AU - MAGNI & LAKSHMI

[mahalakshmi]

if you'll be my light, i'll be your shelter

i. first meeting | a non existent engagement and a hasty marriage ii. a tempertantrum in a thunderstorm | sticks and stones may break my bone but words will leave me with crippling anxiety (and a headcold) iii. a kindness of intimacies | nsfw, sometimes, love is like falling into an icy lake iv. just like the battle of troy, there is nothing subtle here | when the world conspires to consistently make you insecure about your wife.

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[villieldr]

This is Talonhold. A cold place, by the measure of some. Forests and mountains that hold greater wealth than can be easily guessed; here, the offerings of the mountain and the sky have made them rich in their spirits, but it is the bounty of the mines that have given them most of all. Seams of precious metals, and in the hands of very capable smiths—

yes, the wealth of Talonhold is known. The family that rose with that wealth, perhaps less so. Their name is new and evolving, the tradition of changing by generation. The wedding of the wealth and potential of that line to a respected name, reputation, to those whose blood is proven noble in character and generations of established rank and dignity, is essential.

Magni Fjorleifdóttir's heart had betrayed her, in the past, and so it was that she and her family consulted to secure her a wife before scandal could sabotage such a possibility. So here she stands, a mountain of a woman standing in the courtyard, while the sky threatens a deluge.

Was this right, for either of them? Did it matter, if it was what would secure the happiness of so many that they each held dear?

[mahalakshmi]

It was freezing, it was worse than freezing. Even with the extra shawls and drapes and her ladies huddling together with her inside the carriage. For a daughter of deserts, of hot dry winds that have always drenched her skin, this was like having the sun itself sucked out of her bones, even as it beat down a bright day in the mountains as they wound up and up. A safe pace, she was assured despite what felt precarious.

The only comfort she has to it all is the blade that she held in her hands. The token of their marriage, that even when the ceremony had been finished, Lakshmi refused to relinquish to anyone. Which wasn't done properly or as it ought to be, not even a word put out before it had to be done. But for a family of no wealth but a great name... they were happy to trade out a daughter for a great bride price, and Lakshmi? She knew well enough what had to be done. So it remained to her the only proof that it had even happened at all, and for it, the blade didn't leave her hands. Not until she'd put them into her wife's hands.

Still, they had been something once, and maybe that was not the only sign she had been married. Or so her mother had insisted as she was packed off in a hurry, stricken with losing her daughter so suddenly. Her wedding clothes, her wedding jewels - that she would not arrive a shame to the family. Of utmost importance that she arrives looking like a boon to the family, not the decaying attempt of a family's effort to save itself. That even as they get the call that they will be there soon, her ladies ( all two of them ) crowed in, fussing at her tremendously. Pinching cheeks and roughly her lips, fixing the dark kohl around her eyes. Making sure that nothing was out of place as they set her veil in place.

So that when the carriage finally rolled to a stop - and Lakshmi stepped out, there really could be no mistaking her as anything else but the bride so recently arranged. Her skirts held in front of her by one hand, the other holding the blade. Striding out to the gaze of the household, no doubt. The bite cold so much worse outside but she utterly refused to shiver and let that be the first thing people noticed about her. To the attempt, her jaw clamps shut and the thin nature of her clothes is far too obvious. All that exposed skin was a mistake. THink of father, little brother, mother - she lifted her head at long last, striding determinedly forward through the courtyard.

She'll be the tallest person there, tall as a giant, you can't mistake her. That of course, didn't cover the fact that they were all bloody tall. A land of giants and she felt like she didn't come up to their elbows even if she did stand on her toes. But - who else would be tall, and be standing on the step. Oh, please, be the right one.

Because if she isn't, it's a little late when Lakshmi falls to her knees in front of the tall woman blond woman that matched to the description she'd held like cut glass in her mind ( a shape certainly, but utterly transparent of any details ). Holding up the sword, consciously aware of the hundred eyes following this exchange with a heat that made up for more than all of the cold, looking determinedly up - "I present the blade that I was married upon." Her breath turned to a cold fog in the air. "To my wife."

[villieldr]

She will catch her death of cold. Magni’s mouth is caught in a slight frown, concern watching her brow as her bride, her wife, kneels before her. Carefully, Magni takes the blade in one hand, and her other catches her wife’s own. The gesture is a little stiff, as though she fears it is a presumption. Rather than pulling Rani up, she drops to one knee.

“You honour me,” she says very softly, voice rasping and quiet, roughened by past injury to her throat. Before she stands up, Magni unclasps her cloak, fur-lined, and slides it from her shoulders. As she has been gifted with the blade, so she brings the cloak around her wife's shoulders, clasping it. Better not to be frozen through, and she will have to ensure that her lady and her ladies in waiting are properly supplied with items warm enough to keep them safe in the harsh weather.

Magni dips her head, and takes Rani's hand again before she stands, hoping that Rani will stand as well. Ceremony would be daft if her wife froze to death amongst all the flourish and welcomes. Magni nods to one of her servants, and he bows, moving towards the house.

“Welcome to Talonhold,” she adds stiffly, all too aware of the assessing eyes and the inevitable judgments being made, and wanting to spare both of them the scrutiny. Welcomes and warmth and talk of home and being comfortable and everything else that would be appropriate feel too much and too silly.

storm shelter

[villieldr]

The rain lashes against her face, whiplike with the force of the wind. The boughs of the trees creak and groan, and Magni's horse thunders over the ground. She dare not go too far ahead with the visibility beginning to suffer as the storm rips the sky apart. They aren't far from the shelter, and waiting to make sure Rani is still with her, Magni thinks she can make it out in the grey light.

