what lay within.

She had known better than to deny him it.

As they rounded the corner, Kära drew to a slow as she looked upon the events which were unfolding in the courtyard. A face which had not aged a day in all the years she had known it, and one she could swear she had never looked upon before. Thrand had grown so much it pained her dearly, youth was fleeting and already he was taking on the appearance of a boy who would soon enough be a man in his own right.

Just the sight of them there proved enough to waver her concentration, and the immersion she had cast over herself, the blanket of deception which had clouded both she and her beloved boy from detection, flickered until it was no more.

Laughter was the next thing which cut through her, like a red hot poker it boiled her blood and had her typically icy gaze turn momentarily sickly in colour, as she spied the boys and men snickering at her sons performance. What she wouldn't give to humiliate them, as they were her boy.

And yet... She knew that would be wrong of her. Despite her time away, she was their Queen, she had to be above such, here, on Aurum, wherever she was, she represented her people, and their best interest was at the heart of her actions. Instead she tore her gaze back to her boy, softened her stance as her eyes once again turned chilly yet filled with love, and stepped forward. Theryn was remarkably quiet throughout.

"Such a magnificent blade, my son, you do us proud..."

And it was the truth, her heart swelled with the sight of him, pride, adoration, remorse at their time apart. But mostly a mother's love, for she had come home to find them.

[member="Thyrian Hearthfire"]

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1adlEo05cMk​

Thrand's eyes flickered with blue flame as he raised his weapon once more and made another lunge at the idle dummy, the flawless edge of Dawn cutting the poor thing in half in one swift blow. But the laughter of his audience had already died down before he had even landed said blow, their eyes focusing elsewhere and standing up straight, trying to look as presentable as their unkempt selves could. Looking to his father, he had turned away from Thrand and too stared in disbelief.

To Thyrian, it was as if a being of pure light had suddenly entered the scene, burning away any layers of stoicism he would usually drape himself in and striking at his heart directly. Laying him bare for all to see. His face twitched and his mouth ran dry, and all he could muster was stuttering nonsense. Instead he fell to his knees at the sight of his beloved and their youngest appearing out of nowhere, turning his gaze to the ground before him, for he felt unworthy to look upon such beauty.

Following their King's lead, the men prompty dropped to their knees in honour of their Queen returned. Thrand could not help himself any longer and got up to run over to leap into their arms. "Mama! Mama!" he called out with tears in his eyes, still very much the child she had last seen when she departed Midvinter.

"My Queen," he finally spoke, slowly looking back up at her and little Theryn by her side. "Kära..." His voice trembled as if speaking her name would shatter the illusion of them being there. But it was no illusion. "Snowflake..."

[member="Kära Hearthfire"]​

 

[Lief]

There was no hesitation from mother or son. Knowing now that he and his caged companion were safe, young Theryn settled down the small metal box and, when the moment came, threw his arms around the brother he could barely remember, yet knew in his heart if nothing else. Kära, of course, took no time to sink to her knees and scoop the boy up, though he was getting big - and she was a petite woman even so far as non-Valkyri went - she managed all the same, through the strength of the Force she lifted him in to her embrace, and nestled her face against his neck.

Tears fell, silently, as she held him there. The youngest of their household was far more vocal, sniffling as he hugged his brother's arm, and then turning to the sound of his father's voice. That was not something anyone could forget, and while his mother was preoccupied he stepped around the pair and hurried toward him.

"Papa!" he cried, his fragile body stumbling here and there in his haste to get to his father's side. The man was knelt in the dirt, yet even so he towered over Theryn. Not that the boy minded, he had seen gigantic beasts on Aurum that would scare most, yet he had felt only awe in their presence. The same could be said now, of this man. This gentle giant.

Rising up, Kära kept Thrand within her embrace and walked forward, lifting her face from the boy's shoulder to look upon her beloved, her sun and stars, bringing the family back together as she stepped toward him. Once close enough she leaned in, bringing a full embrace to her husband with the boys gently held between them.

Too many years.

Too much heartache.

