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.

 

[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.

 

[Lynus Anireth]

A jolt of disbelief and exhilaration shot through him. Tomorrow. It was wild, and it was soon, but he wanted nothing less. "Yes, tomorrow," he echoed, a boyish grin lighting up his face as he pressed his lips to hers and caged her body with his, looking down at her to study her expression.

He traced his lips along her jaw, down her neck, feeling her heartbeat as if it were his own. Each kiss was a silent vow—one he’d make over and over. Tomorrow, and the day after, and every day for the rest of their lives, if she’d have him. The feel of her fingers at his breeches, the warmth of her smile against his skin, her agreement to be his wife, the news that she was to be the mother of his child, sent him utterly wild for her.

At least 45 minutes later..

In the quiet aftermath, the storm raged on, but it seemed distant now, softened by the warmth between them. They lay tangled together on the wooden floor of the gazebo, breathless and content. Lynus held her close, his heart pounding as if to match the steady rhythm of the rain around them. His hand drifted gently through her damp hair, his touch reverent, savouring every quiet moment. He took in the sight of her nestled against him, her cheeks flushed, her breaths still coming fast, and he let out a deep, satisfied sigh.

His eyes held a warmth, a quiet joy that spoke volumes as he draped his own jacket over her shoulders, his smirk breaking into a grin. “Let’s get you warm.." he whispered, brushing her cheek with his knuckles. "Both of you," he added with a husky laugh.

 

[Isla]

Isla lay on the cold wooden floor of the gazebo, breaths heavy and fast. Her skin burned bright pink, but the chill of the night was slowly creeping into her skin after the moments of passion they shared with one another. Her arms were entangled with his, one leg over his torso. Her eyes shut and reopened multiple times to adjust to the world around her. It was quiet, save for the rain and breathing. Even though she began to shiver, teeth chattering, there was no other place she wanted to be right then. His arms were the home she had longed for.

After some time in their quiet, comfortable silence, Lynus sat her upright and draped his jacket around her. It was cold and wet, but she appreciated the sentiment. She wouldn’t tell him that it did nothing to stop the cold. “Y-yes p-please…” She trembled, stuttering from the cold.

Both of you…

It was still just as surreal as it was the day before, but unlike then- when she first heard the words that she thought might ruin her, ruin them- she was happy. Hearing him say those words with a smile on his face lit up something in her heart. He wasn’t angry with her. He didn’t hate her for what had happened. He didn’t blame her and force her to leave or rid him of the problems she caused.

He asked her to marry him and didn’t take it back once things got more complicated.

Her own smile seemed shy compared to the one that accompanied his laughter as she grabbed his hand and stood. “All three of us.” She felt tears prick at her eyes and laughed at the inconvenience. Poor Lynus was going to be in for a wild ride if everything was already making her cry. “Come on.” She began to walk back to the keep, but stopped for a moment, looking up Lynus. She wrapped her arms around him tight and refused to let go until her teeth chattered so loudly that Lynus refused to let her stay out in the cold.

---

The following day, Isla stood before the mirror in their chambers. Her heart was racing as she stared at her reflection. The dark circles under her eyes had vanished after a good night sleep. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep in front of the fireplace, but she felt so safe and warm in Lynus’ arms. At some point, he had moved her to the bed without her noticing. Her skin had lost its pallor. Her cheeks were rosy. She looked healthy- courtesy of Holly, an expert in cosmetics. She definitely did not look like she had been throwing up everything she consumed the previous day before the sun had even risen.

Isla twirled, admiring the way her gown shimmered in the soft light with delicate lace tracing over her arms and neckline. It was nothing ornate by any means. Certainly not befitting of a royal wedding, but it was perfect to her. Perfect for the intimate, short notice, wedding they had planned. One day. In only one day, she had gone from just Isla, the outsider, to Isla, the mother and the wife. Her hand drifted over her stomach and she watched the way the light caught on her ring. A starling. His Starling.