The good thing is that this is one of the groundskeepers lodges, so there are stables and supplies for the horses, and Magni grabs blankets to rub them both dry, and puts fresh straw into the stalls for them to rest on, and hay for them to graze on and warm their bellies. The lodge itself is functional, but was built for function over luxury.

Her first move is to gently catch Rani's elbows, so she can study her face. Now she has her under shelter, there is room to worry, for something to be done about the worry. "Are you hurt?"

They need a fire, but this first.

[mahalakshmi]

This is all her fault. She had let them, at long last, get to her. The gossip, the sniping, the pitying little comments that every day was spoken to her with a hushed murmur, a pat on her hand.

Poor dear, married to the Earl of Talonhold. Pity, she was such a pretty girl, they're all sure there is plenty to like about her, how awful for it to be wasted. They went on and on, every day, from noble to commoner. Well-meaning, certainly, a great of them. Most of it she could endure gracefully. But the straw that truly broke this particular camel's back was when she had gone for her morning ride through the village - 'oh, Lady Demetria was quite the lady, she shouldn't take it to heart that she couldn't expect to be an easy replacement after a heartbreak like that.'

As if that was something any newlywed wanted to hear. Or well, a few months now. Enough that as she went back to the Hold, she was utterly furious. Demanding the second she returned to go out again - she didn't care where just anywhere that there weren't any doddering little mamas to tell her about all the things she wasn't: not her wife's love, not the Lady of the Hold she was expecting, not what anyone had wanted to begin with. Repeating like a tuneless singer.

Was it possible to be heartbroken when you had never been in love to begin with?

She snaps out of her thoughts, looking up at Magni as she is pulled in, addressed. For once, she can't help it. For the first time since their wedding night,- she meets her gaze directly. "I'm fine," she insists as she had before. There was no physical injury, regardless, that needed fussing over. Just that she still felt sick and light-headed with her leftover humiliation of the morning.

[villieldr]

"Fine?" Magni repeats, carefully rather than incredulously, no matter what she feels. Rather than release Rani, she keeps her hold, though it is not hard to break should Rani wish to. "Ignoring the warnings of storms isn't 'fine,'" she adds, gentle, not a rebuke but an expression of concern.

It is— nice, to be so close to Rani. She feels a faint twang of guilt at how much she enjoys it, as she brushes some of the wet hair from Rani's face, fingertips lighting tracing brow and cheekbone with the gesture. She needs to start a fire, grab blankets for each of them, see if there might be some food, but the thought of pulling away is far too much.

you make bath time so much fun

[villieldr]

Going down to the lake was one of Magni's favourite things to do. She felt, at times, that she had grown up in the water or running across ice, and the shores of the lake are lined with a thick birch forest. In winter the entire place felt as though it were crafted from silver and marble. Birch bark papery under her fingers. Nature and the physical world, things that she could touch and feel and shape with her hands felt so much more easy to understand and grasp than words and conversation. People were far more confusing and complex.

Today she walked the lake with Rani and some others, a party head down to the ice on the lake to see if it were thick enough for skating, and to show Rani just how beautiful winter could be, when drops of water had frozen into glassy pearls hanging from the stark reaching branches and across spiderwebs, show her the tracks of animals in the snow.

They'd barely reached the shore when a child coming running for them, panicked and sobbing, out of breath. He was pointing to a hole in the ice and managed to get it out that his big brother had fallen into the water, that the ice where they were fishing had shattered beneath him. She had started to run, and Krogstad had followed. One of Magni's friends had gone running back to the Hold to send word for a doctor, and the remaining pair of Magni's friends needed to take a moment to orient themselves and figure out what they could do to help. Magni had already thrown down her cloak and stripped away her boots, even as Krogstad protested, lying belly down on the ice to spread his weight, and passing Magni a rope to tie about her waist. In reality it all happened very quickly, but it felt oddly slow, and then she was struggling against the shock of freezing cold water biting into her flesh.

For a time she disappeared under the water, and there was nothing - and then the rope pulled taught, three jerks, and Krogstad roared to the others to pull. She breaks the water, hauling a boy with her that could barely be much older than thirteen or fourteen, and there is a painful pause before he begins to cough up water. For her part, Magni flops onto her back on the ice, and then it feels like a very long time before she is back at the hold and feels warm again, though she is aware of Krogstad's consternation.

They all of them returned to Talonhold, the two boys included. The brothers, Terrence and Orrin, were from the local village, and their parents ran the hardware store. They were alerted and currently all in Talonhold as the boy recovered and the doctor sees to him.

Magni still felt cold, but finally her bath was ready, and she just wanted to slide into it.

[mahalakshmi]

It all happens so quickly. One moment she's rugged up to her eyes in as many layers that - Magni had wanted her to see and, in their very slow, careful courtship, she could not refuse no matter how much going out into all this snow seemed like a miserable notion.

( That, even despite how much she might not like the cold, Magni was right, it was beautiful, crystal-like stories out of myth. A cleanness to the air that stung sharply in the back of her throat. )

All in all, despite how Kashi was squealing behind her about the cold. It was a magnificent day, or it was starting out like one. The unease of the last months was starting to fade away. Right up until it all went wrong. Helpless, she watched as Magni shucked her clothes and dove straight into the icy water after the boy.

