Written July 16 11:25 PM

A ray of sun falling across her face woke Ailith, the sound of birdsong streaming in through the open window filling her with a sense of contentment. She stretched out on the bed, relishing in the way the warmth of the blankets contrasted with the cold air on her nose. A soft sigh on her neck drew her attention, her head turning towards the sensation.

A smile grew on Ailith’s face as she turned to see Feyra next to her, the redhead’s face pressed into Ailith’s shoulder in protest at having been woken up by her movements. Ailith wasn’t used to this, to the luxury of waking up with Feyra. She doubted she would ever grow tired of watching those eyes blink open and search for her in their first moments of awareness. It made Ailith’s heart do somersaults in her chest.

Now though, Feyra was burrowing her face into the crook of Ailith’s neck, hiding from the light. She grumbled something into Ailith’s skin, turning more fully into Ailith’s body and draping an arm over her chest.

Chuckling, Ailith nudged at the arm. “What was that? I don’t speak ‘sleep.'” She shifted slightly, bringing her hand up to run it down Feyra’s back, teasing the bare skin there.

A long suffering groan came from the cloud of red hair next to Ailith. “Nin uir,” came Feyra’s muffled voice, “it’s too early. Go back to sleep.”

Ailith froze, her hand coming to an abrupt stop between Feyra’s shoulder blades. The other woman sensed the tension in Ailith’s body and brought her head up to peer at her, brow furrowed in confusion.

“Ailith? What’s wrong?” Feyra’s hand was on Ailith’s face now, turning it towards her.

“You… You said the same thing in Dragontower, in bed.” Ailith was hesitant, sure that she was mistaken.

“I said a lot of things in Dragontower, in bed,” Feyra pointed out with a slight grin, “but… yes, I believe I did. Why?”

Ailith felt tears prick her eyes. She covered the hand still on her cheek with her own, squeezing gently. “I didn’t know what it meant. Obviously, I don’t speak Elvish.” Feyra nodded slowly, confusion written clearly on her face. “But I heard you this time. I understood you.”

“What? You’re sure?”

“‘My eternity.’ You called me your eternity,” Ailith whispered, fully aware that she was crying in bed for the second time in as many days.

Feyra was silent for a moment, a myriad of emotions playing out on her face. “Nin mel,” she murmured, moving to kiss Ailith softly, so softly. My love. Ailith gasped as the words filtered into her ears in Feyra’s Elvish lilt, her mind supplying the meaning behind them automatically.

They lost the rest of the morning, Feyra speaking words into Ailith’s mouth, her skin, her soul. Ailith answered the only way she knew how, until Feyra didn’t have any words left to utter.