I only want your hand to hold

Maea

Like a moth to a flame
burned by the fire

The garden was growing in nicely. Vines of honeysuckle and wild roses wound its way around the perimeter around the Treehouse, and stepping past the arched entryway saw an area transformed by patient diligence, where a cobbled path wound past garden beds and patches of wildflower bursting with colour. The drone of honey bees humming from flower to flower filled the dappled sunlight, hot and fragrant in the late afternoon, and from some half hidden fountain the trickle of water could be heard tumbling into a freshly dug pond. 

Stepping barefoot onto the porch with a tray in her hands, Maea smiled at the sight of Liam's bulk filling one of the chairs. Once, she had assumed that laying eyes on him would become an ordinary thing in time, that she would start to take his presence just a little bit for granted, but so far there was no sign of that happening. Her stomach fluttered softly, a gentle little lirch of gladness to have him back with her, and as she came padding over she barely noticed the fruits of her labor - too lost in the play of sunlight over his skin. Setting the tray down and pouring a cold fizzy drink from the dewing pitcher, she nestled herself on the armrest of his chair and slipped an arm around his shoulders. Offering it to him, Maea nestled her head back against his where it had been earlier, content to simply breathe the scent of his skin and listen to the forest, to his breath and the gently rising bubbles in the glass. 

Lately, her peace had been like this. Silent and complete, filled with the small daily things that once had made her restless and discontent, longing to be elsewhere. Now she hardly left the house, and certainly not the forest. Travel boots had gathered dust in the rack, and she took more delight in the successfully baked loaf of bread than at news from distant lands. It was her cookies laid out on the plate bebside the pitcher, her own mint grown and tended that left its icy fragrance on her fingertips, hers all the beehives and budding apples and boquets of drying herbs hanging beneath the eaves over their heads. Days like these, she felt as though she'd walked into a dream without end. Sun bright and honey sweet.

That's the way love goes

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

It was a lazy summer afternoon, and Liam was enjoying life to the fullest.

The freshly designed garden was humming with life: bees bumbled back and forth from flower to flower, birds chirped and flitted overhead, and a water fountain burbled in the background of it all. The ex-soldier sat in a comfortable chair on the porch, book in hand, determined to enjoy the unseasonably pleasant day. All Longheat, it felt like he'd been battling wildfires or choking on smoke, and this clear weather was a balm to his tired soul.

Movement caught his attention, and Liam looked up to find Maea stepping onto the porch, barefoot and beautiful, and he smiled as she approached to sit on the arm of his chair. Snaking an arm around her waist, he tugged her gently to his lap, pressing a kiss to her temple as he did so. The drink was accepted with a soft word of thanks, the book set aside, and for a moment, Liam was content simply to sit in comfortable silence with his partner.

But where Maea had been content to settle into a peaceful, quiet life away from the prying eyes of the world, Liam had been restless in recent weeks, traveling here and there in an effort to figure out what it was that he wanted to do next. He was happy - blissfully so - in so many ways, and yet he still felt a drive to find a purpose. The Greatwood was bustling, but it still had little need for an ex-soldier like him; while he found joy in continuing physical pursuits, it was not strictly necessary for his lifestyle now. He'd finally settled on a few short trips away from home to explore carpentry in other regions, opting to learn some of the traditional skills of the trade while incorporating the unique blend of form, function, and life found only in the forest.

Still, no matter how often he traveled, his heart remained here - with the Greatwood, it was true, but with the woman who waited for him, too.

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

Maea

Like a moth to a flame
burned by the fire

Wiggling into a comfortable position upon her partner's lap, a soft hum of contentment colored Maea's breath, a sigh of naught but relaxation and bliss. If she could have fused herself to Liam and stayed like this forever she really might, with the only hesitation being the loss of other, even more pleasant ways to sit. Possibly she'd become clingy, since he began to take these little trips. The absence,however brief and encouraged, certainly proved beyond a doubt that she preferred her life with him in it, within arm's reach or closer - since settling under his ribs and fusing was so impractical.