There wasn't much she could do but usher the boy that was panicking over his brother in front of her, giving him her hand to hold. Letting him take it firmly as they both watched in fear, waiting, waiting to see what would come. If anything did. If they had both lost what mattered most to them.

Which was a revelation that she would have to sort out later. The second Magni reappeared out of the water, the rest was a shout of orders. A suddenness that seized her as everyone looked about unsure of who was to proceed and how - that out of sheer worry, she takes over. That immediately the men jump to. Hoarding her away out of the cold and snow. Up into her quarters. Shouting to get a warm bath run. Letting Krogstad and another of the men haul Magni with arms over their shoulders, the rest of the way back up to the keep.

Once settled, she shuts everyone else out of the room with one firm order - if anyone was going to be undressing the Jarl, it would her wife. The door bars to give them some measure of privacy, as much as any Lord or person of rank could truly have, and came back to her.

She doesn't waste any time, her own heavy cloak shed and dropped away, half soaked from the snow. Dropping down to Magni's feet and beginning to unlace her boots. Yanking at the laces as she gets one shoe undone and begins to tug it off.

[villieldr]

Magni blinks, a little surprised, and lifts her foot to make the tugging easier as she starts to undo the bindings of her leather gloves. Soaked, now, possibly beyond saving if the leather cracked. It hardly seems to matter, as she tugs at the gloves to pull them away, and sets them down beside her.

Thank God that Rani is here. She smiles very slightly, and reaches to touch her wife's face. Ever cautious, ever gentle, as she leans forward with one elbow braced against her thigh.

"I'm sorry," she says, softly. It's easier than sorry if I scared you and I hope those boys are okay and are you alright?. Probably all of those things come before the other aspect of I'm sorry our walk was disrupted. (Some part of her is vaguely aware that in coming days she will endure lectures from Krogstad and her mother, well intentioned, loving, scared things. Right now she barely has any mind or awareness of it, though. Her focus is all on Rani, if she is alright, though she's trying to gauge her wife's mood, after she so fiercely chased everyone else away.)

[mahalakshmi]

It shouldn't have been a surprise when he'd said it. The well-meaning Lord, giving his good wishes as she had to duck out of a meal that, more often than not lately, the smell of made her sick.

But looking down at her right now, flat, stomach, she honestly had not a clue what on earth to do about it. Pregnant? When. How.

Well, she knew how. She knew several times over how. For all people in the world for the spirits to bless - her teeth grit. Unsure, more than angry, and not quite sure what to do about it. Magni's mother had followed her almost immediately, questioning her. This was far too rare to simply happen, and given Magni's past engagements, she couldn't fault the people here for being questioning over such an event.

The last few months, however, become too clear. How her stomach churned at smells she liked. Her previous unheard of inclination to doze in front of the fire of an afternoon, inexplicably tired for reasons that at the time, she hadn't questioned too hard. How for the first time she had started to eat all of these huge mountain dinners they were so fond of.

Flat, was it really? It had to have been at least three months, like this. ( The faint burn of heat - thinking about which particular event, and realising, suddenly, it had to have been the forest. Whenever would they have been as soaked in magic as each other? ) She gets up, going to the long mirror that adorned her chambers. ( Hers, not Magni's, she had to be alone so suddenly. Every servant sent out of the room, shutting the door on all of them with the strict understanding that she was not to be bothered. )

Standing in front of it, she adjusts her dress, moving the material, to pull it taut over her belly. To see how it sat now that she was really looking.

There, there it was. Nothing she ever would have noticed under the bulk of the Talonhold garments. But... there was no mistaking it now she looked. Transfixed, she ran her hand over her belly. Focused so, she doesn't hear the door open behind her. Just smoothing over the beginnings of the bump. Cupping her hand below it.

[villieldr]

For long moments she watches from the doorway, silent. Mindful of the fact that one of Lakshmi's ladies had tried to shoo her away, and had yielded only because of the power of a beseeching gaze that some might compare to a puppy.

She didn't make a habit of entering her Rani's chambers purely because this might be one of the rare spaces that was exclusively Rani's. She might favour certain locations, and Magni might make those as free to her as she can, but Talonhold and Edverfell were Magni's home, and Lakshmi's sense of her own space needed to be treated as sacred.

She's can't bring herself to intrude without permission, no matter the pleading she had turned on Kashi.

"Min løveinne," she finally says, voice as soft and low as ever. She can see her smoothing over her belly, and she longs to go to her. "May I come in?"

A SHIPWRECK AFTERMATH.

[villieldr]

"Who dares," she calls out, voice ringing out across the great hall, "to raise their voice against my wife?"

Magni Fjorleifdottir, the Jarl of Edverfell, the talon of the sky's grasp, the mountain of the mountain. She stands tall, stern, flanked by those who have made it back with her. Krogstad, Nørgaard, Benedicte, they stand first amongst them. None of them look pleased, as Magni strides into the hall of her home, and towards Westermark.

It had been twenty-six days of hell. Of desperate survival and pure luck, part of it. Of hunger, of making it back to land only when one of their number who they had managed to pull from the wreckage and into the tiny rowboat had died from their injuries. Of making it to the home of an elderly couple who had no notion of who they were and helped them regardless, and who Magni was determined to see rewarded for all he did - four of her men were still there being tended to. Of having to travel across a rugged landscape and relying on her name and reputation to get them horses, when finally they were in a fit enough state to travel. They were all of them thinner, and for all their losses, coming home was still meant to be a joyous thing. But this— snake sought to undermine her Rani?

