Morning sunlight filtered lazily through my bedroom windows, casting gentle gold over the rich velvet curtains, pooling onto the lush carpet in soft, glowing patches. Outside, birds sang their annoyingly cheerful songs, oblivious to the fact that so of us had recently survived a kidnapping. Rude of them, honestly.
I stretched beneath my sheets, letting out a sigh that felt like it ca from the bottom of my soul. Smaug still slept curled up at the foot of my bed, snoring softly with intermittent bursts of smoke, entirely undisturbed by morning's arrival.
My door swung open gently, revealing Sylvithra's serene face.
"Darling, you have visitors," she said lightly, a faint smile twitching the corner of her mouth. "I think they've waited long enough."
Before I could ask who she ant, two familiar figures hurried past her into the room, practically tripping over each other.
Aria ca first, her soft brown curls flying in all directions, eyes wide, bright, and already shimring with tears. "Elyzara!" she gasped, lunging at and flinging her arms tightly around my neck before I could even sit up fully. Her embrace nearly knocked back onto the pillows, tears imdiately dampening my shoulder.
"Oh, gods, Elyzara, I was so scared!" Aria sobbed into my nightgown. "We thought—we thought—"
"I'm okay, Aria," I murmured softly, gently stroking her hair. "I promise."
She sniffled, lifting her tear-streaked face, cheeks flushed and eyes red but smiling through it. "You're not allowed to scare us again, ever."
"I'll do my best," I assured her gently.
Behind Aria stood Riven, his dark hair even ssier than usual, shadows lurking beneath his tired eyes. He'd obviously dressed hastily, wearing a rumpled blue tunic slightly askew. He shoved his hands awkwardly into his pockets, trying and failing spectacularly to seem casual and unaffected.
"So you're finally awake," Riven drawled, voice carefully neutral, not eting my eyes. "Took you long enough."
I raised one eyebrow at him. "You missed too, Riven."
He scoffed, looking away abruptly, cheeks flushing slightly. "I did not."
Aria rolled her eyes dramatically, releasing long enough to glare at him. "He paced all night. He made stay awake just so he could tell how worried he wasn't."
Riven glared fiercely at her. "Traitor."
Sylvithra laughed softly from the doorway, her silver eyes twinkling. "Breakfast awaits downstairs. Why don't you all join us?"
Riven visibly paled, shuffling uneasily. "Your family?"
"Yes, Riven, my family," I teased, throwing off my covers and stepping into soft slippers. "You've survived kidnappers, assassins, and rogue magic swords. Breakfast with my parents shouldn't scare you."
"You say that now," Riven muttered darkly. "But your mother glares at like she's considering the best way to dispose of my corpse."
Aria giggled softly, looping her arm firmly around Riven's. "Co on. If Elyzara's family wanted you dead, you'd already be ashes. You're probably safe…probably."
He sighed dramatically, allowing her to drag him toward the dining hall, muttering under his breath about "death by breakfast."
The dining hall was already a cheerful whirlwind of chaos. Aeris was carefully arranging flowers around the table, humming happily. Arion was conducting a negotiation with a servant over extra pastries. Saelira was laughing over sothing whispered by Ilythia, while Eryndor attempted—and failed—to hide behind his coffee cup.
My parents sat at the head of the table, serene and intimidating in their elegance, glancing up imdiately when we entered.
Riven froze mid-step.
Verania's golden eyes narrowed slightly, a faintly dangerous smile curving her lips. "Riven. Good of you to visit."
Riven swallowed audibly. "Um. Good morning, Lady Verania."
Sylvithra gracefully took her seat beside Verania, eyes dancing with amusent. "You're looking remarkably alive today, Riven. Well done."
He coughed slightly. "Thank you. I try."
Aria, blissfully ignorant of Riven's discomfort, gave my parents a respectful bow, eyes bright and smiling. "It's an honor to finally et you, Lady Verania, Lady Sylvithra. Elyzara talks about you all the ti."
Verania's gaze softened imdiately, smiling warmly at Aria. "Does she now? Hopefully only the good things."
Aria bead, instantly charming. "Of course. Elyzara always says how lucky she is to have such powerful and wise parents."
Riven muttered under his breath, "She's definitely never said 'wise' around ."
I jabbed my elbow sharply into his ribs. He winced dramatically.
Aeris popped up suddenly from beneath the table, startling Riven so badly he nearly tripped into his seat.
"Who are you again ?" she asked brightly, eyes wide with excitent.
"Uh—Riven," he stamred. "I'm—"
"Elyzara's best friend," Arion supplied helpfully, climbing up beside his sister and staring curiously. "And you're Aria. Elyzara said you're very smart."
Aria blushed warmly, clearly delighted. "She did?"
"Yep!" Aeris chirped, pulling Aria toward an empty seat. "You're sitting next to . We can share pastries and gossip about my sister."
Riven sank slowly into the chair beside mine, glancing uneasily between Verania and Sylvithra, who both watched him closely. "Am I allowed to eat?" he asked nervously. "Or am I breakfast?"
Sylvithra smiled gently. "You may eat, Riven. We prefer our breakfast less bitter."
Verania chuckled softly, returning her attention to Aria. "Tell , Aria, how did you and my daughter et?"
Aria launched eagerly into her story, eyes shining brightly, voice animated. Aeris and Arion listened in rapt fascination, hanging on her every word.
Beside , Riven's eyes flickered between and my parents, his expression slowly shifting from guarded anxiety to genuine vulnerability. After a long silence, he murmured softly, "I really did worry about you, Elyzara. A lot."
I turned to him, offering a faint smile. "I know. You're a terrible liar."
He scowled, but the mask cracked further, and suddenly tears shimred softly in his eyes, quickly hidden as he ducked his head. "Just don't do that again. It's really inconvenient worrying about you all the ti."
"I'll try not to get kidnapped again, just for your convenience," I whispered, gently nudging his shoulder.
"Good," he mumbled. "Thanks."
Breakfast continued in a comforting, noisy blur filled with laughter, teasing, pastries flying across the table, and my mother's subtle threats toward Riven every ti he reached for more food.
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