A/n: I wanted to write about how Aed and Celaena met, and now here we are.
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So, if the pressure from plate number seven triggers the door opening… let’s make plate number two activate the heavy mist as a deterrent. Maybe sensor 13 should send out a spider? Yeah! Yeah, that sounds-
The loud banging against the laboratory doors snapped Aed’s attention from her work, charcoal stopping mid-stroke on the parchments. Shouting from the other side forced her to go answer it.
“Greetings, Thana!” A courier bearing a High Builder crest on his chest piece bowed his head when she opened, “I’ve come bearing a gift from the latest Builder Conquest; each Architect is getting a spoil of war!”
An exhausted sigh, “Yeah, yeah… set it in the corner, there.” She pointed. Another collection of rare gems and minerals. Might be good for my project… Aed headed back to her desk.
Heavy steps. Grinding of metal on metal. A loud boom as the loot was set down. Aed didn’t catch the muffled whispers of the workers, and frankly? She didn’t care. She was an Architect trying to finish a new design before the Council’s deadline in two months. Simplicity of charcoal scratching against the hard stone and fragile parchment refilled her mind. The courier and his helpers left, closing the door behind them.
Aed screamed, flailing her arms about and ultimately falling off the side of her stool. Did someone sneak into her lab? Upon regaining her composure, Aed sat up, eyes glancing about.
It wasn’t a package of new materials… the courier dropped off a damn cage… with someone sitting IN IT.
“I…” the dwarf’s voice escaped her. Who was this person?
She was female, likely of Elven descent considering the pointy ears peaking from her deep purple hair. Her eyes were a soft green, like aventurine. Her skin was a dusty white, almost like the snow on a mountaintop. Her beige tunic was made of rough material- Aed could see the scratches on her skin.
“Done gawking?” She snapped at her, “I’m not your pet, so don’t be getting any ideas.”
It was then that Aed noticed the two piercing sets in the bridge of the elf’s nose. Four small golden spikes rested there. Why? What purpose did they serve?
The elf groaned, crossing her arms and leaning back against the bars. Eyes downcast, lip trembling, sweat beading on her forehead… she was putting up an act to disregard her fear.
Aed shook her head, bringing her thoughts back to the present moment, “I… I’m sorry. I wasn’t expect-”
“Expecting another plaything? Maybe you wanted some inanimate object to bend to your will?” the elf’s face contorted in disgust, “Sorry, sunshine, you’ll find me hard to break.”
Standing up, Aed grabbed a two-inch-thick gold bracelet from the desk. Her legs moved before she realized it, stepping towards the cage. “Give me your wrist.”
“What? No.” The elf scooted away from Aed’s side of the cage.
“Listen,” She took a breath, “It will look suspicious to the Viz and the Council if you’re out of there with no restraint. It will not hurt you.” Fear still controlled her mind, so Aed shrugged, “It’s a bracelet I designed. It’s only got two functions- a hexagonal shield and a nerve stimulant. The shield is for if you ever feel you’re in danger. The stimulant is my way of restricting where you’re able to go in this lab. If you step to or reach for something unauthorized, the stimulant will activate and cause your body to retract into authorized areas.”
“You trade a cage for a cage?”
“Trade cramped iron for a bed. Scratchy clothes for gentle ones. I didn’t ask for a servant and you didn’t ask for this life. I… I just want to free you without drawing trouble for us both.”
Her breathing hitched, pointy ears wiggling as if a debate in her mind was roaring. After what felt like eons of silence, the elf extended her wrist. “It looks like I shoved my fist through a cheese wheel.”
Aed clicked the bracelet and opened the cage’s door, “I wonder what the poor cheese did to anger you.”
She wobbled when she stepped out, as if she hadn’t been able to stand up in weeks. The elf easily towered a foot over Aed’s own height.
She looked down, staring into Aed’s curious brown eyes, “… Celaena. Celaena Raijin.”
“That’s a beautiful name,” A smile, “I’m Aed Thana.”
As Aed tore her closeted clothes and tailored them to Celaena’s build, a strange feeling swelled in her chest. Love? Adoration? No… nothing like that. She’d just met this woman- how could she love her now?
It was a feeling of belonging. Aed felt a jolt in her soul when Celaena’s hand grazed her body- a surge of longing when her aventurine eyes stared into her muddy brown ones.
Celaena was brought to her, out of all the other Architects, for a reason. The unseen forces of Nirn brought them together, and Aed refused to let her go.