“You look lovely, Isla,” Sarah entered the room with a smile on her face. She carried flowers, a small bouquet of the flowers that bloomed in the gardens. They had been bound with an ivory satin ribbon. She held them up in front of Isla to assess if they went with the dress they had chosen. With a satisfied huff, she forced them into Isla’s hands and stood back. “The prince won’t be able to tear his eyes away from you.”

Isla bit her lip, fighting the smile that wanted to break through. “I…I still cannot believe this is not a dream.” She whispered.

Sarah let a hand linger on her shoulder, “You deserve to be happy.” Sarah’s own eyes watered watching the woman who treated her more like a friend than a servant. Isla had told her that morning of how much she meant to her in the short time she had lived in the Keep. It didn’t take much begging at all to get her to agree to come act as a witness at the private ceremony Lynus had planned. Only a few select people were permitted to attend. Arryn, Brett, Sarah, and Duke, of course.

Isla had begged Lynus not to inform Arryn or Brett of the baby. Sarah knew, only because it was partly her job to know such things…and she had been there while the physician examined Isla. It was morbid, her reasoning, but not entirely impossible. They were not out of the safe zone yet. She hadn’t wanted to tell Lynus for this same reason: she wasn’t sure she could handle getting their hopes up only to crush him with disappointment if she failed being a mother so early on.

Her trailing thoughts were fortunately cut short when another knock came at the door…

 

[Lynus Anireth]

Lynus tugged at his collar, the knot feeling uncharacteristically tight as nerves settled in. Arryn’s hand batted his away, and with a wry grin, the Captain adjusted it himself. "Stop fussing," he chuckled, eyes warm with a pride that softened his usual stern demeanor. "I haven't seen you looking this much like a prince in some time, brother. Or this pleased with yourself., for that matter."

Lynus's own smile was as soft as it was sincere. “I love her,” he murmured, the weight of the words profound and simple, as though he could hardly believe the joy they held.

Arryn’s brow lifted with a knowing smile. “Yes. You’ve said.”

He laughed under his breath, shaking his head, almost as if trying to come to grips with his own feelings. “I didn’t think I was still capable of feeling this…happy.”

Arryn finished smoothing the jacket, giving it one last tug before gripping Lynus’ shoulder, the brotherly gesture holding a silent strength. “I’m happy for you, Lynus. Now, let’s get you both married before your father finds out.” His tone softened the words with a familiar smirk, and Lynus felt a swell of warmth and gratitude as they made their way outside.

---

Down the hall, as the door opened, a small figure appeared, proudly scrubbed up in a baby-blue tunic embroidered with silver leaves. Brett grinned, his face beaming as he caught sight of Isla. "Miss Sarah. Miss Isla, gosh, you look pretty!" He bowed deeply, a bit of formality he must have practiced in front of the mirror, and his smile stretched even wider.

"I'm…" He paused, glancing down the hallway to ensure no one else was listening, his voice dropping to a playful hush. “Here to escort you both.” His chest puffed with pride as he offered his arm, clearly honoured to play a part in the occasion.

The trio moved down the hall, and Brett, with an almost conspiratorial gleam, pulled aside a tapestry to reveal a narrow staircase, decorated with flickering candles and petals scattered across each step. The gentle lights continued in a path through the garden as they made their way outside, where tall trees and fragrant shrubs hid a small grove.

At the end of the path stood a stone archway wrapped in ivy and flowers, each petal and vine glowing softly in the candlelight. Lynus, standing between Arryn and Duke, felt his breath catch the moment he saw her. Isla, his starling, glowed softly in the forest’s quiet sanctuary, the delicate lace of her gown shimmering as she walked.

In that moment, with only the whispering trees and a scattering of friends to bear witness, he felt whole.

 

[Isla]

“Why don’t you look handsome!” Isla threw her arms around the boy before standing back a few paces to commit the scene to memory. Was it Lynus or Arryn who force him to clean up? She wondered. Arryn, she figured, had forced him to at least bathe. But the shirt must have been from Lynus. She smoothed her dress with trembling hands and smiled. “If I wasn’t sure Lynus was somewhere waiting for me right now, I would have thought you were trying to steal me away!” She joked with him, watching his cheeks turn pink.