The servant had been shocked to see her, all of them, but there had been hurried whispers of what Lakshmi had endured in their absence, even as Krogstad had hurried after Magni to ensure no skulls gave way.

"Anyone who dares to question her authority in this place, do not doubt that I will know your names before the day is done, and that Talonhold does not forget disloyalty."

[mahalakshmi]

Twenty-six days, twenty-six days since they had told her, most surely, her wife must be dead. The Jarl of Talonhold, must have perished in the ocean.

She knew why, when the news broke like a storm cloud, that Magni's ship had been swept up in a storm at the Jarl's landsmeet. They saw, in that moment, not the wife of the Hold, from an ancient and powerful noted for how they had done war, served in loyalty unto death. But a woman, only two years into her marriage, and well into her seventh month pregnant, sitting alone, and vulnerable in her seat of power. Beginning to slow down in her pace, as she carried the child of a mountain. Waddling about, her belly huge. After all, how could she have gained any sort of loyalty of those around her? The Jarl's little, dark-eyed, quiet and reserved, wife.

They didn't realise - or they did and misunderstood, perhaps, that by the same magic that bound them together by a miracle of a child, she knew her wife had not passed. The words form as she stood, listless, staring, reaching to brush her belly: "A mountain could not be swallowed so readily by the sea". But that did not stop them from trying, vying for her attention, either in the hand of marriage or to intimidate her into giving way.

The worst of all of the was Jarl Aleksander.

He, they, misunderstood who she was. What she was. That after the news broke, Lakshmi tore down the first sign of mourning. That she stood, proud, and declared the words to be carried out to every corner of their lands. The Jarl is not dead, we are bound, I know her to live still. Refusing to declare that her wife was dead in any capacity, to step down from the position of stand-in of rule, of Lakshmi, as Grivenne, and Magni's own mother as second only to her. That every day, despite the people of the Hold coming to pay their respects, she insisted upon it happily, bouying them as much as herself, as daily they would pray with her, ask not of news of the Jarl, but of the baby, if they might approach and give a blessing. She surrounded herself in them, and all others that came to visit the same way. Changing her garments, just enough, that pregnant belly was on display for all to see, and with it, why this chair was hers. Could not be mistaken.

But then came Jarl Aleksander.

His presence so instantly made her glad for Fjorleif and her own mother Baghirathi who had stayed after her father and most of their family had left, as they stand either side of her as she sat in the chair that had been hers since the day she came to this place. She had expected just one more well-wisher. But it was not to be, Jarl Aleksander - a cousin, Fjorleif hissed in her ear, and one with a claim -

But it would never be enough when there are wolves at your door. They crowded in, and as the month had dragged out into the eighth month, she could feel how they bore down. He started with the insistence of paying his respects for Magni's death, for where she had to have died, wondering when this arrangement of Lakshmi and her mother in law, would come to an end? Surely now that she was a widow so young, she would want to go away and mourn. Perhaps back to her mother's lands? Men with him, more cousins, was the explanation, land-hungry, with sons who wanted more land of their own. Then in progress, he did not fear her, why should he? Misread, in some aspects, but right in others. His insistence became more speculatively bold, what did she know that others did not? She certainly protested, so very much, but a month later, who knew the right of it. There were rights, that had to be upheld and she was disrespecting without a good reason why. There were people who had entitlements upon a Jarl's death, that had to be given what they were owed.

It was always going to come to this. Facing down the men that finally decided that her delusion had gone on long enough and demanded she declare it to be truth. That she, in her position, must stand down as just a widow of the Hold. That when the wretched Jarl, speak - it was not to her, his arm stretching wide like he already had declared his right to rule to the people, speaks out, pontificating with a sweeping arm. He did not do it for himself, oh no, it is to speak of that he could not help but wonder she had not hungered after the position for herself.

To that, Lakshmi stands, her voice rising - furious - hot. Her spine pressed straight, her long black shoulder pooling down both her sides. The words fierce in response. "I wonder at the man who so eagerly waits for the demise of my wife, I wonder what he wants from such a thing? "

His smile is wry, dripping, "The good of the Hold, that I do not want to see it passed over to a usurper."

The hall around them bristled, quiet, deadly, deadly quiet.

Lakshmi was not a fool, there were guards, there always would have been guards, absolutely loyal to her, to Talonhold, the babe that grew inside of her. "The Hold? I carry the Hold in my belly, I carry the child of these mountains, and I will never see that children's inheritance passed over to another." Determined, but more than that, her voice raising up, cutting through the tension of the air.

His laughter is rich and mocking: "Of Talonhold? Forgive me, my grivenne, but we all know the Jarl's judgement when it came to trusting whores was poor."

Around the room, the blades slithered against sheaths.

Then the door banged open, and Lakshmi swore the sun blew in on the wind with it. Magni, Magni, Magni. The gasp around the room is immediate, loud, and the tension in the room, shifts. But she did not look to see, she did not need to. It was her wife. Alive. Just as she knew it always would be.

Instead, she fixes her gaze straight on Aleksander. Her face tilting up, imperious, a daughter of great warriors. Her body moving forward. Watching him, directly, unflinchingly as she moves across the room. To her wife. She's alive. She wants to crumble, her legs to give out underneath her. To grasp Magni and kiss her so desperately, over and over and over until she could be sure.

