Niamh didn't like this plan. She didn't like the idea of Lyrei going in alone, of Lyrei going anywhere alone, and she contemplated trying to hide her distate, but there would be no point in that, especially when considering how intently Lyrei was watching her. Even with Niamh situated toward the front of their horse and Lyrei sitting directly behind her, Niamh could feel the weight of Lyrei's gaze penetrating through her and into the core of her very being, reading her every micromovement with ease. She had never been able to keep anything from Lyrei, at least, nothing close to the surface, and her frustration and fear was boiling at the very top.
Lyrei's hands were situated on Niamh's hips, simultaneously holding her close and keeping her steady as they rode. With the minimal distance between them, Niamh could feel the gentle breeze that accompanied Lyrei's locks blowing at the back of her neck, and some of the tension inside her eased at the sensation, but not enough. Not nearly enough, and as they drew closer and closer to their destination, Niamh felt the ticking in her chest wind tighter and tighter.
They hadn't exactly argued about the mission. Niamh knew what needed to be done, and she recongized that Lyrei was best suited to the task, and she didn't like it one bit. But Lyrei kept periodicially squeezing her hips, as though she were communicating her intention through her touch alone, and Niamh knew she wasn't mad at Lyrei, because she could never really be mad at Lyrei. Even if she could very well be cross that this was happening whatsoever.
"I don't like this," Niamh said finally as they came to a slow and steady stand still. She didn't fully turn around to face Lyrei, but out of the corner of her eye, she could still see Lyrei nodding in acknowledgment. Lyrei didn't respond, as if she knew more words resided in Niamh, and Niamh continued, "If something goes wrong, you come straight back here." To me was implied, even if Niamh couldn't bear to speak that exact part out loud.
"I will," Lyrei promised, and with a final squeeze on Niamh's hips, she dismounted the horse onto the steady ground, never taking her eyes off Niamh throughout the movement. Niamh watched as Lyrei readied her bow, as thorns clawed their way up her own throat, and she found herself extending a hand before she could even think to doubt herself.
"Hey," Niamh said. Lyrei immediately turned back toward her, gaze steady as she reached her hand back up for Niamh. Niamh smiled faintly, brushing past Lyrei's palm to cup her tattooed cheek before leaning down to kiss Lyrei's mouth, slow and sweet, and unspooling the protective magic from her chest and into Lyrei, over Lyrei. The spell was still unfamiliar to her, but Niamh needed to know that, if she couldn't be there for Lyrei, that something would be, that her magic could be. Niamh felt more than saw as her magic coursed from her and through Lyrei, settling over Lyrei's beating heart with a satisfied sigh, as though the magic itself belonged there. As though it was a perfect fit. As though it was meant to be.
Niamh reluctantly drew back from the kiss after another moment, her throat thick as she asked, "Promise me you'll be careful?"
Lyrei's expression melted into something warm, both sharp with determination and soft with tenderness, as she nodded. "I promise," she said, and Niamh could only watch her go.
-Written by Softlght, you can follow them on their socials @softlighter and Softlight (AO3)
