Private Tales The Starling and the Bear

[Isla]

“I don’t believe you.” She snapped at him, her lip quivering as the cold settled in. She reached out and snatched the letter, scanning it one last time before she let it fall to the ground. Ink swirled and distorted with the raindrops hitting it.

He stepped toward her and she matched, taking a step away. Shaking her head, Isla snapped at him.

“Come inside so you can do what? Humiliate me further? Parade the heartbroken whore around the keep for everyone to laugh at? Is that what this is for you, Lynus?” She choked out another sob. “Am I just some spectacle for your amusement? Could have hired a court jester if you wanted to laugh.”

 

[Lynus Anireth]

His fists clenched and unclenched, his voice shaking as he finally found the strength to speak, “I’m not laughing, Isla. How could you think that? I have never—never—seen you as anything but the woman I want beside me, the woman I want to spend my life with. To even imagine that I would use you like that…” His voice cracked, thick with emotion, and he took a halting step closer. “Do you not know me? Have I done anything to make you believe I would humiliate you? I’ve fought for you! I let you in.”

He bit back the sob rising in his throat, his voice falling to a whisper. “I didn’t know my father would do this. But I’ll undo it—.” His jaw tightened, the anger in his eyes barely tempered by the anguish etched across his face. “I should have turned her away- I know, I'm sorry. I'll turn her away this second, if that’s what it takes to prove to you I don’t want her—only you.”

Lynus felt the weight of his heart crumbling, his voice breaking as he pleaded, “Please don’t walk away, Isla. Don’t let him destroy us. Please… believe me.” He looked up at her, eyes filled with desperation, rain dripping from his hair, a man stripped of every defense. He was laid bare before her, raw and vulnerable, his heart open and pleading, hoping that somewhere, she could still see the truth beneath his broken words.

 

[Isla]

“Why?” Her question was vague at first. She pushed him away from her when he took another step closer, invading the walls she was trying to rebuild as quickly as possible. “Why did you let me in?” She demanded to know. “What was the reason? You, what, pitied me? Were you trying to earn the favor or someone, so you chose to make some poor whore your new project?”

She wanted to shove him again, but her arms fell to her sides. She squeezed her hands tight, refusing to allow herself to rest one over her abdomen. Refusing to allow herself to share such devastatingly precious news to a man who betrayed her. She bit her lip to stop herself from feeling sorry for the child that would probably end up in an orphanage after she left tonight.

“How can I believe you?” She whispered. “Give me a reason to.”

 

[Lynus Anireth]

His head shook, he pleaded, tried to reason with her but she was ripping at his heart, his face twisting with hurt as she pushed him away, and the truth slipping from him in a desperate, broken shout.

“Because I love you, Isla!” His voice cracked, the confession raw and jagged as it tore from him, a truth he had guarded fiercely, now laid bare in the rain-drenched darkness between them.

He shook his head, a strangled, frustrated sound escaping him as he struggled to hold her gaze. “It wasn’t pity; it was never pity. You were never a project, never someone I could look at and see as anything less than my equal. You made me want to be better, to be worthy of you.”

Taking a shaky step back, he ran a trembling hand over his face, swallowing hard. “I let you in because you made me feel something, and it saved my fucking life. I love you, Isla. I love your fire, your strength, the way you don’t back down. I love you—all of you. And I’m terrified, because I know what I’ve done might have ruined any chance of you believing that, but it's the truth."

He dragged a hand over his soaked face, his expression raw with vulnerability. “I know my words might mean nothing to you now, but I swear on everything I am, on everything I’ve fought for, I don't want anyone but you. I need you, Isla. Tell me what to do, tell me what I can do to make this right.”

The rain fell in heavy sheets around them, but Lynus stood there, unflinching, his heart laid open before her, ready to withstand her anger, her mistrust—anything, as long as she would hear him out.

 

[Isla]

The words hung in the air between them. He had shouted them, but they were so soft that she almost doubted that she heard them at all.

I love you, Isla!

Isla froze, staring at him while her heart raced and her head struggled to keep up. His voice was filled with such raw desperation that it made her chest ache all over again. This time, it wasn’t from the anger that had brewed inside her. It was the dizzying and terrifying flood of hope and want that rushed through her, warring against the caution, the shield she had been building up around herself.