His smile was like a ray of sunshine in the coldness of the Keep. A picture of childish innocence she never wished to see leave him. Her arm linked with his, the other clutching at the flowers she’d been handed. Sarah trailed just behind them as they moved like wraiths through the hall. Candlelight flickered and servants murmured softly elsewhere.

She was careful to seal the hidden door they stepped through. In the tight space, she adjusted Isla’s dress and hair from behind. Last minute touch ups before they were his with the gentle breeze. “Hmm…” Isla hummed quietly to herself, looking around. “Even now, he never ceases to surprise me.”

Sarah laughed, pressing gently on her and Brett’s backs. “Go on,” She whispered, shoving them forward. She looked around the grove, taking in each detail. Tiny candles dotted the landscaping, petals carefully strewn about. It reminded Sarah of the fairytales her mother had read to her as a child. A secret oasis right under their own noses. It was not a grand wedding. There was no music. No catering. No dramatic royals getting into drunken fights. But it was perfect.

Isla, however, did not notice the beautiful decoration. Her attention was solely on the heart of the archway, eyes locked onto Lynus.

Her heart swelled at the sight of him and she instinctively tightened her hold on Brett’s arm as they walked down the path. Each step felt heavier than the last, though not from her nerves or hesitation. It was the weight of everything they had endured so far and everything that was to come. She hummed quietly to herself, a melody that her feet matched with each step. She barely noticed herself, but it seemed to carry across the wind in the grove like a whisper. A song she had played before. A song for Lynus.

She finally reached him and Brett released her arm, handing her off to Lynus. He scurried beside Arryn, looking very proud of himself. Sarah dabbed at her eyes, looking away any time she tried to look like she wasn’t crying. Even with their friends around them, the world seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them standing in their own little oasis.

She gripped Lynus’ hands tightly. “I never thought I could feel so happy.” She whispered to him. “Thank you.” She squeezed his hands. “Thank you for giving my life back to me. For giving me freedom. For giving me love when I no longer thought it existed.” She ignored Sarah’s sniffle. “I love you, Lynus. My Bear.”

 

[Lynus Anireth]

Lynus couldn’t take his eyes off her. Every step Isla took was like a dream he was finally living, a melody of promises that wove through the grove. The soft hum that left her lips drifted toward him on the breeze, familiar and sweet, tugging on the invisible thread she had tied to his ribs. It was a song he knew well, one she had played for him before—now a tune that seemed to sing of everything they’d overcome. The world around them softened to a gentle blur, leaving only her, his starling, radiant in the candlelight.

As she finally stood before him, her hands clasping his, he was aware of a sudden lump in his throat. She looked up at him with such warmth and hope that he felt every hesitation, every worry he’d ever held, simply fade. There was no question in his mind that this was where he was meant to be, where he’d longed to be. He was home, at last, with her.

“You…” he murmured, his voice unsteady but full of admiration, “are breathtaking, Isla..” He brushed a thumb tenderly over her knuckles, as if grounding himself in the reality of her presence.

Her words touched him deeply, each one carrying a weight he knew he was barely worthy of. He tightened his hold on her hands, swallowing as he tried to keep his emotions in check.

“I—“

“Oh! Oh hold on just one minute, m’boy! Wait for me!” Bess’ voice interrupted with a chuckle. Seeing the pair she clasped at her chest, her eyes instantly filling with tears as she took her place beside Sarah and gave a little wink to Arryn.

“Bess..” Lynus smiled warmly at her, and he gave Arryn a short nod in thanks, knowing he’d arranged for her to be here.

“Alright carry on carry on.” She waved her hands at the pair.

Turning back to Isla he laughed under his breath, and a quiet sigh tumbled free. “I…” he continued, “am the one who should be thanking you,” he said softly. “You brought light and joy back into my life when I thought it was lost. You gave me hope when I didn’t know I needed it. And now…” He glanced down at her hand, at the way her ring caught the candlelight, shimmering like a beacon of all they’d promised to each other. “Now, you’ve given me more happiness than I ever dreamed possible.”

A small smile broke through his seriousness, warm and full of love. “I love you. More than I can put into words. My starling, my heart… thank you for choosing me.” He released one of her hands only to brush a loose, golden strand of hair from her face, his eyes never leaving hers. “Today and always, I promise to protect you, to cherish you, and to love you with everything I have.”

He took a deep breath, feeling peace settle over him, like he’d been holding it in for years. With her here, with that melody she’d hummed still echoing in his mind, he knew he was exactly where he was meant to be.

Arryn cleared his throat and stepped between the two under the archway, his eyes shifting between them. "Ready?.." he smirked.

 

[Arryn Cross]

Arryn stood at the center of the archway, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips as he watched Isla and Lynus. His gaze softened, and with a small nod, he signalled to Brett, who quickly stepped forward, carrying a length of cloth in his hands—a symbol of the bond that would soon unite them. He handed it to Arryn before stepping back, pride gleaming in his eyes.

Arryn cleared his throat, the smirk melting into a warm, sincere smile as he addressed the couple. His voice was low and steady, carrying through the grove.

“We are gathered here in these gardens,” he began, his voice a gentle blend of authority and warmth, “to witness a promise made by two souls who have walked through darkness and light to find one another. Today, they choose to walk forward as one, bound by love, by trust, and by the unbreakable vows they make to each other.”

He glanced down at the cloth in his hands, running his thumb over its length as if to feel the centuries of tradition woven into its fibers. He stepped closer, lifting the cloth before the couple with a sense of ceremony. “Isla, Lynus, as you join hands, know that this binding is not just of flesh but of spirit. In this moment, you are entwining your lives, your hopes, and your hearts. It is a bond that will hold through joy and sorrow, strength and vulnerability.”

With a soft smile, he carefully draped the cloth over their joined hands, wrapping it loosely to symbolize their unity. As he did, he spoke to each of them, his voice softened by a rare tenderness.

“Isla,” he began, meeting her gaze, “do you promise to stand beside Lynus, to be his light in times of darkness, his shelter when storms come, and his fiercest ally in all things? Do you vow to honor and cherish him, to be true and faithful, to hold him close when the world is kind and even closer when it is not?”

 

[Isla]

Oh! Hold on just one minute, m’boy!

Isla turned to the source of the voice, eyes brimming with tears when she immediately recognized its tone. Bess. Sweet Bess. The woman who took them in, no questions asked. The woman who didn’t have to pretend she didn’t know what Isla was upon their first meeting. The woman who didn’t care that Isla had been a whore or that Lynus was a Prince, her Prince. The woman who had become more of a mother figure to her in three nights than Isla’s own had been in twenty eight years.

“How…?” She looked between the older woman and Lynus for an answer. How had she known to come? Who had sent word to her little inn in the middle of the stormy night? It couldn’t have been Lynus…he was with her. Arryn? The nod confirmed her suspicion. She owed him many thanks.

She turned for a moment to smile at Bess and mouthed a silent, “I missed you!” To her. They never had managed to reschedule the visit they had planned and with everything goin on, she wasn’t sure they would be able to unless Lynus could find an excuse to pull himself away on ‘Princely duties’.

When the commotion was settled, her focus remained once more on the man in front of her.

Ready? Arryn asked.

Silently, she gave him a quick nod. She had never been so ready, so sure of anything in her life until this point.

Her silence continued as Brett approached and Arryn spoke. Isla squeezed Lynus’ hands as the cloth was draped over them, tied around their intertwined hands in a sort of loop that seemed to have no beginning and no end. A symbol of the eternal love and devotion between them. She held still, afraid she might break the loops if she took too deep of a breath.

Isla…Arryn’s words echoed in her head as she took in the man in front of her and the friends surrounding them. Each one of them had only been present in her life for a short time, but there was no amount of thanks she could give them for the impact they had left.

Sarah had been a friend to her from the moment the door to Lynus’ room opened. Her smile was contagious, impossible to fight on the darkest days. And if she could not pull you from the darkness, she would join you and fight anything and anyone that held you there. A lion in a woman’s skin. Fierce and feisty. Loyal and unyielding. She was her sister and her confidante. And she loved her more than she would ever be able to tell her.

Brett, too, was a fierce little thing. He had a sense of justice that rivaled Arryn’s. Misguided sometimes, yes. The boy had a good head on his shoulders and a passion for everything that seemed too intense for someone so young. He was a good friend to the other younger ones that worked around the keep and he was not afraid to stand up for what he thought was right. Even if it ended up with a welt on his face and a version of Isla that contemplated sending another kid to the dungeon.

Bess was like a mother to Isla, though she wasn’t sure if that was fair to put on her after she had a certain Prince to keep tabs on anytime he ran away from home. She was more than just a guiding hand that showed her she was more than what she considered herself to be. She looked out for her and Lynus in ways she never had to and she felt an acceptance for the first time in one of her hugs that made you wonder if you would ever be fortunate enough to take another breath. Like roots, her love for Bess ran deep.

Duke…Had taken her place in bed more times than he had permission to do. But somehow that big furball always knew when Isla needed something to toss her arms around and hold onto.

Then there was Arryn. Captain Cross. Both could admit that they did not get along upon their first few times meeting. He was complicated, blunt, and irritating. And the man couldn’t tell that pretty Luana girl how absolutely head over heels he is for her. Still, he held a place in her heart that she couldn’t even begin to explain to him. He had never minced the words he had for her, and although she fought back so angrily, he had never been wrong. Even if it was painful to accept, Arryn had Lynus’ best interests at heart and she respected him greatly for that. He was protective, not only as the Captain of the King’s Guard, but as a friend. No, a brother. He challenged her, called her out when she was being unreasonable. He poured alcohol on her flames, not to make it worse, but to show her that things would be alright when it was over. It took a long time, but she understood now that this came from a place of care. She loved him, too, for seeing her at her worst and still remaining by her side.

She had longed for the family that abandoned her, but the people around them had become a family to her in every way that mattered. And she was ecstatic to make have that family grow.

Do you vow to honor and cherish him, to be true and faithful, to hold him close when the world is kind and even closer when it is not?

“I do.”

 

[Lynus Anireth]

As Isla's voice echoed softly with her vow, Lynus's gaze never wavered from hers. A warm, steady smile touched his lips, filled with a love that went beyond mere words. His fingers tightened ever so slightly around hers, as if grounding himself in this moment, as if the reality of their union was finally sinking into his heart.

Arryn looked to him now, and repeated his words.

Lynus took a slow breath, his voice filled with a rare vulnerability that only Isla had ever drawn from him. "Isla I.. You are my heart, my strength, and my peace. You have given me a home I never thought I'd find, a love I never thought I deserved.” He reached up with his free hand to brush a loose strand of hair from her face. “Today, I stand before you, humbled and grateful, knowing that I am yours in every way.”

He paused, swallowing hard, his gaze turning unwavering and fierce. “I vow to honor you, Isla, to stand by you in every storm and every sunrise. I vow to be your shield and your sword, to guard your heart as my own. And when the world falters, when the night grows dark, I will hold you close, as close as my own breath. I am yours, Isla, now and always.”

Arryn watched them both, his usual smirk replaced with a soft, genuine smile. He let the words linger in the quiet, letting the weight of their promises settle in the air before he cleared his throat.

"Oh. I do." Lynus nodded with a grin.

 

[Arryn Cross]

Arryn gave a small nod of approval before continuing. “Then by this binding of your hands, let your lives be forever entwined. Let the knots of this cloth be as the knots of your love: strong, steadfast, unbreakable." he said as he tied the cloth around their hands so that when they parted, a knot would form.

"Let these vows be a light to guide you through all that lies ahead. With your hands bound and hearts joined, let no distance come between you. Let no force in this world or beyond it break the strength of your love.”

Arryn stepped back, holding up the knot for the witnesses, and gestured to Brett, who held out a small, simple box. “And now, as is tradition, you will exchange rings as symbols of your vows—a visible reminder of the promises you have made here, witnessed by those who love you.”

Arryn handed the first gold band to Lynus, nodding for him to proceed. “Lynus, place this ring on Isla’s hand as a seal of your love, and a sign of your bond.”

Lynus gently slipped the ring onto Isla’s finger, his gaze fixed on her with a depth of affection that made Arryn’s smirk return for just a moment. “With this ring, I give you my heart, Isla. Forever.”

Arryn then gave the second ring to Isla, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. “Isla, place this ring on Lynus’s hand as a seal of your love, a sign of your bond."

 

[Isla]

Oh. I do.

Those words replayed in her mind, sending a thrill up her spine and cascading outward. She gripped Lynus' hand tightly, memorizing him one last time, from the strength and warmth he gave her to the slight calluses he had built up over years of training with Arryn. All of him. He was hers.

And when he slipped the ring just beside the starling ring, she was his too. Truly, in a way that was no longer tentative, shadowed by fears she held onto instead of the hand that reached out to save her.

Here they stood, united in the privacy of their secret ceremony. United in heart and soul. She felt like truly, they could defy everything that burdened them: his family, the judgment from her past, and the memories which haunted them both. She felt alive, every part of her. All because of him.

Isla carefully took the second ring from Arryn and with a gentle smile, slipped it onto Lynus' finger. "With this ring, I give you my love and my heart." She brushed her fingers over his ring. "Forever."

Something beautiful and unknown, a journey she had only dreamed was possible. A life with Lynus. Her heart swelled as she looked into his eyes, excitement threatening to burst from her as she waited for Arryn to give them their final words. The order for them to kiss for the first time as one- witnessed by the people who meant the world to them both.

 

[Arryn Cross]

Arryn looked over the two of them, his expression soft and uncharacteristically solemn.

“With your vows spoken and your rings exchanged, you have bound yourselves to each other in spirit and in heart. These symbols of your love—both the cloth that ties your hands and the rings that rest forever upon them—are more than gestures. They are promises forged from trust, strength, and sacrifice, witnessed by the friends and family who stand by your side.”

The gentle breeze stirred the petals on the ground as if nature itself leaned in to listen.

“May you walk this path together, facing both joy and sorrow with the same resolve, with your hands joined as they are now. Let your love be a sanctuary, a beacon to guide you through the storms and a hearth that warms you in the cold. May your laughter echo in the halls of your home, and may your shared burdens be lightened by the strength of your bond.”

He looked between them, letting a brief silence settle before he took a step back and inclined his head slightly. “By the power vested in me and by the love that surrounds you here, I declare you husband and wife. You may now seal your union with a kiss.” he grinned.

 

[Lynus Anireth]

The moment felt suspended in a breathless pause as Lynus gazed into Isla's eyes, seeing every unspoken promise reflected back at him. The world around them, lit by the soft glow of candles and the murmured rustle of leaves, faded into insignificance. The air between them was electric, heavy with the culmination of their journey, a journey that had led them both here—to this precious, unrepeatable moment.

The warmth of her hands in his was both grounding and thrilling, a reminder that she was here, that she was his. His eyes traced the curve of her lips, and he moved forward with the tenderness of someone who knew the value of what he held.

When their lips met, it was a gentle caress at first, as if testing the reality of this shared moment. But the kiss deepened, infused with all the unspoken words and emotions that had built between them—the quiet nights, the desperate embraces, the laughter, the tears, the relentless hope. A rush of warmth spread through him, a perfect, consuming sense of rightness.

