#icedriven

drabble / plotted starter for @icedriven c: 

i. Riona honestly panicked when she figured out Dorian was her mate. Like, wtf, universe? You know his dad wants me dead, right?

ii. Dorian is actually pretty open with Riona. Probably the only person who knows him better is Chaol, and that’s just because of the years that they’ve spent together.

iii. Riona hates that they can’t be affectionate in public. She is tactile, and she hates that she can’t hold Dorian’s hand and kiss his cheek. Dorian makes this worse, because he uses his reputation to his advantage and just flirts with her all the time, and it’s basically teasing her.

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Riona laid in her bed, bound to the place she and Chaol were hiding in. Her silk sheets that she’d had in the castle were gone, replaced by scratchy fabrics. She supposed that it was all they could get. They were lucky to have a place to stay at all. Chaol insisted that she stay in the building as much as possible, saying that it was for the faerie’s safety. She knew that was what he wholeheartedly believed; he would do absolutely anything to keep her safe and reunite her and Dorian.

But she felt so useless. She hated being cooped up; she hated that she’d never been trained to fight, not the way Rowan had. Her elder brother was a great warrior, and Riona knew that even without his magic, he’d make a formidable opponent. She had been trained as a scout, a protector, and a healer. She knew how to defend herself, and her Fae senses would give her an advantage, but it was nothing against these Valg guards that roamed the streets, not to mention they would flock to her immediately with the stench of magic she gave off. 

The most she could do is make stars imbued with protection spells. She made Chaol, Nesryn, and all of Chaol’s men at the castle carry one at all times, and she had them in place at every entrance to her and Chaol’s hideaway. She was glad it was a two bedroom place, because she often cried herself to sleep, feeling the Valg trying to eat at Dorian through her mate bond with the prince, and she knew that Chaol would be even more miserable if he knew just how little she slept.

She was both grateful and angry with her mate bond. She was grateful, because it allowed her to cling to the knowledge that Dorian wasn’t yet gone. She knew that he was still in there, still fighting. But she also felt the darkness from the Valg, and that killed her. She knew that Dorian would be permanently scarred from this encounter, should she and Chaol find a way to save him.

She often tried to reach out to Dorian. She knew it generally only worked with two full Faes, to be able to really connect and communicate with their mate through the bond, but she had to try. It never worked, and it often left her feeling drained. 

It was soon after her latest attempt that Chaol appeared, leaning in her doorway.

“You know, Dorian won’t be very happy if you drain so much energy that you’re dead when he comes back.”

“I have to do something, Chaol. You at least get to patrol, save people. I’m stuck here. If only I had my Fae form. I could do some scouting for us, then.”

Chaol sat on the bed next to her. “Come with me tonight. I’m meeting someone, and something tells me that he’ll respond better if there’s a beautiful woman on my arm.”

Her lips quirked up, just a little. “So you took notes when Dorian was charming the ladies?”

Chaol gave her a smirk. “Perhaps.”

She shoved his shoulder. “Ass.”

“Put on a nice dress, but wear a hood. We don’t want anyone to recognize you, and you were at court for so long that someone would if we’re not careful.”

“Okay. Thank you, Chaol.”

“Dorian won’t forgive me if you’re miserable when he comes back. It’s the least I can do.”

Riona looked at him, right in the eyes, emerald meeting bronze. “You really think we’re going to get him back, Chaol? It’s been months. Yes, he’s in there, but how much of him will have survived? If we get the Valg out, he’s going to have to live with the things the darkness did to his mind, did with his body.” 

Riona wanted to believe everything that this man was saying. Chaol was Dorian’s best friend, and had been for at least ten years. He knew Dorian better than she ever would. But she knew what the darkness did better than Chaol. Chaol could barely remember what it was like to live in a world with magic. She was centuries older, and had lived with magic for much longer. She knew the price Dorian would pay, even if they freed him.

Chaol then got down on his knees, and he took her hand. “Dorian has always been the most important person in my life. He is my brother in soul. And for you, for me, I will save Dorian. And we will help him recover from this. We will dispel the darkness.”

Riona squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Chaol,” she whispered, tears welling up and rolling down her cheeks. “I would drive myself insane if it weren’t for you.”