Snaking a pale tail out to fetch a cookie from the tray, Maea gazed absently out across the sea of trees. From their house only the most immediate neighbours were clearly visible in the daylight, and not until dusk would the lights of the Sidhe Village reveal the presence of others. For once, the air was clear and free of the scent of soot and ash; no plumes of smoke could be seen, though with the relentless heat she had no doubt that this reprieve wouldn't last.

"Were you planning to head out again?" she wondered quietly, licking the crumbs off her lips before reaching for a second helping of sweets.

That's the way love goes

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Liam was thoroughly convinced that he'd never be quite so happy again as he was in this very moment, only to be proven wrong time and again as the clock ticked ever onward and each new moment with Maea became his favorite. As she settled contentedly onto his lap, his thumb rubbed gentle circles where it rested on her waist; with his free hand, he reached to snag a cookie of his own, devouring it before licking the crumbs from his fingers. "Eventually," he replied. "Though I must admit, I'm not inclined to leave again any time soon." His last trip had been harrowing, with a jaunt up to Halo and a battle with an angry ursur under his belt. Besides, with days like this to look forward to at home, why would he be eager to depart?

Snuggling Maea closer, his gaze roved over the garden, happiness and pride beaming from his smile as he said, "You've really brought this place to life, you know." His existence before Maea had been functional, but never beautiful. His cottage, while well tended, had been relatively plain - a place to survive, perhaps, rather than to live. But now, living in the Treehouse with Maea, it was like the entire forest had brightened. Colors were more vibrant, smells more enticing. Even the drinks and cookies she'd brought out were more enjoyable than they might have been in other company. "It's strange - I've been surrounded by nature for years out here, but the Treehouse makes it easy to feel... a part of nature. And that's all thanks to you."

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

Maea

Like a moth to a flame
burned by the fire

A faint smile betrayed her pleasure at his answer. Certainly she didn't begrudge him trips and adventure - especially not since she was free to go off on her own, or even join him if she wished - but this quiet existence together in the shared space of a home beat all the magical sights of Caido, and Maea was grateful for every day she got to keep him for herself. Inclining her head to catch his gaze as he went on, that smile only grew, flushing her pale complexion with pleasure and returned devotion that might have seemed frightening if it hadn't been so tender.

"I'd say that it's because of you, though," she replied, voice quivering with quiet mirth. "I'd never care to do anything if I were alone. What's the point, if there's nobody to share it all with? " Nuzzling his cheek with her nose, she sat in quiet contemplation for a moment, before going on. "Well... I guess there's the Greatwood, too. I don't really feel alone when I'm here, even while you're away. Both because I know you'll come back eventually, and... well... because it's home, I suppose. Like  I belong. Do you feel it too?" Whether it was the Mathair's connecting influence or the winding rivers, the multitude living hearts beating close, or simply the slow pace of life lived among the Fae, it spoke to her, calmed her and healed wounds she'd tried to simply endure before. Once she would have felt shame over her willingness to stay in one place, to let others deal with a problem, to take care of herself for once... but when day after quiet day passed and life went on without the sky falling down, she realized - finally - that if anyone actually needed her, they were perfectly capable of reaching out on their own. And when that sank in, and she found that her hands were free to occupy themselves with whatever she wanted, her nightmares lessened, and the gardening began in earnest.

That's the way love goes

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Coming home was always the highlight of Liam's trips abroad, not only because the forest had long been a safe space for him, but because his partner now waited there for his return. He wondered, sometimes, if she would ever tire of the life they'd built. It was quiet, peaceful, but he feared that one day she would grow bored with tending the garden - bored with him - and decide that perhaps a new adventure would be worth leaving all this behind. But every time he thought that, he reminded himself of their promises of forever, of vows and oaths more binding than any he'd sworn before, and he managed to talk himself out of any lingering trepidation.

"You do belong," he said now, smiling at Maea with a tenderness reserved only for her. "But yes, I do." The Greatwood was connection, after all; so many living creatures lived within its borders, all intricately and uniquely tied together. Besides that, this was the land where he had finally healed, where he had found love again, where he'd been given a second chance at happiness. It would always be the place to which he would return.

