#vilnelda

[theloverofdragons]

i love herrrrrrrrr

[theloverofdragons]

i will confess that i go 🥰🥰🥰 every time they say each other's name dfghjk

[theloverofdragons]

wives 💞💞💞

[theloverofdragons]

them 💞💞💞

[theloverofdragons]

love languages

It was not untrue to say that Quenelda preferred dragons to people. She was better with dragons than people, always had been, despite how she’d improved under Celestia’s guidance since she first came to Sunbreeze Grove. The Dragon Whisperer preferred the company of dragons.

But that wasn’t to say she didn’t have those she was friendly with.

When Quenelda liked people it was clear. She’d seek out their company when the two of them were in the same place, engage in conversation that wasn’t awkwardly polite. If they were particularly close, there’d even be the likes of affectionately chewing on armour or dangly bits of outfits like a young dragon would, leaning against them, giving gifts bought with her own money, deeper conversations or introducing them to Two Gulps, maybe even taking them flying on him.

But for those she was closest to, who she trusted, who meant the most to her more than anyone else bar Two Gulps, she did all this and more, had particular ways of showing it, specific to each person. And there were but four people who met that criteria.

—

Vilmor was the most ‘classic’, on account of being Quenelda’s partner. Romantic gestures, holding hands, kisses, going on dates both human and draconic in nature. Vilmor was quite probably the one who received the most gifts from her. But not only that, there was a trust there, letting Vilmor see her at her most vulnerable, when she’s had a nightmare, a vision, when she may not want to worry others. Quenelda and Vilmor will fly together, but not just on their dragons, when Quenelda will summon her wings, take her beloved in her arms and soar.

(Vilmor, of course, goes very pink.)

—

Lady Celestia, her mentor, the only one who would have been worthy of being called her mother. In a time of turmoil, Celestia was stability, was guidance, was belief, belief in her that she’d never experienced, not even from her father. And so, when Celestia taught her things other than dragon magic and care, Quenelda paid attention when back in Dragonsdome she would have let her mind wander or even slip away when the tutor’s back was turned. Things like gardening didn’t really pique her interest, but they were important to Celestia and Quenelda loved Celestia so she sat, and listened and learned, and demonstrated those lessons while under Celestia’s proud eye.

(She misses her so much.)

—

Mira, her chosen sister, who’s known and loved her the longest. They are at ease in each other’s presence in a way they aren’t with anyone else, bar their dragons. Quenelda quite possibly enjoys Mira’s company the most, she and Mira understand parts of each other that they don’t have to verbalise, they just get it. And she can have fun with her, climbing her sister like a jungle gym (particularly when she was younger, but still a bit now she’s older), and Mira will sometimes use her as a backrest, while Draco leans over their shoulders and baps Quenelda’s curls like a cat. And the quieter moments they spend with each other, styling hair the way Celestia taught them in the early days as a grounding technique, or sitting up on the roof together (again, something they started in those early days before they were the Hero or the Whisperer, just two teenagers who are unsure but growing closer, and will one day call each other my sister) either talking or just staying and enjoying their company.

And of course there’s the squish hugs, started by Mira, who will scoop Quenelda up in her arms and hold her close to her, squishing their cheeks together and tease her that if she didn’t want to be picked up she shouldn’t be so pickupable. And Quenelda’s legs will waggle in the air and she’ll squawk in mock protest, and she’ll wrap her own arms around Mira’s shoulders and laugh.

(The dragon loves the sun with everything that’s in her.)

—

Elysia, her best (human) friend, her fellow student. Quenelda’s magic is rather unique to non dragons, but she and Elysia would have magic lessons with Celestia, teaching them spells and control and all that. The Priestess was kind and patient, and along with a talk with Mira, it did ease Quenelda’s initial fear of her magic, more than aware of what could go wrong with it, albeit there was still some hesitation in the back of her mind.

But Elysia was also in training, and prone to the occasional magical mishap herself, and so the two of them started practicing their spells together. It wasn’t quite more relaxed than the educational setting of Celestia’s lessons, but it was in a space of showing the magic and growing more used to it, more comfortable with it, letting it flow throughout them and bloom into the air in multicoloured sparks and soft gasps of awe.

By the time Elysia became Lady of the Grove, the two of them were trained and more confident in their magic, even if they were still learning new facets and spells, but they would still carve out the time to practice together.

—

“My love for Vilmor is light and fluttery, like it can lift me into the sky. The dragon’s wings. My love for Mira is a warmth starting in my heart and spreading through my body. The dragon’s fire. My love for Celestia was safe and soothing. The dragon’s scales. My love for Elysia is trust and companionship. The dragon’s treasure. And my love for Two Gulps is everything that I am. The dragon herself.”

There is overlap with the feelings of course, but predominantly when she sees Vilmor, she feels light. When she sees Mira, she feels warm. When she saw Celestia, she felt safe. When she sees Elysia, she doesn’t feel alone. When she sees Two Gulps she feels complete.

