mahalakshmi | AU - MAGNI & LAKSHMI

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?

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.

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.

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.

Edited 2018-11-30 07:33 (UTC)

"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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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?"

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storm shelter

you make bath time so much fun

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