Apollo + River @rzeqvrtz
If not for inter-court reasons, it had been decades since River visited spring court on personal matters. Not as a slight or politically animus reason. No, the duchess enjoyed her time whenever she visited. In all truth, she had grown busy. It was nearly two decades since things had changed for the court renown for its lush mountains and floral aplenty fields. The last time River had planned to return, spring court had seemed to lose its matriarch. Faun Deerling. After that, the aforementioned trip had fallen by the wayside as the entire court, and many parts of Astralis, grieved the loss. Then, before River knew it, nearly twenty years had passed and, if not for work, the duchess failed to make the personal journey.
And then, oddly, almost as if divinely scheduled, Faun Deerling returned. From what appeared to be beyond the grave. A friend of River’s deceased mother, Yara, the duchess was happy for the Deerling family. Truly. Many times, in her quiet and more honest moments, River had wished for a miraculous return of her own mother. It was nice to see that Faun had, at the very least, returned to her own home, family, and people. Interestingly enough, a servant had brought River the piece of jewelry crafted decades ago, fashioned and commissioned by Apollo Deerling as a surprise for his mother. As a friend, she helped him with the decide on a day aligned jeweler. Greatly skilled in their own right. The fae had crafted many pieces for the Hartwells. The sole reason for her would-be trip to spring back then.
River and her appointed guards had been kindly received at the palace in Avalon City. It was easy, finding Apollo. Decades may have passed but she knew how fond the warrior prince was of his pegasi. She’d even brought them treats. While unicorns and pegasi weren’t native to day court, it was her duty to know of the mystical creatures. “You are certainly a fae of habit,” She said in lieu of an actual greeting at the sight of Apollo at the stables. A genuine, light smile on her face as she approached. “It’s good to see you standing. Alive and well. I came to… well…” River trailed off, dark brown eyes falling onto the nearest peagsus. “See how you were. Make sure that you were alright.” The small smile on her face grew when it sniffed at the basket in her hand. Clearly, the sweets had been detected. “I come bearing apples and sugar cubes for your pegasi. Can you help me with that? I’ve not feed them in quite some time. I’d hate to upset them or get nipped as a result.”
The stables belonging to Deerling Castle and the Spring Court’s Royal Family were, in short, Apollo’s happy place. Since he was nothing more than a young warrior fae -- even younger than his still budding sisters -- the stables had called to him like the sweetest of lullabies. It was like gravity, how the knickers and whinnies of the Pegasi called to him in a way that could only be described as magical. It had been here that the prince had not only discovered his affinity for the majestic beasts, but his calling in life -- a calling to take to the skies, soaring far and wide. It was because of the Pegasi and his connection with them that the Golden Lion had created the Valkyrie. So that others could experience the earth-shattering bliss of plunging into the clouds on a brilliant morning.
And, with his recent injuries, there was no better place than brood than among the creatures who had given him his life’s purpose.
At least here, surrounded by the smell of fresh hay and sounds of hooves against blinding cobblestone, he could be of some help. His wing and side bound tightly, flying was out of the question -- but that didn’t mean he couldn’t help with the training of the legendary steeds. The prince was just finishing up one such session, luring a spritely colt back into his pen after assisting the young steed in learning to fly. The little dappled-gray and white thing was certainly proud of himself, brandishing his still-tiny wings and stamping his feet excitedly into the ground as Apollo clicked the lock back into place, rubbing the colt’s snout as he stuck it between the gaps in the gate.
“Yes, yes, you did wonderfully today, Zephyr. You’ll be battle ready in no time at all, little friend.” Apollo practically cooed -- if a war-torn warrior fae such as himself even could coo -- to which the colt knickered excitedly in response. The two conversed for a moment, Apollo talking and Zephyr neighing back at him, until the prince stopped short at the sound of someone approaching.
A friend -- one he hadn’t seen in quite a long time.
“Lady River!” Apollo greeted, a broad smile crossing his bearded and sun-kissed face. Laughing half out of embarrassment, the prince rubbed the back of his neck, but jerked his chin behind him in the direction of his injury. “I thank you for your concern -- I am finally on the mend, it seems, though not fast enough.” Zephyr, keen on the mystery treats stowed away in River’s basket, stuck his nose out through the gate once more and huffed impatiently, as if to say stop talking and feed me! “Patience, little one. May I, my lady?”
Apollo reached forward, gently taking the basket out of River’s hands. “He smells what you’ve brought. Here,” He took a sugar cube from the basket, then set it down at their feet. Gesturing for River’s hand, he carefully unfolded her fingers, and placed the sweet within her palm. “Keep your fingers flat, and hold it out to where he can reach. Like this.”
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