I put my armor on, show you how strong I am

Yet again so much had been happening at once and the pale warrior queen found herself torn between so many things. But there was one thing she'd felt more sure of as time had passed. The one thing that just...made sense. In all the chaos raging around them, there was that one little thing that remained unchanged.

As the day began to fade, she had been pacing at the shore for a while already. Was this really the best idea? Especially now? Part of her mind was just all too convinced that this should remain unspoken. But she didn't want to spend another day without at least trying to speak of it. No secrets. After yet another moment of pacing and staring out at the sea, she turned and softly called for @Sunder.

And once the floppy eared queen had joined her, she'd aim to lead her to the high cliff from where they could see the sky burn with the fires of the setting sun as it sank beneath the sea.

code by flea, art by irish

The voice that summoned her was one she had not heard in quite a while. She and @Lagertha had a strong friendship, it was not one that needed to be coddled. They could go ages without speaking to one another but would not miss a beat the very next moment they were together again. With her returned title of Queen Sunder was feeling more confident, and of course had settled back into her role with ease. It was where she was meant to be and now that her youngest brood were nearing half a year of life it was time for her to go back to her former duties. She would be a housewife no longer, not when there was war on their horizons. She made her way across the beach, finding Lagertha waiting for her along the shoreline. "Lagertha, now there's a face I never get tired of seeing." She mused with ease as she brings herself to her friend's side. She bumps her head against her's affectionately, a low purr rumbling in her throat before she'd take a seat alongside her. Her icy gaze would glance outward towards the expanse of the sea and the setting sun in it's wake. This was also a sight she'd never get tired of seeing. The Cove was extraordinarily beautiful during this time. "You seem like you've got something on your mind?" She'd prod lightly, returning her gaze back to her friend as she waited.

art by hush

I put my armor on, show you how strong I am

No matter the time that had passed, when they found a moment for each other it was always like no time had passed at all. A blessing in its own way. For it was proof that some bonds truly were stronger than others, ran deeper. And while she'd cared for the pride in her own way, representing them whenever a chance revealed itself to recruit new members, patrolling the borders, hunting, she was still glad that things in their little home had been relatively safe.

"I could say the same about you," she spoke lowly. A moment of gentle affection was shared, a soft purr vibrating in her throat in response. But then she settled next to her, emerald gaze lingering on the horizon, watching the fire of the setting sun glitter over the waves as they crashed onto the shore. True beauty, and it was all theirs. After a moment of silence, the pale furred warrior queen turned to face her friend. "I do." Lagertha exhaled softly, but gave @Sunder a small smile. "I...have to admit that for a time, I have not been....honest with you. And it has been weighing on me. But I would like to change that now, if you'll allow."

code by flea, art by irish

"I could say the same about you." @Lagertha speaks and Sunder chuckles, she was always far too kind to her. After everything Lagertha had witnessed, had been through right alongside her, she was amazed the woman was still here. Her gaze would settle on Lagertha's face, waiting and wondering what was bothering her. She'd never actually seen Lagertha this nervous before, it was a bit unsettling. "I do. I...have to admit that for a time, I have not been....honest with you. And it has been weighing on me. But I would like to change that now, if you'll allow." She cocks her head slightly, her flopped ears preening forward delicately. "Well, do share Gertha.. Gosh you are acting like you killed someone or something.." She pauses to get a good look at her, "You haven't killed anyone right?" She says with a soft laugh, surely that wasn't what was on her mind. Even if she had killed someone, Sunder would obviously help her hide the body. That's what bestfriends do, that's what they are there for.

art by hush

I put my armor on, show you how strong I am

Through everything the lands had thrown at them, they'd stood together, faced it all together. The good times and the bad. No matter what came, together they'd faced any storm. And she knew that no matter the outcome of this day, it was what they'd continue to do. And still, this one thing. It made her heart race like nothing else. She didn't fear the answer. Well, not entirely at least. But what she did fear was that it would change everything, even if they'd continue to face the days together. That it would...create a rift between them.

Exhaling a soft breath, her ears laced back ever so slightly. "You haven't killed anyone right?" Those words alone, despite a soft jest, caused the pale lioness to let out a soft snort. "If I did...well, then I'd be acting a lot different." She couldn't help but chuckle a little. "But this...this is something different." Maybe if she'd have killed someone, it would be easier to say. Maybe then she wouldn't be so nervous.