"I was wrong" she breathed, turning her face just enough to brush his ear with her lips, "The only people in this Galaxy who need me are right here..."

[member="Thyrian Hearthfire"]

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

The frail voice of their youngest fell upon his ears like an angel's choir and he met Theryn's embrace with one of his own, pulling him in tight and keeping him there in his warmth. The boy had grown since last he saw him, yet still he seemed so fragile and cold to the touch. The complete opposite of his older brother, but even so they shared the same blood and love for one another as brothers should. "My little snowball," he whispered past his ear as he held him, feeling his small nose burying into his neck. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."

A smile of pure joy spread across his face even as tears fell down his cheeks, and as he looked up at Kära closing in with Thrand in her arms he pulled the two of them into the embrace as well. Feeling her touch and breathing in her scent made all his worries go away in an instant, knowing his wife and child were both safe and back home where they belong. When Kära berated herself for leaving, Thyrian shushed her while caressing the length of her white hair, pulling away just enough to look into her eyes.

"You are home now, my love. That is all that matters." The back of his fingers caressed her cheek, ever expecting to find a scar there, before finally he leaned forward to place his lips upon hers for the deepest of kisses. As they kissed the people watching the tearful reunion started to cheer, howling and whistling and laughing. Their kiss would have lasted for an eternity had they not been so interrupted by their well-meaning audience, and so Thyrian rose from the ground and dismissed it all with a nonchalant wave of his hand.

"Alright, show's over, you lot," he chuckled before lifting Theryn up to sit on his arm as the family made their way towards the Great Hall. Thrand made sure to bring Dawn with him, sliding it back into its sheathe and tossing it over his back. "So what's in the cage, Ryn?" He'd been dying to find out the moment he saw him carrying it around. "Did you bring something from Aurum?"

[member="Kära Hearthfire"]​

 

[Lief]

It was in truth a moment of perfection, this reunion of love and blood.

Kära melted within the embrace of her Phoenix, his words proved enough to soothe her mind, and no more thought came to her absence - for now at least - instead the focus was on the present. They had time to make up for, yet as it always had been for she and he the length of time between their seeing one another felt minuscule, it was as though they had said their farewells just a day prior, so effortlessly did they come back together to be as one.

When the kiss was broken, Kära had to resist the urge to pout. Such was not typically an expression she wore, and yet she knew she could have sunk the rest of her life into such a comfort had they not other duties and such to tend to. Her cheeks were surprisingly rosy red, though whether a blush of embarrassment or simply the cold was not obvious. All the same she took her beloved's hand, gently settled her boy to the ground so that he could walk alongside them, and ventured back toward the Hall alongside them.

Theryn glanced over to his brother when the question was asked, and his gaze shifted to the cage which had been settled on the ground a few feet away. From up in his papa's arms, he knew there was no way he could bring it with them to the keep so he looked at his brother with pleading eyes.

"Will you bring it, Thrand?" he asked, settling his head against their papa's shoulder, "His name is Tsun..." The boy said little more than that, a growing grin settling on his lips at the thought of his brother seeing what he had brought back from Aurum, the only thing he truly knew he would miss. He had been blessed to be allowed to bring it with him, yet he knew that Tsun would have had just as hard a time as he if they were parted. The pair were bonded after all, Theryn had saved him, raised him, and it was thanks to Tsun that the boy had gained some measure of strength.

As one grew, so did the other.

[member="Thyrian Hearthfire"]

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

Thyrian stopped a moment to watch as his firstborn practically ran over to fetch his brother's small cage, taking a passing interest in its mysterious contents. He figured it was some sort of pet Kära had gifted her youngest with to spend time with while on Aurum. Thrand tried to peek into the holes of the cage only to jerk his head back when the small creature within tried to nip at him, squeeling as it did. "Woah," he spoke in wonderment, still wanting to find out just what it was but thought it best to wait for the reveal rather than risk losing an eye over it.