She had been waiting to hear those words since the last night they spent in Bess’ inn. When she realized that it was what she felt for him. Words she wanted to badly to tell him, but feared that he would run off and break her heart all over again.

She studied his face, breaths shallow. Her fingers dug tightly into the column she leaned against to steady her. She wanted so badly to believe him. So badly it ached.

“Don’t,” She whispered, her voice breaking as she spoke. “Please don’t say you love me just to make things easier. Don’t tell me you will love me because it will fix everything.” She wasn’t angry with him. When she looked at his face, she knew he wasn’t lying to her.

Her vision blurred with fresh tears and she released the column. “Lynus,” She stepped forward, stumbling over the slippery ground. She wanted to lean into him for support and to let his words melt away her doubts, but she steadied herself. “I want to believe you. More than anything, I have wanted to hear those words for weeks because I was too afraid of telling you that I loved…love you.”

She sniffled, wiping tendrils of wet hair from her face. “You can make this right by being honest with me,” guilt struck her the moment those words came from her lips, knowing she was keeping secrets from him. “No games, no pretending to keep me safe from people or to spare my feelings. I don’t want to be a secret. The other woman who you will brush aside when things get difficult.”

Her voice was nothing more than a whisper once more. She shut her eyes and spoke. “And don’t break my heart, Lynus. I don’t think I can go through that again.”

 

[Lynus Anireth]

Lynus’s heart thundered as her whispered words shattered him and rebuilt him in the same breath. He had braced himself for her to push him away for good, but when she said she loved him, that she still loved him, a raw, grateful sob caught in his throat. He forced himself to stay where he was, letting her say everything she needed without crossing the fragile distance she kept between them.

When she asked for honesty, for no more games or secrets, his heart twisted, knowing he had stumbled in his efforts to protect her. He wanted to reassure her of the weight she held in his life, of the place she’d carved out in his heart that nothing could ever erase.

“Then believe me,” he rasped, voice thick with emotion, his shoulders sagging. “That’s not what this is. This—” he gestured between them, “this is all I’ve wanted since Bess’s inn. But I fell so fucking hard, so fast, that I was terrified you’d doubt me, that you’d think it was too soon and I’d scare you away.”

He saw the way her face softened, her own tear-streaked cheeks glistening in the rain, and it tore at him to stay rooted in place. But he did, willing himself to give her the space she’d asked for, even as every instinct begged him to hold her, to shield her from the rain, to kiss away her tears and prove to her that his words were true.

Her hesitation, her pain—he knew they stemmed from wounds he had unwittingly deepened, and he wanted nothing more than to prove he was here to stay.

“I swear to you, Isla,” he murmured, taking a slow step forward, “I've had nothing but honesty for you since the moment you learned my name, and you have never been, nor could you ever be, a secret. I want the whole world to know how much you mean to me.”

He took a breath, summoning all the courage he had, and dropped down on one knee in the rain that seemed to be lashing even harder now, pulling a small ring from his pocket. He’d hoped to do this with far more grace and planning, but he realised there was no other moment but this one.

“I just needed time to get things right, to do this the way you deserved.. But right now I just need you to know I’m in this. All of it. I love you, and I plan to love you for the rest of my life, if you’ll have me.” He held the ring up to her, his heart in his eyes. “Marry me, Isla?” he asked, as he held up the ring with the starling for her.

​

 

[Isla]

Lynus knelt in front of her and Isla’s eyes followed, never leaving his face. She could see the desperation, the love and honesty written in his eyes, as if he was terrified she would still go. His hands appeared to tremble slightly as he reached into his pocket and presented to her a ring. Her eyes left his face to examine it while he spoke. It was beautiful. Golden, melted and shaped into the starling he’d so affectionately referred to her as since they introduced themselves. She hadn’t wanted to know his name at the time, and agreed that he suited the name Bear. And despite knowing her name, he still called her Starling. His Starling.

Marry me, Isla?

Her breath caught, her heart racing as the realization washed over her. The world seemed to still, rain fading into silence that encapsulated just them. The intensity in his eyes left her breathless. She repeated his words in her head, blinking a few times. She must have been dreaming.

Isla pressed a shaking hand to her mouth, letting the walls shatter once again. Everything she felt for him-love, fear, and hope- mingled with a fragile joy. She had not expected this. Never. Not once had she thought she would ever be deserving of love- real love. And marriage? She had come to terms that no one would wish to marry someone with her past.