—

mira belongs to @dragonfabled-dotventures! i care the sisters so much and i also care vilmor and quenelda and celestia and quenelda and elysia and quenelda and also quenelda my beloved The Character dfghjk

[theloverofdragons]

the wives 💞💞💞

[theloverofdragons]

first hugs

Her father was the only one who hugged her. She would get a pat on the shoulder at the dragon stables for doing well, but even as a bastard, the Earl’s daughter outranked them and so that was as far as it would go.

But her father hugged her, when he was happy to see her having returned home from the front lines, to let her know how much he loved her, how he would miss her when he had to go back to war.

Her father was the only one who hugged her and then he was gone.

****

The first time Lady Celestia hugged her was in praise.

Quenelda had come to Lore in a whirlwind of dragon magic and confusion, riding on her battledragon’s back one moment as her world imploded around her, and the next she was sitting in the middle of a green field, mountains towering around her, a lake sparkling in the sunlight and the scent of tea in the air, as a kind woman with grey hair knelt next to her and offered her hand.

Adapting to such a new place took time, especially with gradually unlearning that the expectation wasn’t for her to stay ignored in the corner - aside from those times when her father was home and would seat her next to him at the table, while the nobles smiled to her face and whispered behind her back - and not to automatically jump in surprise at a comforting touch.

But she was getting there, with both Celestia’s teachings and learning how to…be around other people (who wouldn’t deride her) with Elysia and Mira, rather than her only welcomed company being dragons.

It was after one such lesson from Celestia when Quenelda had finally managed to successfully cast a rune, a plant unfurling from the rune circle and opening up golden leaves, as Celestia clapped her hands together and swept over to her.

“Well done, Quenelda,” she murmured in her ear, sweeping her arms around her and pulling her close. “You’ve worked so hard on this, I’m so proud of you.”

Quenelda couldn’t help her mouth dropping open slightly in surprise before timidly raising her own arms to wrap round Celestia in return, turning her head to burrow in her mentor’s shoulder and inhale the scent of tea to try and calm her thumping heart.

Celestia hummed melodically, raising a hand to stroke Quenelda’s hair. “You’ve done so well.”

(Is this what it was like to have a mother?)

****

The first time Elysia hugged her was to give thanks.

While Elysia’s gentle nature had soothed Quenelda when she first arrived at Sunbreeze Grove, although she and Mira had bonded, it had taken her and Elysia a little while to do so, partly due to Elysia being older, and partly because Quenelda just…didn’t know how to make friends.

Elysia had been working on a new scale care for the dragons, and while she’d gotten the ingredients, she was worrying about what form it should come in; should it be a salve or a spray or scattered in a bath? Quenelda was watching on as Elysia screwed up parchment after parchment before quietly suggesting an ointment to be massaged in, on account of effectiveness of application and the fact that dragons just liked being pampered.

In all honesty, she had been automatically bracing for a rejection, but Elysia had instead paused, tapping her finger to her chin thoughtfully before saying it was worth a go. And that’s how Quenelda found herself holding the foreleg of one of the gentler Wind dragons staying at the Grove as Elysia carefully massaged the ointment into the scales.

Beckoning Quenelda to lower the leg and come and join her, she took a few steps back before letting out an uncharacteristic whoop, turning and throwing her arms round Quenelda’s shoulders.

“It worked! You can see how the scales look healthier! Quenelda you genius, thank you!”

Quenelda only took half a step backwards at the exuberance, reaching up to pat Elysia on the shoulders in return as she was released again, Elysia giving her a friendly grin.

“I’ll go prepare more ointment at once, and show the Priestess! She’ll be so proud!”

Quenelda watched Elysia practically dance off, the Wind dragon exhaling amusedly, ruffling her hair, wondering if they’d turned the corner of friendship.

****

The first time Mira hugged her, it was when Quenelda herself had initiated the hug.

She had initiated hugs with her father of course, and Lady Celestia had gradually been giving her more gentle hugs as Quenelda got more used to receiving physical affection, but hugging your peer, your friend - because Quenelda and Mira had latched onto each other, even if it was subtle enough that they hadn’t realised it at first, they had held on tight to each other with both hands and would never let go - was different from the hug of a parent or mentor.

Mira had stiffened slightly when Quenelda had rather awkwardly put her arms round her, and she couldn’t stop a small stab of panic. “Oh…oh no I’m so sorry, did I…?”

“It’s okay,” Mira said a little too quickly, Quenelda letting go to raise her eyebrow skeptically. “Sorry I just…people don’t really…touch me. I was just surprised, that’s all. I don’t…really know what I’m doing.”

“Me neither,” Quenelda gave a small smile that Mira returned. “Do you want to try and figure it out together?”

“…Yeah. Yeah I would.”

It was awkward at first, neither of them knowing where to put their arms, but once they slotted into the right place…there was an exhale from them both and Mira and Quenelda just relaxed into it, squeezing each other tight, up until the point Draco started protesting that they were no longer the centre of attention.

(It was the first time they both thought ‘sister’.)

Years down the line, Quenelda was one of the few people who Mira would hug and let hug her, with her strengthening of her magic letting her summon her dragon wings to wrap round the pair of them.

Lore had the Lord Sunbringer, but Quenelda loved her sister, Mira.

