Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The next morning in O'khasis was rather quiet. Which was suspicious because Lady Aphmau could've sworn she was expecting an angry Shadow Knight on the Cathedral steps at any moment, setting fire to the things around him.

Just a day before her wedding and Aphmau was already stressing like this, she was going to get grey hairs. Would her hair look nice silver? Or maybe it'd be white.

She paced around Zane's office worriedly, fussing with her hair while she ranted about her anxieties. He listened while he worked, catching up on some things he'd missed out on and working ahead on some things that he needed to finish before they went off on their little honeymoon that Aphmau insisted on. "It wouldn't be a wedding without a honeymoon!" besides, it hopefully would get her out of this horrible place for a month or two.

"Do you think he got lost?" Aphmau asked, glancing towards the door before resuming her pacing.

"I'm sure he's fine." Zane soothed, "O'khasis is hard to miss, and its still early in the morning."

He paused for a moment before adding, "Besides, I don't mind if he's lost. Maybe he died somewhere in a ditch. He's blind isn't he? Maybe it would be a mercy."

Aphmau stopped her pacing to stare at him before marching up to his desk, glaring down at him.

"Thats not funny," she scolded, "What if he encountered a stray village on his way here and- and burned it down! Or killed someone! He hasn't been out of Phoenix Drop yet, I don't know about his temper, and with that guard-"

Zane stood from his desk, "Aphmau!" He interrupted, "Cease this incessant whining! My Irene, he's a grown man!"

"He's a Shadow Knight." she reminded him, "And I don't even know if Garroth is with him! Do you know how hard it is to try and track some lost person around the continent on foot, or even horseback? And what if he's hungry? What will we do when he gets here?"

"Goodness. Come here." Zane growled, grabbing her by the shoulder and sitting her on the seat across from his desk. "Sit here and be quiet. I don't want to hear one more word about that Guard until he shows up dead or alive!"

"Alive!" Aphmau insisted, lacing her fingers and placing her hands in her lap. "You can't expect me not to worry or fuss when he's out there and I don't know where he is!"

Zane rolled his eye and went back to his papers, "Aren't you out in this region all the time?" he offered, "Do you think they fuss and worry about you like this constantly? Do you want them to do that?"

"Well I'm capable," Aphmau shot back, "I mean, I love being in the wilderness!"

"And you think Laurence, third in line for the lordship of Meteli, seasoned Guard and walking tank of a Shadow Knight isn't more capable than an untrained human woman?"

"Just because he may be able to survive when he's calm doesn't mean he won't act brash when he's angry."

Aphmau rubbed her temple with her fingertips, leaning against the arm of the chair while she ran her fingers through her curls.

Zane was relieved from the silence once more, and grateful she finally left behind the subject of that man. Laurence. What could a blind man do, anyway? A shadow knight is one thing, but it's not like he could see where to strike, and Zane was rather light on his feet. He wasn't worried at all.

While Zane worked on his business, Aphmau had taken up residence in one of the corners of his office. It was lined with books, mostly religious ones. "Do you think I could take some of these home for one of my friends? I rarely see books this extensive." her careful fingers paged through the books, skimming them for the bare bones of the information they provided. Things like this seemed limited in public libraries, and in small villages like Phoenix Drop where information wasn't readily available.

"Would you consider yourself a religious scholar?" Aphmau asked Zane once more, not looking up from her book. She'd curled up on the floor, her ankles crossed.

"Yes, and.. I suppose." Zane answered somewhat uneasily, also not looking up from his papers.

"Did you go to school for that?" she asked, glancing up to look at him.

He couldn't particularly see her, as she was on his blind side, but he could still feel her gaze burning on him. "…Sort of. I had a tutor, but there isn't one formal type of education for that."

"So do you think someone living a less lavish life would have access to that?"

Zane hummed, sitting up straight and tapping the back of his pen against his desk, "I suppose not. Maybe if there was a church in their village, but most of that education is oral so it's not as extensive as the one I've had." the corners of his mouth quirked up slightly and he giggled to himself before going back to his work.

Aphmau hummed, glancing back down towards her book. She wondered if Emmalyn had those sorts of opportunities - there wasn't exactly a church in town, maybe getting her a tutor would benefit her. Or maybe she wouldn't blend with a tutor.

She recalled Emmalyn going out of town for better reading material. Maybe it would be worth it to expand her library for her. When was her birthday? Did there need to be an event for giving that sort of gift? Aphmau grinned to herself, she was sure that Emmalyn would probably cry about it, she was sweet like that.

The morning went on quietly, except for Aphmau prompting Zane with more questions. She'd formed a little stack of books in the corner to bring home for her friend. Zane nagged her over the mess a little bit, so she cleared out an entire shelf for her chosen books. He also did not like this, but she forced him to tolerate it until they had time to take them to their intended destination.

Then, sometime after noon, they were summoned to the gates of O'khasis on a visitor's request.

"Come on," Aphmau tugged Zane along by the sleeve of his robe, "It's Laurence, we must hurry!"

"It may not be him." Zane insisted.

"Oh yes, because just anyone is showing up demanding mine and your presence at the gates."

Of course, it was Laurence.