“Dorian would have made you his Queen. Will make you his Queen,” he corrected. “That makes you family. I will protect and serve you just as I did him.” He wiped away her tears gently. 

“And who’s protecting you, Chaol?” She caught his hand, holding it against her cheek.

“You are,” he answered strongly. “With your stars. Nesryn is on the streets. Now, get ready. We can’t be late.” He stood up and walked to the door.

“You’re a good man, Chaol Westfall.”

“Dorian, look at me.” The faerie stared at her mate, trying to get him to see through the Valg inside his body. “You have to remember me. I’m Riona.”

The prince stared back, and his mouth opened, but the Valg shut it before Dorian could say anything.

“Chaol kept me safe. Just like you asked him to. And he died to try and give us time to save you.” Tears sprang into her eyes.

“Chaol?” Dorian asked. “Ri, Chaol’s...dead?” But then the Valg inside him shoved him back.

“Yes, Chaol’s dead. And he believed with everything he had that you would come back. Don’t let him have died in vain, Dorian. Come back to me.”

Riona arrived at the court of Ardarlan not terribly long after the King had held a ridiculous contest for a champion. She knew that this champion was no more than a glorified butcher, killing the King’s opponents. She knew that included her, too, but she had to come to court.

After all, all the Fae had been able to sense it when there was an awakening of raw magic. It had taken Queen Maeve to get Rowan to let her go, though. He was not having her idea of coming here, but she knew that she had to. Maeve agreed, though Riona knew it was because she wanted eyes here, and she wanted to see what would happen with the raw magic.

Of course, Riona was not expecting to become so smitten. She tried so hard not to, but as time went on, she actually had to interact with Prince Dorian. His sapphire eyes drew her in, and that charming smile snared her attention, and she liked the sound of his voice. He was clearly well read; she could hear it in his tone. She liked that he was willing to talk to everyone, and she watched him intently from afar most of the time.

Of course, she really got to see how he shined when she came across him and his cousin, Roland. She gave them a low curtsy.

“Prince Dorian. Lord Roland,” she greeted.

“Well, hello.” Roland grinned at her, eyes roaming over her form. 

She’s glad that her tattoos, the ones that most Fae have, are hidden. She has stars across her shoulders, and she has them across her wrists, too.

“What’s your name, my lady?” Dorian asked politely.

“Riona,” she answered, giving him a smile.

“A gorgeous name,” Roland told her.

“Thank you; you’re very kind, my lord.” Gods, she was going to need more patience if the younger Havilliard just wanted under her skirts. She was glad that Prince Dorian, despite his reputation with women, was being reserved and respectful.

“Would you like to walk with us?” Roland asked.

“Oh, I must decline right now,” Riona answered. “Perhaps another time?” She looked at Dorian, though, rather than Roland.

“Perhaps another time,” Dorian agreed, smiling softly. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Riona.” 

“And an honor to meet you, Prince Dorian.” She gave another curtsy. “Lord Roland.”

“I hope to see you again soon, Lady Riona,” Roland said.

“I shall be around.” The words were again directed at Dorian.

She woke up to his sapphire eyes sparkling in the light of the morning sun. His fingers were running gently through her hair, getting caught a little bit in the waves, but he never tugged, just withdrawing his fingers from the tangle and starting from the top again.

“Morning,” she mumbled.

“Good morning,” he replied, grinning at her. “Your nose scrunches in your sleep. Were you dreaming about something?”

“You.” She leaned up and kissed his lips softly.

Dorian smiled, putting a hand on her cheek as he kissed her again. When they pulled apart, she adjusted her position to rest her head on his chest, and he held her to him. He was in no rush for things to advance sexually, a first for him. But he was content to lay there with her.

“Do you have anything you have to do today?” she asked quietly.

“No,” he replied. “Which is a good thing. If I had to sit through another council meeting...” He shook his head. “How do you control it?”

“Dorian, you can’t beat yourself up for not knowing how. It’s been a part of me all my life. You just found yours. Something woke it up. That’s why I came, you know. I could feel it building. I knew you’d need someone.”

“Thank you.” He pressed his face into his hair, wondering what he would do without her. He couldn’t imagine trying to deal with this on his own.

“Of course.” She held him tight. “I didn’t expect to fall in love with you, though.”

Dorian smiled into her hair. “I’m glad you did. I love you, too, Riona.”