She does nothing of the sort. Instead, in front of Magni she falls to a deep bow. Just the one, before rising up, and then without warning, she snatches the blade from her hip. Pulling the sword from her side, her authority with it, that stood behind her, metaphorically and literally. It was too heavy for what she was trained in, but she didn't falter, no matter how this late in the morning, these days, she was usually ready to sleep. The blade pointed forward, leading her straight to Aleksander. She does not need to say I am right and you are wrong. It stands in front of them. "Leave. Now. Or I will declare that in Talonhold, liars have their tongue cut from their head."

He couldn't move faster as he leaves the hall, and with a broiled over anger she cannot help it, that perhaps, she wished he had wanted him to be less sensible, so she could cut his slippery tongue out. It's then, she turns back, the blade held deliberately so in her hands. ( A wedding day, a half memory away now ). Then drops it, so she can jump up, and fling both her arms around Magni's neck. Dragging her down, with the best of ability with her stomach in the way, into an embrace.

If there is cheering, she doesn't hear it, too busy pressing her face into Magni's neck.

[villieldr]

A day of guests. A party to celebrate the spring in Talonhold, as the snow melt runs merrily into streams and rivers, as apple blossoms opened to the light and the Hold seemed to come alive with the warmth of pinks and white and green, instead of the cold slate of the winter. The sky was blue, and there had been cheer and celebration. It was a day when there was dancing— not the all night revelry of the Midsummer, but a glimpse of what that would be, with a little more formality (the aforementioned guests) and "competition," involving arrows tied with colourful ribbons.

She had been, perhaps, a little caught up in the mood of the day, torn between that lightness and the duties that were involved with her rank. A light touch of Lakshmi's back that might have been innocent, if she hadn't murmured something filthy so only her wife could hear it. A dance, where she grasped her a little too firmly, with too much wanting— not so the observer might see, but certainly so that Lakshmi could feel it. Letting her hand rest inside Lakshmi's knee and trailing up as they sat at a table and spoke, only to move it away in the next moment. And then, when they had been briefly alone, kissing the tip of Lakshmi's nose and slipping away rather than kissing her as she had truly wished to. It was fun to tease her, but it would be more fun to reward her after the day of teasing.

Her hair is braided with ribbons, and though her dress is beautiful for the occasion, what she truly is looking forward to surprising her Rani with is the lacy underthings she has acquired, different from the attractive but entirely practical things she wore otherwise. Lakshmi would be pleased, she was sure. That's why, when their guests are gone and the sun is setting on the celebrations, she is especially too happy, approaching Lakshmi from behind and setting her hands on her hips to draw her back. "Hello, lion queen."

[mahalakshmi]

You - ! is a decidedly uncharitable thing to think about one's wife. The sun in her sky, the moon in her night. My wife, my heart, my ishq. A dozen other words that were far kinder, that she murmured to her often. Sweetly, fondly, into her hair, her ear, against her cheek, her hand, mouthed against her lips, the hollow of her neck.

But it was the one Lakshmi absolutely meant right now, after a whole evening of being played with by her overgrown wife. Things that mean nothing, particularly, by themselves. A hand that trailed out of sight, that exact, a tip by tip pressure of her hand that was - for Magni - damn near demanding, when done publically. That left her swallowing, trying to fumble through their words in front of guests. Luckily, the whole night lent itself to that, their partygoers half drunk by the point that Magni snatched her in close, she thought at least with her heart beating inside her mouth, she might get at least a kiss.

Nothing, not even a glimmer and she was left with her pounding heart. But she can't get her back for it, not right then anyway. They had guests, they had a half dozen things to attend too. Tempting as it was to snatch her back and make her finish what she started then and there. But the next moment she hears her name called for another round of dancing. Something that would be half distracted for watching the ribbons flutter in Magni's hair as she moved - it was hardly a question whether she found Magni beautiful or not.

Looks for a minute alone, at the end of the day, evening. So many people, so much to be done. Tomorrow would be about resetting, a marginally quieter thing as half the hold recovered their heads from drinking, and the other half laughed at them, no doubt. Settled to their private balcony that came off Magni's quarters, letting the cooler air of evening settle the heat in her skin.

Because despite it all, she had a grand day. It was not Holi, but it was just as bright, just as full of mirth. Filled her up, made her half so suspectable to those touches Magni had crept in whenever she could. Proudly looking over their people, their land, as the hands settle onto her hips.

She smiles, despite herself, leaning back easily. "Hello, my mountain." Affectionate as ever.

[villieldr]

It had been very hard to pull together an elaborate party without Lakshmi's knowledge, first of all because Lakshmi was truly the mastermind behind their parties. The staff were experienced, made helpful suggestions based on their familiarity with their Grevinne's tastes, and Fjorleif was an excellent organiser of parties in her own right, but there was always that uncertainty because Lakshmi had such good ideas and they were entirely her own. It had been very hard not to be excited and tell Lakshmi about it, and it was even harder to pretend that it was a normal day and not immediately seize her up into a hug and shower her with kisses to celebrate her birthday.

But, now it later in the day. Their guests have been smuggled in (an endeavour all of its own, Lakshmi asked to see to some business outside the castle that Magni was too busy to see to) and the hall was decorated. Tables hold gifts, and guests are present but still lurking away where they can, understanding that Lakshmi will be returning soon.

Magni fiddles, looks to Krogstad who gives her a nod, and opens a large tome to pretend to be reading as she is advised that Lakshmi is approaching. Okay. Okay, she can do this. She can.

[mahalakshmi]

By the time it is the afternoon, Lakshmi could not have worked herself up into a worse possible state. Perhaps a testament to Magni's skill at keeping things to herself. But Lakshmi suspected nothing. Less than nothing, and that is perhaps what caused this mess to begin with.