"When I first came to the Cove, I wasn't really too sure of anything. I wasn't even sure if I was ready to leave my old life behind. But it all came so...easily. And you've always been there. No matter what we went through, we always had each other. And I don't want that to change...ever." At first she was rambling, practically tripping over her words to get them out before she changed her mind about finally telling her. Though eventually her gaze returned to the horizon. "The bond we have...it means a lot to me. But I've also had time to think...and I can't believe I was so blind to it before. At least to me...our bond will never change, no matter how this goes. But it doesn't feel right to keep this from you...feels like I'm lying to you." Shifting ever so slightly, she peered at @Sunder from the corner of her eyes. "What I feel for you...it goes beyond friendship. Beyond anything I've ever felt. And...I'll understand if you want me to keep my distance, because of course you have Kvare and the children and I'd never want to get in the way of what you have and deserve. But I wanted you to know how much you really mean to me."

code by flea, art by irish

Her ears were preened forward gently and Sunder waited quietly for @Lagertha to speak. She could see the nervousness etched across her face, Sunder had always been able to read the woman like a book. "Breathe gertha." She would say quietly, whatever it was, whatever Lagertha needed to share, it would be okay. "If I did...well, then I'd be acting a lot different. But this...this is something different." She would stare curiously, what on earth could have her in such a tense state then? Perhaps it was something that she had done, instead of assuming that Lagertha had done something. "The bond we have...it means a lot to me. But I've also had time to think...and I can't believe I was so blind to it before. At least to me...our bond will never change, no matter how this goes. But it doesn't feel right to keep this from you...feels like I'm lying to you. What I feel for you...it goes beyond friendship. Beyond anything I've ever felt. And...I'll understand if you want me to keep my distance, because of course you have Kvare and the children and I'd never want to get in the way of what you have and deserve. But I wanted you to know how much you really mean to me." For a moment Sunder sits in silence, allowing her words to sink in. And then she thought back, maybe those few moments with shared glances and delicate touches were more than what met the eye. Sunder had never assumed that Lagertha had feelings for her, she had always assumed that Lagertha loved Keligan. That she loved her like a sister and nothing more. But then she wondered, could she do this? Would she want to put their friendship on the line? "Lagertha.." She says quietly, finally allowing that ice blue gaze of her's to rest on her friend's face. "Kvare .. Kvare cheated on me. While I was still pregnant with the children. I know now is the worst time ever to tell you about this but, I've been holding on to this.. anyways .. He doesn't have a say in my relationships, at least not the ones with women." Her lips turn upward in a wry smile then, "I'm only upset that you didn't tell me sooner. That perhaps you didn't feel like you could?" She steps forward then, closing the distance between them with ease. "Thank you.. for loving me despite all that we've been through. And .. loving you is as easy as breathing. Let me love you." She says softly before she'd reach outward, pulling her friend closer before she'd plant her lips against her own. The kiss started soft, gentle, but would move into something more hungry, wanting.

art by hush

I put my armor on, show you how strong I am

For a moment there was silence and she felt her heart racing in her chest. Was she a fool for speaking of her own feelings or had she been a fool for not recognizing how she felt earlier? But she'd taken a leap and was prepared to accept any outcome.

Could @Sunder hear the way her heart was pounding in her chest? It felt so loud in the silence. What a strange thing hearts were. There had been a bond with Keligan, but the one who had truly touched her heart was Sunder. And all this time, Lagertha hadn't understood what her own heart was telling her. They'd been so close from the moment they met, and still she took so long to realize that it was the floppy eared lioness who had truly been her light in the dark. Through pain and heartbreak, they found comfort in each other.

Her mind and heart were racing, but the first words Sunder spoke...they echoed in her mind. "Kvare cheated on me." A faint growl slipped past her lips and her ears laced back. "Sunder....telling me what's bothering your heart and mind never comes at a wrong time. You can always talk to me...that will never change." Though she certainly could sound different, be different, with her...with her she couldn't help the softness that crept into her tone. "He shouldn't have betrayed you like that. Not after everything that happened before. And to do it during such a time...it's just so wrong of him." Her voice trailed off and she felt herself relaxing a little, closing the distance between them just as Sunder did. "I...was a fool for not understanding it sooner. It took me so long to realize what my heart already knew." "And...loving you is as easy as breathing." Just a few words, but they changed everything. "You've always been my light, my Sun and Stars," she whispered softly before their lips met in a kiss that couldn't have been more sweet. Conveying what words never could as they found each other with such overwhelming urgency. Soft paws drew her floppy eared queen closer as the pale furred warrior queen allowed herself to give in, to fully give herself to the love she'd held so dear for so long.