The royal family made it inside the Great Hall, its many hearths ablaze to keep the encroaching cold out. It is fortunate that Midvinter wood burns long and slow, or there would be not a single tree left standing today. Thyrian placed Theryn down at the nearest table for Kära to help him shed his layers of warm furs while the King himself took his wife's coat off her shoulders, fingers grazing her pale cheeks and neck as he did. He had missed her in more ways than one; her scent, which could both excite his body as well as soothe his soul, and the touch of her skin so silky smooth.

While Thrand couldn't wait to witness the reveal of his brother's new friend, Thyrian walked up behind Kära and wrapped his arms around her waist, his lips finding the side of her neck for the gentlest of kisses. "Every day and night I thought of you, longed for you," he whispered past her ear while watching their two boys interact. Thrand showed Theryn their grandfather's sword with great enthusiasm, words streaming out of him as he had to catch him up on all the going-ons.

"I knew that you were safe, the two of you. But knowing also that there was nothing I could do keep you safe... It was torture," he continued for her ears only, his lips forming a faint smile. "Thrand has been so brave throughout, so dutiful. Every day I am astonished that someone like me could bring to life something so pure and gentle. I am... undeserving."

[member="Kära Hearthfire"]​

 

[Lief]

The smallest of giggles left the younger boy as Tsun spooked him, oh how he had missed his brother and playmate, the adventures they were owed had mounted, and he knew that soon enough he would be calling in those 'debts'. Both boys had been without, just as much as their parents, Thrand needed time with his mother, Theryn with their papa, the family needed to feel united once again...

Into the Hall they wandered, where great hearths burned. The young boy had become accustomed to the warmth of Aurum, as had Kära, and both were grateful that their home warded off the chill of Midvinter.

When Theryn was placed down, Kära immediately set about removing his fur cloak, and the heavy coat beneath, both were sodden and so she stretched them over the empty table to give them a chance to dry before the hearths. She was surprised, pleasantly so, when Thyrian began to remove her own, and she found herself leaning into the gentle touch of his hand while her youngest boy hurried over to his brother, squishy boots and all.

"Take those off," she said, without turning toward him, "Or you'll lose a toe."

With the boys tending to their own wonder, Kära leaned back into the embrace of her beloved and let out the smallest of sighs. Her body fit perfectly within his arms, two parts of one whole puzzle, and the ache she had experienced since informing him of her plans to leave finally lessened until it was entirely no more.

"You are deserving of all you have and more" she breathed, nuzzling back against him. Without warning she turned, looking up at the gentle giant who had stolen away her heart, "You always were a good man, despite all the meddling that the witch did to you. You are mine, and I am yours, and we have created the most precious of lives... Redemption of the purest form. You are not who you were, we are not who we were... Do not torment yourself, my love..."

Leaning up, she lay a tender kiss against his lips; she had missed him dearly, more than words could tell... But there were ways to show without saying.

Once his shoes were off, and his socks were tossed over by one of the hearths, Theryn sat cross-legged before his brother and listened to all he had to say about the greatsword and everything he had missed. He ran his fingertip against the sheath of the weapon, in awe yet fully knowing that he would never have the strength enough to lift it. He was no fool, he knew that he was not at all like his brother. But that did not bother him.

When his turn to share came, Theryn did not use words.

Instead he dragged the cage over to lay between the two of them, with the opening facing himself, and slowly began to unlatch it. For a moment he met his brother's gaze, and then when he reached inside to what lay within those eyes lit up with adoration.

A small squeal, an attempted screech, echoed through the chamber, as the palm-sized dragon was brought free. It fit perfectly within Theryn's grasp, cupped within his hand. The little thing seemed glad to be free, even going so far as nuzzling against the boys cheek when he lifted him up toward his face.

"Tsun, this is my brother Thrand..."

The little creature looked at the Sun Prince with obvious curiosity, head tilting this way and that. All the while, Theryn continued to grin.