It was a hard thing when your wife, whom you had birthed the children of, whom she devoted her days too, who she stood beside and ruled with, over their people - could not even remember her birthday.

Not a word, from everyone else, every woman in the Hold, every brother and son that wished her well as she went by. But her wife? She was more silent than usual. Guilty, maybe, she hardly knew it was not like Lakshmi worked daily to make sure they talked when it was important. Stranger than that. Worse than her silence, she felt like she was being avoided, like she was being sent away. Perhaps best she has ample distraction by way of a girl that had been born and the parents had requested her to preside over her naming. ( So given the name for her, for sharing her birthday ).

Being furious was easier when she slammed the door open. Striding into the room by long strides. Glittering from the ceremony earlier today and - furious. Every inch of her as she walks forward. Snatching the book from her to shut it heavily with a snap.

"Reading? You spent today reading?" Normally she would never dare raise her voice until they were alone, not in front of anyone except their very closest. But as far as she is presently aware, she is alone.

[mahalakshmi]

For one week she was gloriously happy, she felt full of a terrible blush that was a bubbling warmth. That flooded out of her like a stream. How a half dozen kisses had turned into more, that ate her up every night in a terrible wanting.

That now, now, no part of it had to be denied. She had Magni, all to herself, every evening, she found a new way to lay with her, lay about her. Talk with her, even when there was scarcely a word involved. That of a morning, when she went back to her own rooms to change, get ready of a morning. She kept her eyes closed, humming the bath, in a game where Kashi would tsk like a fussing mother, Jhalkari would poke at love bites like an annoying sister and ask where did she think she was getting these bruises from. Then they'd all fall about in laughter, a lightness that stayed with her as she came back down to Magni for breakfast.

Pretending they were staring at each other, pretending the hall wasn't watching them staring at each other. Noting how indulgently Lakshmi turned up to face Magni when she lent to kiss her like she couldn't drop what she was doing fast enough. No task was too important, she'd found, to let it come first. The way Magni would always make sure she did before she went out for the day before she went out to attend all her duties as Jarl.

Just like the last two days. Lakshmi hadn't resented her absence in and of itself. She was a daughter of a great man, she knew where both their duties lay. What were two days? She had kept Magni to herself almost every other second for the last week? She could part with her for just two days.

She did not have many duties, particularly. Still, no more than a year here, they did not loathe her as a foreign woman. Magni's mother knew the harder details and handled them without much of Lakshmi's input needed, though she never felt ignored if she did speak. There wasn't much else to do but entertain those who did come to call, making sure the table was always ready and the ale was always quick. That she did well.

Except until it was happening. That a traveller noted where it was Magni had gone. Not so far past the Sabilline estate. Might have even gone to call there, was the Jarl friendly that house? He wasn't sure.

She set the cup down heavily, feeling something draining out of her. Dread, perhaps. Her eyes fixing in a middle space, her thumbnail biting into her forefinger, digging in harshly. Oh, was that so? Was it a rumour?

No, he had definitely seen her party going that way. Not a second after he finished, did the whispering come about. Slipping up between the cracks like oil. She could feel their words snaking around her ankles. The way it felt like half of them were suddenly staring at her in a way that had nothing to do with her happiness.

Her smile pulls, ever her role, ever her position, she would not let it falter. He didn't even seem to know what he had said. Her eyes looked up, across, Fjorleif was nowhere to be seen. No one to cut this conversation with. As the man went on - he wouldn't be surprised, if Magni were hunting out that way, it would be good game, many a pretty doe to shoot. It was Lord Sabilline, and - his family were passing the summer there. He thought the daughter as well, visiting from her new husband.

By the time he finished talking, she thought her lungs were about to fall out of her chest. She all but fled from dinner. Heart beating inside of her throat in something she hardly knew what to do with. Humiliation, some sense of betrayal over what she didn't know what. By the time she was out of sight, she was taking the stairs at twos. Up and up, startling Kashi who was in the middle of preparing her clothes for the next. It was hardly fair when she shouted at her to leave. Slamming the door behind her. Too prideful to weep, to sorrowful to think about it properly for a minute.

She didn't leave her room, the next day. Not for either of their knocking. The misery taking an easy turn into resentment, at the man for speaking, at Magni for going anywhere near their lands, at herself for not learning the maps better in their language to know where it really was that Magni said she was going when they spoke. For being so distracted so well, at staying all wrapped up and kissed thoroughly enough for not thinking about it.

Not until she hears the knock, Saheba, your mountain has come back, haa, won't you go and see her? It's then she opens it, miserable as she hasn't been for weeks, but they dress her, pinch her cheeks for colour even before she can swat them away. Try and coax some other expression onto her face other than her sourness. None of it works, not even as Lakshmi leaves her chambers does it lift. Making her way back to the hall where no doubt Magni was coming back too.

She doesn't venture a word, as Magni is welcomed back. Staying her place, not turning anything away. She was her wife, after all, their Grevinne, and she would never shirk her duties, no matter how furious she was. But she gives Magni her hand and not her cheek. She bows her head and offers no smile. Flat and hard in her expression and unwavering in it. When it's over, Lakshmi takes up her skirts in one hand and walks off. Back out of the hall. Let Magni deal with the hissing hornets. She hoped they stung terribly.