Lady Aphmau and Zane walked to the gates on foot, and upon approaching she realized that they were already open, and she could see a figure clad in copper stood at them holding the reins to a horse, talking to another guard.

When red hair filled her vision so too did tears, and she rushed forward with a shout of his name.

Laurence, upon hearing his Lady's voice, turned towards her and visibly brightened. He dropped the reins, instead reaching out to embrace her as her body collided with his.

Since becoming a shadow knight, Laurence radiated body heat, and Aphmau always found it rather comforting. They held each other for a few moments before pulling back - not fully, just enough to see each other. Laurence still kept his hands on her arms, and Aphmau could feel the warmth through his armor, still being allowed to seep into her skin.

"Aphmau!" he greeted her, relieved. He greeted her with a kiss on her forehead, one she didn't brush off for once, "Thank Irene you're alright."

He started turning her over in his hands, examining any visible skin for blemishes, bruises or cuts, "You are alright, aren't you?"

"Yes!" She agreed, "And you are! Remarkably calm!" Aphmau tucked a strand of hair behind his ear before peeking over his shoulder, "and… alone! I'm surprised!"

Laurence grinned that sly grin of his, keeping his voice low, "I do have a passenger with me, its a secret."

Aphmau's eyes found the gold thread that was tied around Laurence's wrist, tucked away under the bottom edge of his sleeve. She nodded with understanding, a fluttering in her chest as she imagined Garroth in the lasso, listening in. She had to fight the urge to say hello and blow his cover, as Zane approached soon after their greetings were over with.

"Nice to see you again." Zane wrapped his arm around Aphmau's waist, tugging her back out of the embrace to pull her against his side. He'd been rather touchy with her, but the possessiveness was new.

Laurence glared at him, disgust washing over his face, "Speak for yourself, and don't touch her like that. She doesn't like it." he took a step over to face Zane. Laurence wasn't the tallest guy, but he towered over the both of them, especially now.

"Oh? You'd like to speak on the behalf of my very capable fiance?" Zane raised his eyebrows at Laurence, glancing him up and down, "And I see you've been blessed. Congratulations on the sight."

"You don't look like how I imagined you."

"How did you imagine me?"

"…..Garroth is blonde." Laurence settled on, shrugging.

"You expected us to be twins?" Zane shot back.

"I guess not. Garroth isn't as disgusting as you in personality so its no wonder you'd look different physically either."

Aphmau opened her mouth to speak, but Zane spoke first, "Very high praise from you, wow." sarcasm dripped from his words, "You must know so much about the both of us, considering how long you've been serving your Lady. How long, two weeks? A month since I last visited at least."

Laurence furrowed his brow, and Aphmau could visibly see the hair on his neck raising, "I don't need to know that much about you to know you're a piece of shit who curses babies-"

"Oh, Alexis?" Zane asked sweetly.

"Hey." Aphmau warned, tugging away from Zane to try and wriggle free, although he just held her tighter. His hand splayed partially across her midsection, his fingers digging into the cloth of her dress.

"Oh so you did bother to learn her name before you put her through that, how virtuous!" Laurence was getting louder and more irritated, "So you curse children and kidnap women, and-"

"Well, its not kidnapping. It's a mutual, political agreement." Zane interrupted, "And besides, I will be undoing the bindings of that ritual as soon as Aphmau and I are wed." he picked at his nails, or at least made the motion to do so as if he wasn't wearing those gloves, now pristine from yesterday.

Laurence stood up straight, his fight seeming to deflate, "You will?"

Aphmau turned to Zane in surprise, raising an eyebrow, "You will?"

He simply nodded, "Why, yes. It was part of our agreement, was it not? I assist you in your ailments in exchange for your hand."

"Well you weren't exactly specific." Aphmau huffed, then lowered her voice. "You're really gonna do that?" she asked in a hushed tone.

"Of course. I stick by my word, my lady." she could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke.

For just a moment she wondered if maybe this whole thing would work out, better than the way she wanted it to, even! She smiled at him a little, but didn't notice how his eyes lit up slightly at her soft look. "Good." she murmured to him, before turning her attention back to Laurence.

"And how will we know you're keeping to that?" Laurence asked, his eyes narrowing.

Zane perked up, excited, "Why, Laurence, you have reassurance in knowing Lady Aphmau sleeps next to me each night-" Aphmau's face went bright red, "and she may spill my blood in the night if I do her wrong!"

"No I do not-" Her eyes darted to Laurence, who's eyes flashed red, "I do not! Well- well I guess I do- but it's not like that!" She insisted.

The words went in one ear and out the other, and Laurence postured up to Zane once more. Distantly he wondered if this is how Garroth felt, being on this end of the conversation when they first met and had that talk about Laurence's flirting.

"Now you see here-" Laurence spoke, only to get cut off by Zane waving his hand.

"You two may have time to discuss later, I have meetings to get to." He dismissed Laurence, gesturing over to his guard, "Please show Sir Laurence to his room in the Cathedral, Lady Aphmau and I have things to discuss."

Laurence growled, protesting as they were separated once more. Laurence was escorted off by guards, Aphmau by Zane.

"Do you have to word it like that every single time?" Aphmau hissed at Zane.

He looked pleased as punch with himself, "Of course I do. Especially if I get to see that flush on your cheeks each time I do."