She reached out for his hand, breaking that distance she had forced between them and reached for his hand, fingers brushing against his while she nodded. “Yes,” she was barely able to find her voice, “Yes, Lynus…Yes I will marry you.”

The ring was slipped onto her finger and without a second to spare, she pulled him up and into her arms, pressing her lips against his in a kiss that was so new to her. It felt a like a promise. A promise of love. A promise of a future. They pulled apart, breathlessly resting their foreheads against one another, holding each other close in the gazebo. Even in the chill, the warmth of his arms surrounded her. But even in the midst of their joy, Isla felt another wave of emotion rising like nausea that had plagued her. A new truth. One she could not keep to herself- not after he promised no more secrets.

“Lynus,” she murmured, pulling herself from his arms. She looked up at him, eyes wide with fear. “There…there is something else I have to tell you.” She took a deep breath, terror settling over her. She averted her gaze when she delivered the news that might ruin it all. “I’m…” She took a deep breath and tried, and failed, to look at him. “I’m pregnant.” She whispered, hoping- praying the rain drown her out.

 

[Lynus Anireth]

The rain pounded down in a haze, drowning the world around them. Lynus could only hear his heartbeat in his ears, thundering as he watched her, searching for any hesitation in her eyes. But when she finally reached for his hand, every bit of tension shattered, spilling out as pure, breathless joy. She wanted him—she truly wanted him, even with the storm he’d brought into her life. Relief bubbled up as he laughed, lifting her off her feet, his mouth finding hers in a fierce kiss that sent his heart and mind spinning.

But as he set her down, he saw her expression shift, and his smile faltered. Her eyes held something that made him brace himself, a vulnerability that hinted at something big, something fragile. His brow furrowed gently in question and he nodded, bracing himself for whatever news she seemed about to throw at him. When she spoke, his world stopped.

A baby.

So many thoughts rushed through his mind all at once, it almost knocked him off balance. His brows rose and he dropped his gaze as his hand drifted slowly to her stomach, his fingers barely brushing her there, afraid to believe it was real.

For a moment, he stared, expressionless - his mind rushing in every direction, trying to grasp the weight of her words. Silence reigned as he tried to process it, battling the familiar terror that clawed at him—fear that this was too good to be true, that the gods might find some cruel way to tear it all apart again.

But this had been something she'd wanted, something that had been taken from her once before too. Something she didn't expect to have, ever. It was what he had wanted too, and he recalled the joy he felt the first time he'd had this news. His eyes were glassy with distance and tears, but as he looked at her, as he saw the hesitant hope in her eyes, something within him broke open, and his lips pulled into a slow, incredulous smile. His chest ached with happiness, his breath hitching as he let out a soft, disbelieving laugh.

“You… we’re having a baby?” he whispered, almost afraid to say it too loudly, as if it might vanish.

The weight of the moment hit him like a wave. He’d longed for this, more than he’d ever let himself believe he could. He wanted this family with her, wanted to see her as a mother, to raise their child in a home filled with more love than either of them had known. He blinked back the tears in his eyes, letting go of every fear he’d held onto as he focused on her. She deserved happiness, and he would not let his fear ruin this.

“I love you,” he breathed, voice rough with emotion. “So fucking much.” Reaching up, he cupped her face, studying her with every ounce of love and awe he felt for her before drawing her back into a kiss—soft and deep, a promise and a vow. In this moment, nothing else mattered but the life they’d have together, the family they’d make, and the future that was finally within their reach, and he'd hold onto it with everything he had.

 

[Isla]

She saw his smile disappear momentarily and her stomach dropped. He was going to react how she had imagined it the moment the physician uttered those words to her yesterday. Her eyes became hot with fresh tears threatening to spill at her disappointment. And then his expression shifted entirely to something vacant. Isla imagined he was revisiting the memories she feared would consume him.

Isla let one of her hands rest over his pressing down harder, silently telling him that he wasn’t going to hurt her. She wasn’t made of glass. Her fingers stroked the back of his hand, begging him to come back to her. Begging him to not hate her. “Please, please…” She repeated in a whisper until he finally spoke again.

She prepared herself for the worst. Prepared herself to leave when he would tell her how stupid she was. Prepared herself to hear those same words Nathaniel said to her.