[villieldr]

It had been a busy couple of days. Travel took time, and then there was business. The main reason for her visit had been to visit one of the finest dog breeders that she knew of, and one that Krogstad noted a member of the household's brother worked for, and had mentioned their kindness in passing more than once. A person who was kind to their staff, enough that it was noted by their family, seemed the sort who would be kind to their animals. That was the sort of person that Magni would sooner grant her time and her gold than someone who was charming to those with the gold, and unkind to those under their influence. So she had gone to visit Raili Leppälä and her kennels of mountain dogs, huskies and shepherds to select a pup, a gift for her Lakshmi. A companion for times when Magni is away, an animal for her to fuss over that can be in the house rather more easily than a horse, to be her guard if ever the need arise.

It took a good deal of discussion, to determine what would be the best breed (there were so many, and they were all adorable) and then to try and pick a pup with a good temperament. Ideally (and she might do this for future pups) she would like Lakshmi to be present for this decision, and though she was tempted to just go one of each she appreciated the shortcomings of such an approach. Instead she chose a female, not quite the largest of her litter, but with a bold, adventurous personality. Magni would admit readily enough that she was endeared to her when she climbed into a flower pot and then stumbled out of it, and by her having one brown eye and one blue. The little mountain dog was mostly black, with a long coat and tricolour markings, with tan legs, cheeks, and little specs over her eyes, with only subtle variations on the pattern through the whole litter. She was sure her Lakshmi would be happy with this little one, and it was she who would name her.

There were other matters of business, rather less fun and interesting, but those were dealt with easily enough. She was eager to get home, to return to her lioness, and when she returned she eagerly stepped out from the carriage and delivered the pup to the staff who would make sure she was groomed, had a comfortable place to rest, and tie a slightly absurd ribbon about her collar before Magni brought Lakshmi down to meet her. She was told that her wife was unwell the past day and had not yet been seen today, and so she moves with concern etching her features to the hall to request information, to go and see her—

Ah, but relief. Her Lakshmi was there, standing. Not so bright and cheery as usual, and then that coldness is turned on her and she almost falters. Lakshmi leaves, swift, and Magni is stuck dealing with the formalities for a couple more minutes before she can stride after her wife. As soon as she's out of sight, she follows at a run, until she catches up, sees her in a hallway on her way back to her chambers.

"Rani," she calls out, still running, though she slows as she draws closer. "What—"

What troubles? What's wrong? What was that? What happened? She doesn't quite know which to settle on.

"I missed you," she says, perhaps foolishly, uncertain what to do but needing to make that fact known. I missed you, why won't you greet me?

an important ritual

[villieldr]

This the autumn equinox was an important time for many. A time of hard work, of reaping the harvest and discovering if there would be enough for the winter. In the past, it was told that one of the gods had turned from their people, too focused on other matters, too determined to set aside their heart, and mankind and creatures and gods alike had all suffered that distance; Korth, the Mountain-Father. The fall feast had passed, where a great fire burned, and all the heart fires were lit anew from that fire - one community, one flame, sharing hearth and heart, as they readied for the winter together and celebrated the generosity of their gods.

The world danced with the sun, but more must be done. To remind Korth of the value of the heart, those wed in the past year could participate in the ritual to remind Korth of the value of the heart, of love. One partner must carry the other to the high peaks, to the temple to Korth, and then the ritual completed. Not all who wed did this; it was said to prove great love, great resilience and faith, and the failing of it— was looked to with superstition and as an ill omen. (That left a great many details lacking, but she had never been very wordy.)

As the Jarl of Talonhold, she has little choice. An act of faith for her gods, for her people, and more importantly, an act for Lakshmi as well. Her own ceremonial robes are white, cinched at her waist with an icy blue, and she kneels on the ground as incense and oils are drawn across her hands and her collarbones by the priest. She could do this. They could do this. A look across to Lakshmi, and she offers her a smile, reassuring, as they stand at the foot of their journey and are anointed.

[mahalakshmi]

Honestly, this all seemed a bit much, to her. To carry her up the whole mountain? She hadn't understood it completely necessary. But... well, she couldn't refuse Magni anything in a way that was becoming less to do with their position as Jarl and Grivenne, but more to do with the way that Magni looked at her.

The way that she knew she must look back.

They said it was for newlyweds. A different sort of bride than the ones of this land - but Korth would be glad to know loved blossomed many different ways, wouldn't he? Well, she hoped he didn't mind the reminder. Because it's the white of these holy robes, but they are tinged with the red of a newlywed bride of her own homeland. Flickered with gold and flowers in her hair and most especially - the red powder that goes from the peak of her hairline along the part into her hair in a thick red line.

Because she knew they could not fail, anyone else could and it would be fine, but not them. Never them. So despite how cold it might be going up the mountain, she refused to wear any of the heavy clothes of the North. No, she's dressed only so warm, but far lighter in her saree, to give Magni a fighting chance at the quest.

And with it, when Magni looks to her, tentatively with that newfound affection, she reaches her hand to wind her fingers loosely with Magni's as the priest turns from Magni to Lakshmi and reverently, graciously, she closes her eyes and bows her head to be blessed as her wife had.

The prayer first to the Mountain Father of these lands. But second, Goddess Lakshmi, please, grant us prosperity this day. Some twist in her gut that knows, that if they manage this, it would go miles to stopping all dreadful rumours about them.