[member="Thyrian Hearthfire"]

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

He was about to say something when suddenly Thyrian felt Kära's lips upon his, and all at once his doubts vanished into thin air. They would always be there, nipping at him; make him feel at odds with himself or second-guess his decisions as High King. Yet when she stands with him in everything he does, all his fears are allayed and subdued until they are but specks of dust, like stars on the night sky. He returns her kiss and turns her around in his embrace, holding her tighter as their kiss deepens and even lifting her off the ground briefly. "I love you, my Snowflake," he said once their kiss came to a natural end, a smile now sat upon his lips.

Meanwhile Thrand watched with awe and wonder as his brother finally unveiled the caged secret, putting his sword aside as the tiny creature revealed itself, crawling into Theryn's open palm. "Woah...!" he gasped, his mind trying to comprehend just what it was he was seeing. "Is that... a dragon?" he whispered, as if the word was somehow taboo. Very carefully he extended a finger towards Tsun, who proceeded to nip and nibble at what he perceived as a treat of some sort. It didn't hurt in the slightest, and Thrand giggled as it tickled him.

"He's so little," Thrand remarked filled with amazement. "Can... can he fly?"

Taking notice of the boys' interaction, Thyrian's eyes widened somewhat. "You brought one of those creatures with you?" he genuinely asked, not trying to sound disappointed or angry. He was just surprised, was all. "You are sure it won't suffer from the cold? Aurum is a fair bit warmer, after all." There was no mention of them not being allowed to keep a pet, far from it in fact; it would do Theryn good to have a friend other than his older brother.

[member="Kära Hearthfire"]​

 

[Lief]

"And I love you," she breathed, nuzzling her face against his neck once the moment had passed, before taking his hand in hers and leading him toward one of the hearths. While he and their eldest boy were naturally warm, she was not quite so fortunate. It had become second nature for her to sit before the roaring flames on Midvinter, even in a place as warm as the Great Hall, somehow a chill always managed to set in to her.

Her gaze shifted briefly to the creature her son had brought from Aurum, and before Thyrian could balk at the very idea of it she turned her eyes up to him with a soft smile of understanding.

"They're inseparable," she explained, "If I didn't know any better I'd think it was nearing a Force Bond... But I don't think such is even possible. Tsun isn't like the other Tejdoru, he shies away from the heat just as much as Theryn. He raised him from an egg..."

Meanwhile, Theryn stood there with the biggest grin on his face.

"They're called Tejdoru, but.. He's a dragon, yeah!" Stepping closer to his brother, Theryn offered the little thing out toward Thrand. It was very curious, tipping its head this way and that, regarding him solemnly, letting out a small screech and nipping at the air. And when his brother extended his hand, Tsun looked back at his handler before hopping onto the end of the Sun Prince's finger. Sniffing the air, testing the waters.

"He can fly a little, but he's still a baby." Truthfully Theryn knew he wasn't the strongest. Like he, Tsun struggled where his health was concerned but as one grew stronger so too did the other. "I think he likes you."

[member="Thyrian Hearthfire"]

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

Happily joining his beloved by the hearth, he sat her down in a chair while he himself kneeled at her feet, taking great care in untying and removing her boots. Placing them to the side as if they were holy relics, he then took her delicate feet in the palms of his hands for a gentle rub, little by little massaging away the cold of the outdoors. "Then, it appears this Tsun has become part of our family," he smiled up at her after having shot a glance towards their two boys. "Thrand has taken to idolising his namesake in recent years. Each night he asks me for more stories about him," he sighed. "I only wish I had more to tell him..."

Once he'd finished massaging her feet he raised one of them to sit upon his shoulder as he turned his head to place the most tender kisses upon her pale skin, caressing the length of her leg in the process. "Now I feel whole again," he told her, eyes opening to look up at her where she sat. The glow of the hearth fell upon her skin, while some parts remained cloaked in shadow. It was incredibly enticing to Thyrian, whose eyes flared up as his intentions began to shift...

Meanwhile, Thrand jumped a little as the small dragon carefully crept down the length of his fingers to sit in the palm of his hand, staring at him with the most wondrous set of eyes. "He's so light... and he tickles too!" he giggled a little before raising his other hand to ball into a fist, then extended his thumb upwards just as a faint blue flame flickered to life, no bigger or more impressive than the light of a candle. He held it out to the small drake to see what he would do, thinking Tsun would show him his powers in return.