"I was thinking about a trip to King's End next," he said after a moment. "Not soon, but before the end of the season. I think a lot of the Breakers who evacuated Stormbreak ended up there, and they might need some help settling." It was strange to think of the city being gone, of no longer being able to visit his family's graves. Liam sighed. "It's still hard to believe it actually fell."

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

Maea

Like a moth to a flame
burned by the fire

Sobering at the reminder of Stormbreak's fate, the pale ancient nodded slowly. It was indeed hard to believe. One of those sights she'd have to see with her own eyes before it truly sank in and became real. Unfortunately she knew exactly what it felt like to have your homeland change beyond recognition, and the slender hand that caught Liam's was cool withempathy as she squeezed his fingers.
"Would you like me to come with you?" Thinking of Sohalia, of Noe who would never get the chance to repair her relationship with the floating island now, of all the ancient structures and irreplaceable works of art and tradition had a surge of melancholy rise up within her. "It would have been nice to be able to offer more than simple condolences. I'm sure the Greatwood would welcome any who don't wish to stay in King's End... " She certainly would, even though it felt a bit presumptuous to say when she had neither obligation nor authority to follow through. She didn't want to make idle promises anymore, yet she felt the threat of turning complacent like a fog looming on her peaceful horizon, as turning silent came dangerously close to turning away from important matters.

That's the way love goes

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Maea's hand on his brought Liam out of his reverie, and he blinked, shifting slightly in his seat as he came back to the Greatwood, his worry about Stormbreak's fate taking a back seat for now. There was nothing left for him there, anyway; his only concern was for the citizens who had still called the city home. From what he'd heard, the evacuation of Stormbreak had been successful, but even so...

"You are always welcome to come with me," Liam said. "But you don't have to, if you're happier here." The Greatwood was, after all, their little safe haven. It was easy to fall into peace here, but even so, Liam didn't want to ignore the rest of the world. He'd done that once before, and look what had happened with the Family. No - if danger lurked on the horizon, or if they could be of assistance outside of their home region, Liam wanted to be ready.

"It's funny," he mused aloud. "Everyone was eager to come here when they were hunting roses, but with the Family gone, it's like we've gone back to not existing. It would be nice if people remembered that the Greatwood was here, and that it has something to offer, if they'd just give it a chance."

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

Maea

Like a moth to a flame
burned by the fire

"Even if I am that, it doesn't mean I'll never leave the woods again." Patting his hand, Maea eased herself upright and reached for the pitcher. Pouring a drink for herself, she sipped the cool liquid and contemplated the expanse of green visible from their elevated seat. Here and there a faded hue of green or the ashen remains of a tree served a stark reminder that even in her quiet paradise life went on, neither set apart nor immune to trouble or tragedy. Stormbreak may be half a world away, but the fall of that great city would surely send ripples through the rest of Caido one way or another.

Listening to Liam's musings, the youthful seeming ancient rolled the glass between her palms, then reclined back again, settling against his chest with a contented hum. "Mmh. Well. I can't say I blame them. Compared to the other inhabited regions, this one is on the rougher side. No roads to speak of, unreliable trees that change the path under your feet, the Fae can be quite reticent... and there's no clear leadership. No one to turn to for help or advice, so unless you're able to fend for yourself... Would you bring your traumatised family here as a first choice?" With nothing to their name but what few possessions they could carry away in their arms, limited funds, uncertain prospects for the future... Maea shook her head. Much as she loved the Greatwood, it was not an easy place to relocate to.

That's the way love goes

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Sometimes it was easy to forget that the Greatwood wasn't particularly habitable. Liam had been blessed when moving here to have some semblance of survival skills - and what things he hadn't known how to do, he had managed to learn quickly. But the forest wasn't like any of the big cities scattered throughout Caido; there were fewer vendors, fewer luxuries. There wasn't as much space for large-scale farming, and most people relied on what they could grow on their own or what they could hunt or forage. Especially in recent years, trade with other regions had been limited. Without formal leadership to guide the region, it was difficult to make deals with outsiders.