code by flea, art by irish

"Sunder....telling me what's bothering your heart and mind never comes at a wrong time. You can always talk to me...that will never change. He shouldn't have betrayed you like that. Not after everything that happened before. And to do it during such a time...it's just so wrong of him." @Lagertha's reaction was enough to make Sunder think that she had been justified when she attacked Kvare for his actions. "Well, he's a man. Can we really expect otherwise? And that was my karma for what I did to Keligan..." She says it softly, trying to avoid thinking about those times in particular. "Kvare and I don't have a traditional marriage, that much is obvious. I just need him to be honest with me and I need to be honest with him. So, I'm going to tell him about our relationship. Because, if we are going to do this.. then I want you to be my wife. I want you to take the Tollaire name." She says to her carefully, waiting for her reaction. "You've always been my light, my Sun and Stars." There is a warm smile on her face as she rumbles a purr of appreciation against Lagertha before turning her attention back to the setting sun. She waited for her answer, hoping in the least that she would say yes.

art by hush

I put my armor on, show you how strong I am

No more words were needed. All too well did she remember the mess they had found themselves in before. But she too didn't wish to linger on such thoughts, for they had the future to look into. The present to live, a future to shape. And what a future it would be.

While she listened, she took to softly grooming @Sunder's ear and neck, leaving the softest of nips and nibbles in gentle, loving affection. Honesty, something that could avoid heartache, yet could also be the cause of it if it came too late. And for all the pain she too had suffered, the scarred warrior queen knew that this would be different. "Then with honesty, we will share our hearts. Because you've always been in mine." Her words were gentle, the soft tone reserved for those truly dearest to her heart. Though she tried to disguise the subtle shift in her tone, caused by the flutter of her heart. A lover, that was what she would have expected. But a wife? She felt speechless as her heart raced in her chest. For a moment she let the silence linger, turning her gaze to the sky. The fires of the setting sun danced in her eyes, creating emerald flames. But a shift in gathering clouds bathed the two of them in the warm, fiery light as if the gods themselves had chosen to bless their bond.

Perked ears preened forward as her gaze seemed to be looked onto something beyond sight with a reverence she'd never displayed when she was with another. A single paw remained lifted as she stood, her head shifting just slightly to nudge her love to stand with her under the gaze of her gods. "I will be yours and you will be mine. In every way two hearts can be bound. Min kärlek, mitt hjärta." My love, my heart. As she spoke, her voice was still as soft and loving as it had been, yet it carried a power she rarely showed anyone, powerful, confident, a queen even without a throne or crown. "And for as long as I stand, I will be your sword and shield. I will be your wife." Emerald gaze turned from the skies to land on her gorgeous queen, so full of love and pride. "The gods bless us."

code by flea, art by irish

"Then with honesty, we will share our hearts. Because you've always been in mine." Sunder couldn't help the warm smile that took place on her features, maybe she had known all this time that Lagertha meant more to her then just a friend, maybe she had known and just ignored it because she didn't want to hurt her. But now that things were out there in the open, she felt as though honesty was the only thing that could be offered. "I will be yours and you will be mine. In every way two hearts can be bound. Min kärlek, mitt hjärta. "And for as long as I stand, I will be your sword and shield. I will be your wife. The gods bless us." Sunder smiled then, offering her another chaste kiss before she'd pull back, she had to be fully honest with Lagertha. She never wanted to keep anything from her and knew that honesty was the best thing she could give her. "You should know something Gertha.. there was a woman who washed up on our shores, Zabrina. I asked her to be my wife. I see so much potential in her, like a diamond in the rough. I'm not asking you to love her too, I'm just asking that you be patient with me while I test these waters." She pauses, knowing that this could potentially ruin what had begun to bud between them, but trusting that Lagertha would trust in her. "You don't need to take her as a wife, I just .. I cannot help who I am. I was restrained for so long in my old life. Now that I've been really freed from my past.. I want to explore whatever love comes my way with open arms. I would never do anything to hurt either of you, or Kvare for that matter." She says to her then, hesitating, waiting for her reaction.

art by hush