Chapter Text
The twenty-three days went by faster than Neuvillette realized. It seems like it was only last week that he last placed the seal on the Primordial Sea. But between the trip to Poisson and catching up on his duties as the Iudex, time has passed right by him.
“You should try eating a bit more,” Navia tells him from across the table. Dinner tonight has been more quiet than they have been lately, but it’s hard to focus on his wife or the food when he knows how he will end his day.
“I’m not particularly hungry,” Neuvillette replies.
“I just thought it might not drain you as much on a full stomach.” He smiles at the thought and shakes his head.
“It doesn’t work like that, dear.” Still, he pours another helping into his bowl to put her more at ease.
The good news is that the seal did not break yesterday. That means there is longer than he feared before the Primordial Sea becomes too much for him. More time for Navia to fall in love with him.
There are moments he thinks his efforts might be successful. She’s been quite sunny since their visit to Poisson, and her smile is even brighter when he is nearby. They kiss often now, and it’s quickly becoming one of his favorite things to do. Navia makes such pleased sounds when their lips touch, a sound more beautiful than any music he’s ever heard.
“I am worried about how dry the soil is,” Navia says. Apparently, she’s been talking for quite a while, but Neuvillette had been too lost in his own thoughts to notice. “I can’t remember a time where we went this long without rain.”
The boy in Poisson pops into his mind, and a laugh escapes his lips.
“What?” she asks, lips turning up.
“Well, I’m sure you know what rain means.”
Navia rolls her eyes. “Yes, raindrops are the Hydro Dragon’s tears. Every child knows that silly sto—” She drops her fork and blinks at him. “It’s true?”
“Afraid so. You may have to say something to hurt my feelings if you want to see a storm any time soon.”
“So, it hasn’t rained because you’ve been happy?”
“Obnoxiously so, yes.” Navia leans back in her chair and puts her napkin onto the table. He mimics the gesture. “I’ll walk you to your rooms before I go out there.”
“Why? I’m coming with you.”
Neuvillette stares at her, heart pounding in his chest. He can’t let her near the Primordial Sea when it’s this unstable. One wrong move and…
“Neuvillette?” Navia calls out. He blinks and looks down at his hand that’s gripping the side of the table with all its strength. Her hand covers his, and that’s when he notices that she’s crossed the room to join him. “Are you alright?”
“Yes,” he chokes out. When he meets her eyes, all he sees is concern. “I cannot let you come with me.”
“Wriothesley got to come with you.”
“That’s different. Wriothesley isn’t someone I—” Neuvillette shuts his eyes hard, trying to think of the exact phrase that will work on her. “Navia, if you come out there with me, my focus will be entirely on you, not the Primordial Sea. And to keep you safe, I need to focus on the seal.”
Navia lets him get to his feet, but he can see the gears turning in her mind. How did that not convince her the idea is foolish?
“I’m not going upstairs,” she says. “I will stay by the window to watch in case you are too weak and fall.”
“The Melusines will help with that, and they won’t be affected by the Primordial Sea.” As if on cue, two of them come into the dining room to clear the tables. Neither seems to notice the argument happening. Neuvillette gestures with his head for Navia to follow him out.
They are silent as they approach the stairs. Navia pulls out from his arm and plants her feet in front of them.
“Navia,” he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I need you upstairs where you will be nice and safe.”
“I need to be right where I am, actually,” Navia snaps.
“Why are you being so stubborn on this? It’s an unnecessary risk.”
“Because I need to be there to take care of you,” she huffs, throwing her hands up.
It’s an odd thing to say. Navia knows he will be fine. She’s already seen this happen once. He will be weak for a few days, mostly asleep, and then he will be fine. No amount of care would speed up the process.
He’s missing something.
Last time, Navia fussed over him a great deal. Stayed by his side and everything. It didn’t have any impact on his recovery, but he did like it nonetheless. Her attention made the experience less lonely.
That’s her definition of care, isn’t it?
Still, he wants to keep her far from the sea. Frankly, she’s stubborn enough that she’ll just come back down even if he did convince her to go upstairs. Short of having Sigewinne draft something that will knock his wife out, he may be out of options.
“Alright,” he concedes. “You will stay by the window, but you do not come and get me if anything happens.”
“But—”
“Liath will be right beside you the whole time, and if anything happens, you will send her out to get me. Please?”
Her lips purse as she thinks this over.
“If it happens before you place the seal, then yes, I will send Liath.”
He narrows his eyes at her. That is likely the best deal he will strike right now. Neuvillette will think of a better strategy next time.
“Fine.”
Neuvillette leaves Navia’s side to find the Melusines and to make sure they know to watch after Navia. A small part of him wishes Wriothesley were here, but only because he would not let Navia sweet talk her way outside. The Melusines are too taken with the new mistress of the Palais to deny her a thing she wants. Hopefully, she’s still unaware of that fact.
Navia is pacing in front of the window, biting down on her thumb as she surveys the outside. She jumps when he puts his arm around her waist, and he gives her a quick kiss to the cheek. “Relax,” he tells her. “I’ve been doing this for hundreds of years.”
Before he can pull away, Navia catches his hand in hers and gives it a quick squeeze. He’s grinning as he steps outside.
The bridge is already a little damp from the lapping of the waves. Another few hours, and the seal will completely shatter. Neuvillette squats down by the edge and dips his hand into the water. He looks back at the Palais, to the window Navia is watching him from. She’s nervous. Worried.
Before, he would have been elated that she cares enough to worry. But this time his chest hurts. Neuvillete doesn’t want her to ever worry. He wants his wife to be as sunny and joyous as she’s been these past few days.
When he turns his attention back to the seal, he feels something light tap on his head. Neuvillette looks up, and a raindrop falls onto his cheek.
He closes his eyes and focuses on the water touching his hand, pushing and pushing his power out through his fingertips. Minutes pass, maybe hours. Slowly, the seal reforms.
Neuvillette stands up carefully and turns. Navia is still in the window, like she promised. She’s telling the other something, making pointing gestures. The raindrops finally slow as he walks back toward the Palais, toward her.
He’s almost to the door when he stumbles. In a blink, Navia is at his side, putting his arm around her and guiding him foward.
There is a chair waiting for him just inside the door, and Navia gets him off his feet immediately. He doesn’t get a good look at her before Liath puts a towel in her hand and Navia starts drying off his face.
She isn’t gentle.
“Warning would be nice,” he murmurs as Navia switches to drying his hair with the towel.
“You’re going to catch a cold,” Navia says.
“Dragons don’t catch colds.”
Navia leans down and levels her gaze with his. “Is that a fact or a guess?”
“An educated guess,” Neuvillette replies, and she begins toweling him off again. She and the Melusines talk a bit, but he can’t keep up with the actual words. He’s too tired, and all he can think of is his warm bed.
Once she’s satisfied with her work, Navia and Liath help Neuvillette up the stairs. He leans onto Navia more than he should, but he’s terrified of crushing small Liath. Besides, Navia smells so good, like flowers and honey. Once they’re up the stairs, Navia alone takes him into his rooms. He presses a sloppy kiss to her cheek as she guides him down to the bed and whines when she pulls away to take off his shoes. She must take the noise as a shiver because she starts pulling every blanket imaginable onto him.
Though his eyes are shut, he can feel her fussing all around him. A warm towel is put on his forehead. His hair is combed out of his face. She keeps pulling up the blankets.
“I’m warm enough, dear,” he murmurs.
“Are you sure? Is there anything else I can—”
“Come here.” Neuvillette won’t have much longer being conscious, and he wants to feel her closeby while he can still enjoy it.
Navia climbs into the bed beside him. It’s the first time they’ve been in a bed together since Poisson. She tucks herself into his side, helping him get an arm around her before settling in his hold. He grins as he leans into her, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“I don’t like what the Primordial Sea does to you,” Navia whispers.
“Shh,” he murmurs into her hair. “It’s over now.” Her hand travels up to his neck, and the purr echoes through his chest. He kisses the crown of her head. When he opens his eyes, he catches her peering up at him. He reaches up to hold her cheek, savoring the feel of her soft skin. And she’s so warm.
He doesn’t know why he ever sleeps without her in his arms.
“You don’t want that,” she giggles. He must have said that out loud. “I snore.”
“Don’t care,” he whispers. “I just want to be close to you.” He leans down and sleepily kisses just below her jaw. Navia makes an odd squeaking sound, but her hold on him tigthens. “My Navia,” he murmurs. She squirms against him, and each movement only encourages the purring in his chest.
“Your Navia?” she laughs.
“Mine.” He grins at the word, burying his face into her skin. He still isn’t close enough to her, but he won’t get too greedy. “I adore looking at you.”
“Alright, I think the fever is talking now.”
“So beautiful,” he murmurs. “So sweet.”
“Neuvillette,” she laughs.
He runs his nose along her collar bone. “All I think about is you,” he confesses. His eyelids are quite heavy, and he feels warm and strange. But he does adore looking at his wife. “Stay with me,” he pleads. Neuvillette never wants to be parted from her, from the warmth she brings to his world.
“Always.”
He lets out a pleased sigh against her throat.
“Mine,” he repeats.
The last thing he’s aware of is Navia kissing the top of his head.