i think the scions tell estinien about stuff that happened on the first, and about the crystal exarch, namely that he is a very impressive and powerful leader with a huge variety of skills and that although only the warrior of light really recognized who the crystal exarch really was at first, it's clear to estinien all the rest of the front-liner scions adore the exarch too and trust and admire him.
unfortunately because of botched introductions it just takes estinien half way through endwalker to fully realize that that's g'raha tia, the min height miqo'te twink fanboy that's been trying for moons now to convince either estinien or the wol (or both) to plow him upside the garden path already
some random guy hanging out with alphinaud alisae: "estinien wyrmblood! the azure dragoon!! he who felled the dark worm nidhogg!! to think that i would be in the presence of a living legend-"
estinien: ok warrior where are the cameras
cut to three months later, as he's leaning against a wall and hearing the wol describe going back to the first and then to elpis, and the new earth-shattering revelations housed therein
estinien, thinking to himself: holy shit the crystal exarch is g'raha tia
I love the ff community sometimes, like, with my OC post, I still get notes, I have followed like, 100 or so new blogs, I get to see so many pretty characters. I could say, "Hey, show me your elezen!" And get dozens of screenshots on this post.
In fact.
Please show me your elezen, I feel like I never see them.
Iolaine knew she was falling for the Exarch—against her better judgment—but even she didn't know just how deep they ran. He consumed every stray thought; in her dreams, he found her.
Thank you to the incomparable zilli for this most adorable pose 💕
Iolaine hadn't expected Raha to be so enthusiastic about joining her on the island.
It seemed a far cry from the grand adventures she went on; no beasts to slay, no empires to topple, no wars to cease. She'd grown very fond of the solace. The chores were a welcome distraction from the long talk she knew was fast approaching, and the physical demand wasn't overmuch for her still-healing body. By all counts, it was not someplace to see a hero in action.
And yet, Raha lit up at the offer to stay there with her for a weekend. Iolaine speculated it was the break from the Students that might have excited him so much, but decided otherwise when he showed up in matching shorts.
It was well past time she accepted that his journey was a person.
"Raha, I love you," she interrupted. "And it terrifies me."
The simple statement rendered him silent. She held his gaze and he could see the familiar fear darkening her features.
"Ever since I became the Warrior of Light, I've been entrusted with countless hopes and dreams," she continued. "The weight of the love of this star—of the First, too—it's an incredible burden."
Oh, no. "Iolaine, I—"
"It is an honor to bear it," she continued. "What I mean to say is that I know what it means to place those feelings in someone else's arms. I know how heavy that burden can be. It has made me afraid to… to love. To impose my heavy heart on someone else. And I know that’s what you want from me."
He didn't know what to say. His heart simply ached. All he could muster was a small squeeze of her hands.
"In the First, somehow it was easier to feel that way. Maybe it… we… seemed so far-fetched, I entertained those feelings freely. Especially before I knew who you really were; how seriously could I love someone who’d never shown me their face? But then there was Kholusia, and when Emet-Selch took you—I’ve never felt so distraught, Raha. I knew it then, and when I woke you in the Tower and held you there, it only confirmed that my feelings hadn’t changed. I probably haven't been any good at hiding it, either. I can't help myself. I can't keep myself from you."
It was true—it was relieving and heartening to finally know all those warm glances, every offered hand, each guiding touch of her hand on his back, were as real as he'd wished.
"But I'm afraid. Not for myself, but for you. I am dangerous. Simply being near me is life-threatening. The lives lost on my behalf…" Her voice began to shake as it rose louder, and he saw a tear or two glitter on their way to the ground from her downturned face. "I have seen people who love me die at my feet, and I could do nothing but watch the light fade from their eyes. I saw you struck down before me on Mount Gulg. I watched the Tower consume you. Worse, you did it all for my sake! You would have saved my life only to leave me without you!”
She dropped one of his hands to clutch her chest. She met his eyes now, and the anguish that burned in them bound his chest, choked out any consolation he might have tried to offer. She was right. “I can't stop you from wanting to be close to me, but I can limit you. I can keep you at arm's length. I just— I can't bear to… to lose…"
She wept openly now, dropping his other hand to cover her face. He’d been a fool. Through his eyes, Iolaine was always the picture of a strong, mighty hero. Though she certainly had her struggles and hardships, he knew how resilient she was; she could overcome anything. He didn’t expect this—this sorrow, so powerful that it bore down upon her until she was bent low with whimpering sobs. Here she was, laying bare the ghosts that haunted her; declaring the ways his desires not only burdened her, but disregarded her wishes; and G'raha didn't know what to do, where to look, what to say or hold. For all his years spent studying and toiling to protect the person who mattered most, right now, he’d fallen short. He was helpless.
When she drew one hand away, revealing her tear-stained cheek, he took the foolish gamble, lifting a hand to hold her face. She flinched again, and he feared she would withdraw; but to his relief, she leaned into his touch.
"I can’t bear to lose you, either," he replied. "But you already know what I would do to keep you." She gazed at him with a longing in her eyes he hadn't seen before. He practically rose a fulm off the ground.
"You love this star. You left everything you ever knew to roam it with us. Warrior of Light or not, you'd be protecting it with us either way. That's why this star loves you so. They all know the risk of allying with Hydaelyn's chosen. They still choose you—I still choose you. Because we know that to protect the star, to place our hopes on you, will be worth all the joy you will win, even if we are not there to see it." He could feel himself choking back tears as he thought of the ones who roused him first.
"That does not excuse my actions on the First. I knew my plans would earn the ire of you and yours, but I hadn’t realized how sorely it weighed upon you. Frankly, it was miraculous enough to have brought you to the First; to win your friendship—your love—was an impossibility that I simply hadn’t accounted for. Iolaine, I am so deeply sorry.”
She regarded him wordlessly, tears still spilling down her cheeks. Her only answer was to press his hand closer to her face.
“I know full well that I don’t deserve the privilege after all I’ve done, but please—please know it would be a gift beyond measure to carry your heart as you've carried mine. No risk could outweigh it. And, as you know, I’m not so easily defeated; even a Calamity isn't enough to be rid of me." He offered a weak smile.
She huffed amusedly before drawing back upright. A small smile broke out against her grief. He felt the roughness of her palms as her hands cradled his face, and he held completely still as she lowered her face down, touching their foreheads together.
"Thank you," she whispered.
After a few moments of that enchanted stillness, she began to move. The tip of her nose glided across, then down, his cheek. Her lips were a hair's breadth away, and he could feel the puff of her breath when she whispered, "May I?"
"Yes!" he chirped, unable to contain his nerves. Her eyes seemed aglow with mischief beneath her dark lashes.
The first brush of her lips was feather-light, almost reverent. Each one that followed pressed harder, came faster, and invited him to open wider. Before long, he didn't notice the cold anymore. Her fingers had curled into the locks of his hair, and he held tightly to her wrists for fear of floating away. He was fully lost, a leaf being swept about by the raging wind. It was exultant.
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