****

The first time Vilmor hugged her, properly hugged her, it was for romance.

There had been quick friendly hugs while Vilmor was visiting Sunbreeze Grove - which welcomed her when Dragonsgrasp still looked upon her with suspicion - but those were quick, that left Quenelda’s heart pounding and butterflies in her stomach (and made Lady Celestia, Elysia and Mira, when she was there, give her mildly despairing looks).

Quenelda had come to the realisation that she did in fact have a crush on Vilmor at about two o’clock in the morning - Elysia blithely informing her that she was the last person to notice the fact, which was a little unfair but probably true - and stammered out a confession to Vilmor the next time she saw her, who had blushed scarlet before admitting she felt the same way.

So far they hadn’t initiated much physical affection, holding hands and maybe a kiss on the cheek; it was still early doors after all. But then one day, when they were watching the sunrise after flying up the mountains on their dragons, Vilmor had turned and wrapped her arms around Quenelda, who had melted into the hug, a proper hug.

The pounding and the butterflies had returned but this time Quenelda leaned into the sensation, holding Vilmor tighter as the rising sun bathed them in pink and white and orange light, and as she looked up at the most beautiful face she’d ever seen, Quenelda decided that she wanted to kiss Vilmor.

And so she did.

****

Dragons weren’t big on hugs, but that wasn’t to say that it couldn’t be done.

Quenelda was doing the dishes inside the main house, when she’d felt a strange tingling in her bones, shortly before hearing a dragon’s roar, a call.

A familiar call for her.

Before she knew it, she was tearing out of the house as fast as she could, not even registering Lady Celestia or Elysia’s cries for caution, exploding out of the door next to where Mira was stood very still, holding Draco, and where in front of them, scales shining in the sunlight, was Two Gulps, her Two Gulps.

She wouldn’t be surprised if her feet never touched the ground as she hurtled towards him, her Bonded battledragon, he was safe, he was alive, he was here. Her arms latched around his neck as he bent his head to rest against her back, wings surrounding them both as she wept and he rumbled, and their Bond sang with their reunification.

Later she could introduce him to her mentor, her friend, and her sister but for now all that mattered was their hug.

They were together again.

****

for @pantsless-glowboy-stan who requested: quenelda's first hugs from various important people in her life (celestia, mira, vilmor, etc.)

this ended up being slightly longer than a usual prompt dfghjk but your honour i care them 🥺

[theloverofdragons]

The coastline stretched almost as far as the eye could see, golden sand meeting deep blue sea, the sun hanging low enough in the sky that the water sparkled, but not too low that it shone in your eyes. It was through this picturesque scene that Vilmor and Quenelda walked, hand in hand, the waves lapping gently at their ankles.

"It's nice to finally get away here, isn't it?" Vilmor eventually broke the silence, Quenelda squeezing her hand in response.

"Agreed. Family beach trips can be chaotic to organise and get to, what with making sure everyone has everything and making sure we get a good spot, but when we get here, oh it's lovely to stretch out and soak up the sun."

"And you get to bring your beach hat."

"Yes I do, and I look amazing in it."

"No arguments here. Not to mention all the fun we have, building sandcastles and exploring tide pools...even if I do have to keep putting on sunscreen every hour."

"Rather that than you turn into a tomato, although you do look good in red... Plus, you get Cryozen Jr snuggles the whole time."

"He does love that part, but I think he loves when the kids bring him ice cream more."

"Well everyone loves ice cream. I still think my favourite part is when we get to go for our walk though."

"Me too... Speaking of the kids though, we should probably get back and see what they've done to your poor sister."

"Her fault for laying down in defeat after volleyball, what kid isn't going to start burying her! I'd start burying her! But fiiiiiiine."

--

Returning back to where they'd set up their umbrellas and towels (Cryozen Jr snoozing happily on the coolers), it quickly became clear that the kids had had a fantastic time burying their Aunt Mira, if the sand piled on top of her in the rough shape of a mermaid tail was anything to go by, Rufus, Celestia and Pandora running up to their mothers with yells of glee, the twins leaping up to hang off Vilmor's arms while Pandora hugged her around the waist, the three all jabbering excitedly. Vilmor guided them back towards the umbrellas (and the sunscreen) with a fond expression, as Quenelda extended a hand down to Mira with a grin.

"You make a great mermaid, I must say. Considering a career change?"

"Afraid not," Mira replied wryly, taking her hand and standing up, sand cascading around her. "Living in an ocean full of water? Draco would never forgive me. Where did you two go, by the way? I lost track of you when Celestia decided sitting on me was the best way to sculpt the sand."

Quenelda flashed her the most innocent of innocent looks. "Oh you know, just for a little wander."

"...Did you two abandon me to be terrorised by your children to go for a romantic walk on the seafront?"

"Aww, it wasn't that bad!"

"..."

A sudden shriek made Vilmor turn round from where she was rubbing sunscreen into her forearms to be greeted with the sight of a cackling Mira tearing off down the beach, Quenelda charging after her, having stolen her sister's hat.

****

For @pantsless-glowboy-stan who requested: vilnelda family beach day shenanigans

quenelda's hat: