#forestkeeper

It wasn't Bellroc's fault, of course. They would never hurt Nari on purpose. Bellroc had just been so disorientated since Killahead. The Trollhunter had been so cruel to take Bellroc's eyes. If she hadn't blinded Bellroc, then they wouldn't be disorientated and they wouldn't be making the mistakes that led to Nari being in pain.

(The Trollhunter had been defending herself, and she had prevented so much death. The deaths would also have caused pain to Nari.)

Perhaps it was Nari's fault that Bellroc was so disorientated. After all, she had implied that the battle wasn't worth it. That the Arcane Order should have never empowered Morgana. That the three of them should turn away from their task of restoring the Balance.

(If Morgana and Gunmar brought about the Eternal Night, it would kill Nari's plants and so much more. How was that Balance?)

Was it cruel of Nari, to disagree so strongly when Bellroc was hurting? She had tried to keep most of her arguments with Skrael, and they'd tried to keep their arguments far from wherever Bellroc was, and they'd tried to keep themself quiet, and she'd bitten her tongue to keep from saying her more vindictive arguments.

They knew Bellroc and Skrael cared for them. They had to care for her, just as she had to care for them. Nari kept reminding themself of that. Even if the three of them argued and fought, they were the Arcane Order! The three of them had to stay together.

If Nari kept leaving to the woods, well, the three of them had always needed their space. Every so often, they would sneak off to be alone. (Or in Nari's case, to try and play with human children, ones who had hopefully not yet learned hatred. In the past they would have been tempted to steal away a wizard child and the Order could raise them as their champion. Not anymore. Not after Morgana.)

(Not with how many mistakes Bellroc was making. Nari could withstand them, but a child who had not yet achieved immortality?)

Nari had been needing their space more and more lately.

They broke the kiss and, eyes still closed, began to rise off of Bellroc's lap.

Bellroc gripped the base of the Nari's antler with one hand and Nari's wrist with the other. Their grip was tight enough that if Nari had blood surely they would have bruises, but that wasn't what made her whimper with pain. It was the near-branding intensity of the heat beneath Bellroc's hands. They began to collapse back into Bellroc's lap. As they did, Bellroc's hands flew to Nari's shoulders, the excess heat gone from them.

"Oh, Nari, I'm so sorry," Bellroc said quickly. "I'm just so scared right now, that you'll leave and I won't be able to find you again. You won't leave me, right?"

"Of course I wouldn't!" Never permanently, anyways.

"Promise?"

"I promise." Nari found herself thankful that it was impossible to look Bellroc in the eye.

"Good." Bellroc pressed their lips to Nari's forehead, only a little warmer than normal. Not quite warm enough to be painful. Perhaps a little uncomfortable, but Nari felt bad for trying to leave so they wouldn't admit that to Bellroc. After all, the kiss was definitely not painful, not in comparison to Bellroc's mistake. And surely it was only a mistake. Surely Bellroc would have never hurt Nari on purpose. "Good."

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