[member="Kära Hearthfire"]​

 

[Lief]

She was grateful to have a man as understanding as he.

So many in this Galaxy were rigid, unnecessarily controlling. Once upon a time she could have been regarded as both those things, unwavering, callous, but she had experienced a lot since then, she had changed.

Her gaze fixed upon his as he gently removed her boots, taking care to massage each and bring the warmth back to them. A light blush worked over her cheeks.

"Perhaps you could speak with those closest to him? There are still many within this very Hall who knew your father well, he was loved by so many..."

The look he gave her, the words he used, made her heart flutter, and she became oh so aware of the ache she felt, the longing to hold him. With a small sigh she reached out for one of his hands, bringing it to her lips in order to plant a light kiss there.

"The boys seem happy to see one another," she whispered, "Why don't we give them a little time to reacquaint?"

There was a slight glisten in her eyes at that suggestion, almost cheeky in nature, accompanied by a gentle grin.

Sat where he was, Theryn was ecstatic to realize just how much his brother adored Tsun. There had never been a doubt in his mind that he would, how could he not? And yet to see it play out before his eyes was something else all together.

Sitting on his hands in order to contain his excitement, his eyes drifted to the little tejdoru who was intrigued by what Thrand was capable of. Opening his mouth, the little thing let out a tiny screech before just the faintest blue flame worked its way from inside.

"He's still learning how to," Theryn informed his brother, "Though it's strange, his breath isn't hot like the others... It's cold, like ice. Still burns though..."

Then the little lad turned to his brother, focusing more on him than the dragon for a moment, "How did you do that?" Theryn had never seen a person create fire like that, only Tsun's kind.

[member="Thyrian Hearthfire"]

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

There was no mistaking her intentions, and so without another word Thyrian rose to his feet only to grab hold of her, with one arm hooked under both her legs and the other wrapped around her shoulders. He lifted her up and out of her chair and into his arms, leaving her boots where they lay as he carried his beloved off to one of the side entrances. His eyes never once left hers through it all, filled with naught but pure adoration for the Umbaran woman with whom he'd already spent a lifetime.

"You boys don't stay up too long, you hear?" he called out to their two sons who both were entirely absorbed by the tiny creature Theryn had brought. "Yeah, yeah," Thrand replied, not even casting a glance over at his parents sneaking off. "Lucky us," he whispered for Kära's ears only, a smirk finding its way to his lips as his steps hurried somewhat before the door closed behind them.

Back in the hall itself Thrand demonstrated his newfound powers to his younger brother, blowing out the blue candlelight emanating from his thumb. "I don't know," came his earnest answer. "It just sort of happens on its own, whenever I want it to." Only now did he look to see whether mother or father was watching from afar. Coast clear. "No-one knows I can do this, save for you," he spoke in hushed voice. "I don't want to worry them. I will tell them, just not today. They both looked so happy."

He then held out his hand, and from his palm a small blue flame appeared, gently waving from side to side as if caught by a breeze. "Go ahead, you can touch it. It won't hurt you." He'd gained that much control over it, at the very least. "Papa will know," he then said confidently. Papa always knows what to do.

[member="Kära Hearthfire"]​

 

[Lief]

While the adults left the boys in peace, headed to their personal chambers, Theryn was far too transfixed on his brother and Tsun to so much as notice their absence.

"I won't tell anyone" he said, sitting cross-legged on the floor and extending his hand so that the little dragon like creature could hop back onto his palm. The little guy nuzzled up against his cheek again when he brought him eye-level, though his attention was honestly more focused on his brother in that moment.

Reaching with his free hand, he ran his fingers through the flames and gasped. Thrand was correct, it did not hurt what so ever.

"Do you... Think you could show me how? If you figure it out?"

A long yawn escaped the young Hearthfire then, and he slowly shook his head. Such discussions could wait, right now all Theryn wanted to do was sleep.

[member="Thyrian Hearthfire"]