[villieldr]

A beautiful day followed by a beautiful night. Winter stretches on, but spring draws ever closer, and with the renewal of the seasons comes the renewal of alliances and the blossoming of new ones. This is one of the times of the year when the lights over Talonhold dance at their brightest, shimmering ripples of colour across the sky, and a wonder to be shared with friends and those most dear. In truth, she could not do this without Lakshmi; under her imagination and guidance, the celebrations of Talonhold had become a greatly admired, famed even. The dancing, the joyousness, and hospitality and generosity of the utmost importance.

And in truth, watching Lakshmi, knowing her, that has inspired Magni. Made her want to think beyond what had been done in the past, and what could be done differently - better.

The Jespersen clan had a poor history with Magni’s father and grandfather, had not warmly welcomed the rise of a new family of working stock to the throne of Talonhold. Some months ago she and the new head of the Jespersens, Valentin, began exchanging letters, and today he, his wife and their two young children are honoured guests, amongst the long-established allies of Talonhold.

(Amongst them Aleksander, who had questioned Lakshmi. Aleksander, who has since promised his loyalty, made apologies.)

It is during the dancing when it happens. Not dancing this dance herself, happier to watch her beloved move and bask in the sight of her, speaking to Lady Kanerva - an old friend of her mother’s, warm and supportive of Magni ever since the shock of Asvaldr’s death. Her brother, an esteemed priest, had been one of those to declare their firstborn truly born of blessed devotion.

A burst of pain near her neck, tearing into her shoulder, and Magni shouts with it. Might have been drowned out by the music, a little. An arrow juts from her shoulder, sinking deep behind her collarbone. Fletched dark blue, one of the colours of the Jespersens, and Magni staggers a step back to hit the wall.

A MEETING ROOM NEGOTIATION.

[villieldr]

A rival jarldom, suffering in the wake of a fire that had devastated part of the forest that wrapped about them, and travelledthrough one the township that relied upon the Jarl for its safety. Worse, though, was the impact it had had on the agriculture. For all that there had been many losses, the people were starving with the loss to their crops.

Talonhold was fortunate, both that it had control of the great lake and roads surrounding it (and a portion of its wealth came from the levies and tariffs that came with that) and because their crops had been plentiful these past years, and they had a generous surplus stored in case of difficulty as well as what as sold. For all that people had doubted them, her father and grandfather had tried to approach the Jarldom with a fresh mind and to build on the wealth that was already there, and they had done well - in part due to the advisors that aided.

They sit, now, in a meeting room with the advisors. Lakshmi at her side, as she had started to be these past weeks, as they discuss several matters. Amongst them, of course, what was to be done about Jarl Lindqvist's predicament. Magni had sat silently as the situation was discussed. All of their suggestions and advice conservative, remembering past tensions, and Magni looks—

much as she ever does. Serious, closed off, thinking and not protesting their lack of offered aid. It is a dilemma, in truth, because they do not know what their own yield will be come the autumn, and if they should offer up to much of their own supply, what if it go wrong? What if Talonhold's people go hungry? She chews the inside of her cheek, uncertain, and does not voice protest to the lack of assistance that the advisors push for, outline as the most sensible approach, given history.

[mahalakshmi]

Lakshmi sits quietly, through the meetings, and she knows - that they unsure about her. Being here, the ear that Magni now deliberately gives her out of more than just the flutterings of early love and affection as they suspected. Lakshmi is not here just to sit at Magni's arm as a pretty bauble, and they would learn it, one way or the other.

Sooner than she expected, as she sits there, listening to them. Talking about people - living people - and caring more about their own position than the suffering of those around them. Happy to keep enemies than make friends and build out further out of good merit.

"My Jarl - " alarmed eyes darting between them and inhaling a deep breath. " - This cannot be a serious proposition? We would leave people, innocent people, to suffer from famine for a meagre short term advancement?"

[villieldr]

She loves the feeling of storms, the cold and the vastness of them, though she knows better than to think they are harmless. Standing on the ramparts, Magni watches as lightning strikes over the great lake, and the wind whistles as it rages through the trees. Looking across the bridge that leads into the village, Magni holds up her hand to try and keep the rain out of her eyes. Lightning strikes down again. Smoke is billowing around orange flame licking up one of the buildings, hard to see in the hammering rain, seeming to come in waves of renewed forcefulness with the turbulent winds.

Running down to the guardhouse she summons some of the guardsmen and they move out across the bridge to help with the fire. Krogstad and members of the household see to gathering blankets and other necessities that might be needed, while they determine just what has happened and the extent of the damage. She and the others are gone for some hours, so that by the time they return is it early evening. Drenched through, skin cold from the chill winds and rain, and face and hands smudges with soot and grime, Magni eventually returns. No lives lost, thankfully, and the building saved, though repairs would be necessary before the bakery would be functional again. She is not— good at being Jarl, not so good at talking to people, but she can take action and help people, and that is something. Today she made a difference and helped her people, and those are the days when she feels like maybe Lakshmi is right, and maybe she can be a strong Jarl.

As she stands in the hall, one of the staff is ready with a bowl of hot water and a towel, and she gratefully scrubs down her hands, lets them warm in the heat as she shakes them out, and as she looks up, she sees her Rani waiting for her. Her heartbeat is still thundering, smile breathless as she sees her wife, and grins at the sight of her. All is well, she would have been told, but there are people here, all around them, and so running to her wife and grasping her up in her arms would be... inappropriate. So she looks to her, mouth tugging into a wide, relieved, exhilarated smile. Moves to her, never mind that she is soaked through, and it is only the awareness of the people about them that stops her from pulling her into a kiss then and there.

Instead she leans down as she reaches her, and murmurs against her ear. "How is my lioness?"