When he spoke, she held her breath, eyes scanning his face for any of the familiar disdain towards her that Nathanial showed. And finally, she nodded and a tear slipped down her cheek. “Yes,” she exhaled, “Yes, we are having a baby.” She gripped his hand. “I was so afraid of telling you, Lynus. I didn’t…know how you’d feel.” After everything that had happened to him. She saw the tears in his eyes and her skin paled.

“I am sorry.” She looked down at him. “Please don’t cry. Lynus…if you can’t handle this…I can leave-“

He cut her off and a soft laugh escaped her. A rush of joy consumed her when he cupped her cheek and pulled her into a kiss. He loved her. Truly, deeply loved her and most of all, he wasn’t angry with her. “I love you too,” She whispered when the broke the kiss to breathe. She only allowed him to take a moment to breathe before she pulled him back into a kiss that was wild and unrestrained.

The rain fell harder around them, but under the shelter of the gazebo, they were cocooned in their own world. Her hands slid down his back and pulled him closer to her with a hunger that could not be sated. Illuminated only by the lightning streaking across the skies, Isla pulled him down with her onto the smooth wooden floor. Her kiss deepened, fingers tracing down his neck and arms. “I love you.” Her tears flowed freely with their confessions in the open now.

 

[Lynus Anireth]

'Yes...Yes, we are having a baby.'

Her expression turned, worry creeping back in as she offered to leave if he couldn’t handle it. But that thought cut deep. “Isla, don’t ever—” he interrupted, needing her to understand.

Before he could say more, she pulled him into a kiss, and it felt like the world ignited around them. The warmth of it enveloped him, chasing away the shadows that threatened to creep in. He kissed her back, pouring everything he felt into that moment—the joy, the love, the promise of a future they would create together.

Lynus melted into her touch, her hands sliding down his back, pulling him closer, and he felt a warmth spreading through him, igniting a fire he never knew he needed.

When she pulled him down onto the smooth wooden floor, lightning illuminated their shared space, casting fleeting shadows around them. Her kiss deepened, and he was breathless as he surrendered to her completely.

His hand moved to her face, his thumb brushing away the last of her tears, and he felt a fierce protectiveness swell within him. She had been so afraid to tell him, so ready to believe he’d turn her away. But here she was, vulnerable and beautiful, giving him a chance he didn’t deserve. He leaned closer, his forehead pressed to hers, and for a moment he could only breathe her in, every beat of his heart an unspoken promise.

“I want to marry you tomorrow,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion he could barely contain.

When she pulled him into a kiss, it was wild and tender all at once, a release of every doubt and fear. He held her tighter, feeling the warmth of her hands against his skin, the brush of her fingers across his back. The rain and thunder became a mere backdrop to the symphony. It was as though the storm shielded them, cloaking them from the world, until only they remained.

In that quiet, they gave themselves to each other completely. The fears, the past, the pain—all of it faded, leaving only a love they hadn’t dared hope for.

 

[Isla]

I want to marry you…

Tomorrow…

TOMORROW?

Her breath hitched, and though she did not stop the progression, she did take a moment to look at him and try to understand if she had heard him correctly. “Tomorrow?” She murmured, moving on to leave a trail of kisses down his neck. She pulled up at the layers of her skirts. “Tomorrow, tomorrow? You truly want this so soon?” She didn’t need to see his face to see the confirmation.

This was real and he was hers.

They would be married.

They were having a baby.

Everything in Isla’s head warned her that she was becoming that stupid eighteen year old girl again and she tried to silence the voices. She wasn’t eighteen anymore. She wasn’t trapped, sold into a work where people paid to use her and break her fragile naive heart. She was strong. She had spent years fixing her mistakes so she would not return to that version of herself.

The version Nathaniel tried to ruin.

She could be happy. She could find love. It was possible, all of it. Everything she had wanted was right in front of her, pinning her down to the wooden floor.

Emotions welled up inside her and she returned her lips to his. It was almost too much to take in. Tears stung in her eyes, a radiant smile breaking across her face. She still had questions- making sure he really meant it about tomorrow, questions about what they would do about his other engagement and Bexley. What would they tell the King, when he inevitably asked about why the Prince was absent from his own engagement announcement? But all of it could wait.

Well, not all of it.

“Yes. Then yes.” She blindly searched for the front of his breeches as she spoke. “I will marry you tomorrow.” She whispered, surrendering wholly to him. Now, tomorrow, and forever.