His heart pounded, the sensation of her lips soft and familiar yet thrilling, like the first time all over again. Hands moved, one to the small of her back, pulling her close, the other to cup her face, thumb brushing over soft skin.

Lynus couldn't help but smile against Isla's lips when the voices of their makeshift family rose in a mix of laughter, clapping, and heartfelt whoops. Sarah's voice, bright and full of emotion, was the loudest, followed by Brett's enthusiastic cheer as he threw rice at them both. Arryn wore a small, satisfied smile. Bess wiped at her eyes, her expression tender and full of pride.

 

[Isla]

It was surreal.

She had never expected to find anyone to tolerate her, to care for her. Finding someone who wanted to marry her had been nothing more than a childhood fantasy. A fairytale that was only that, and nothing more. But as Arryn, with that same grin he always had when he was witnessing the happiness of his brother, announced that they may seal the union with a kiss, she froze and waited for Lynus to move first. One last chance for him to run from her and all of the baggage she carried with her.

She could hardly breathe, her heart a wild and desperate mess beating hard against her chest trying to break free. Isla's eyes remained locked on Lynus, his own gaze unwavering as he chose not to run.

The world seemed to narrow as he leaned in until there was nothing but him- her savior, her love, her Prince. The man who had chosen her despite everything that sought to keep them apart. Space quickly vanished between them and his lips met hers. Gentle and tentative, it sent a shiver down her spine and her hands reached up to grasp the front of his shirt to keep herself upright and grounded.

The kiss deepened- a claim, a promise, a vow that they would face the future together. There were no more secrets. No half-truths. They would deal with Bexley and his father, united.

When they finally pulled themselves, foreheads resting against one another, she was breathless. A stray tear had rolled down Isla's cheek. "I have been yours since the moment you walked into that...place," She whispered. "Somewhere deep in my soul I knew it. From this moment and until my final breath, I am yours. Forever."

She kissed him once more, as more tears threatened to fall and smiled once she finally pulled herself away. "Do you suppose there is enough time to celebrate before everyone must return to work?" She looked up at Lynus, pleading in her eyes. "I'm feeling well enough today, but I worry we may attract too much attention if we linger." Really, she was asking if there was a way to cover for Sarah if she disappeared from her duties for too long.

 

[Lynus Anireth]

Lynus felt his heart stutter, as if the jagged, broken pieces had finally clicked back into place. This was real. She was real. Her words struck deep, a balm to the wounds of doubt and regret he had carried for far too long. His eyes stung, and he let out a breathless laugh before gently cupping her chin with his thumb and forefinger.

“I have loved you every day,” he murmured, his voice thick with sincerity. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’m sorry you ever doubted it. I was a coward…” His lips curled into a playful smirk, the weight in his chest lifting as he pressed another tender kiss to her lips. “But I have the rest of our lives to make that up to you.”

At her question, a mischievous grin spread across his face. His eyes flicked to their friends, catching Bess’s wide, knowing smile and the little wink she sent his way. “Oh, we’re not staying here,” he said with a chuckle, his tone teasing as he turned back to Isla. “Excuse me, Mrs. Anireth…” He quirked a brow, the title tasting sweet and perfect on his tongue before he swept her into his arms, earning gasps and laughter from the others.

He carried her through the archway, past the flickering candlelight and into the shadows of the wooded path, and through a gate. Just beyond, their carriage awaited, with another close behind.

The ride was short, filled with stolen kisses and fraying restraint, his hands, tracing the fabric of her dress as if reassuring himself that she was truly his.

When the carriage finally stopped, she would recognise the inn before them. The Crowned Prince, warm light spilling from its windows. He took her hand, guiding her out of the carriage. Before she could say a word, the door opened with a cheer to reveal a scene of flowers and candles decorating every corner, their glow casting a golden hue across the room. A feast of steaming dishes and fine wine awaited, with a magnificent cake at the center, adorned in intricate designs of ivy and flowers.