"You're right," Liam agreed. "I suppose, if I were in their shoes, I'd choose King's End or Torchline before the Greatwood," Not Halo, perhaps, with the cold and unforgiving tundra; nor the Grounds, which had a history that might dissuade some from venturing that way. "But still... I wish there was something we could do more than offering condolences." It seemed... wrong, that they should be so happy and content, when so many had just been displaced from their home and now had nothing to do and nowhere to go.

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

Maea

Like a moth to a flame
burned by the fire

There was something, of course. They had discussed it before, dropped the matter, then tiptoed around it with endless excuses cropping up, so that in the end nothing ever happened. It was a matter of determination in the end, Maea supposed. Of making up their minds and taking the leap into a role that came with both temptation and responsibility. For her part, she knew that Jigano had been right, when long ago he blamed her for being power hungry. Well intending, sure, but entirely too enticed by the idea of molding the world to her preferences. At the very least she should never be in a position of complete authority, and that meant not ruling anything on her own. As for Liam... she suspected it was a matter of confidence, or lack thereof. Perhaps also a certain learned passivity that inclined him to wait for permission, or for someone else to take the lead in decision making. Certainly she didn't begrudge him for it, nor did she really mind being the one who took the lead in certain matters, but... this time, she couldn't quite tell what he really wanted.

"What would you like to do, if you could decide?" she asked, pale eyes watching him steadily; as much enjoying the excuse to admire the color of his eyes as she was curious to know his train of thought.

That's the way love goes

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

It was difficult for Liam to see the bigger picture at times. They had skirted around the idea before, of course, but he'd always felt wrong for the role. It was not his to take; he was not worthy of such a mantle. And yet... he had lived here, among the Fae, for longer than most. He had stayed, even when the Void claimed the region. He had worked to protect it for seasons now, stepping out of a passive role and into something akin to stewardship of the region. And what's more, he wanted to do more. He'd never craved power, but he had to admit now that it was something that he could use to do good in the world.

He met Maea's pale gaze, nervous but unwavering. "I want to bring the Greatwood back," he said. "I want to help people to see that it doesn't have to be somewhere frightening, that despite its unique challenges, it's worth living here. And for that to happen, we need leadership. And... well, if no one else is going to step up to do it... I think I want to try." And that was all he could do, really - try his hardest, no matter what may come. But it also wasn't something he wished to do alone. He reached up, tenderly tucking a strand of hair behind Maea's ear. "Would you... want to help me?"

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

Maea

Like a moth to a flame
burned by the fire

Tipping her head into his touch, it took some willpower to reign in the bubbling exaltation when it started up. Once again he had managed to surprise her. Sometime during the part year he had changed, and she hadn't noticed, but gods if she didn't love him even more for it.
"I would, yes," she replied as a warm smile broke out across her lips, warming the pallor of her gaze like ice kissed by morning light. "I'll be with you every step of the way. How do you want to do it? There's probably Fae traditions around appointing Guardians and we can't ignore those, but there's some practical things we'll need, like an office..." It was just like her, to leap straight for the logistics of a matter. Before the reality of what they were saying fully settled she was already going over what announcements needed making, who they might call on for help if needed, what obstacles to circumvent –

"We'll have trouble with the Grounds, I'm afraid... I'm not really on speaking terms with The Maverick." Or with Deimos, for that matter. Sunjata was reasonable, and Flora she could at least speak to, with varied results, but the others...

That's the way love goes

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Liam hadn't realized how much he'd been relying on Maea's answer until she gave it and a part of him that had been holding his breath relaxed. His smile was radiant as she responded, and he couldn't help but chuckle as she jumped right into the logistics, as though this was a question she'd been waiting for him to voice. "I was here when the previous Guardian took her place; I can't remember the Fae being particularly bothered with the appointment, but we can certainly look into it. Do you have any thoughts on an office? We can use what's been used before, if we clean it up, or we could start fresh...?"

As for the rest, Liam hummed thoughtfully. "I don't know any of the other leaders particularly well," he said slowly. "I'm on decent terms with Deimos and Flora, but I've never met the others. Maybe that will be a blessing, though - I could handle matters with other regions, if you think it might help?" At the very least, perhaps they wouldn't have preconceived notions about him, or a history to draw from when treating with him.

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam