Thou art correct. Vidofnir's toothy maw isn't built for anything recognizable as a smile, but the intent shows through in the shape of her eyes.
"Ah. Thank you," Ariane says faintly, taking a heavy seat upon a chunk of rubble. It's funny, really, how a few words can shake her world to its very foundations. Words only confirming what she already suspected, no less!
The great white wyrm crouches low, bringing her head to Ariane's eye level. Ariane automatically reaches up to rest her hand on Vidofnir's muzzle, as though she were a mere chocobo rather than a dragon big enough to eat her whole. Thankfully, she doesn't seem to take offense, emitting the quiet rumble from deep within her chest that serves as her version of a chuckle.
How dost thou feel, little one?
"Queasy?" Ariane suggests with a self-conscious laugh. Where does she even begin? Her head is spinning with hopes and fears, delight and anticipation and too many plans that require planning. "I mean... that too, but honestly everything. All at once. I thought once he changed we couldn't— and that's fine, of course, I love the hatchlings with all my heart, just—"
Thou needst not explain thyself to me, Vidofnir says gently. Hast thou shared thy suspicions with thy consort?
Ariane shakes her head. "I wanted to be certain first."
Thus didst thou seek my counsel. Her eyes crinkle again in a draconic smile.
"Thus did I seek your counsel," Ariane agrees. She shuts her eyes, leaning her head against the dragon's snout. "Thank you, Vidofnir." (When did she drop the "great" before her name? Probably around when Aymeric gave her his first brood of grandchildren. Vidofnir is family now, and she no longer feels the need to be excessively formal.) "For this, and everything else you've done for us."
Thou art not of my brood, warrior. But thy consort is, and thou, friend of Ysayle, hast long been an ally steadfast and true. It is no burden to assist thee from time to time. Now... Vidofnir rises to her full height, so that Ariane has to crane her neck to look her in the eye. If thou shalt return to Zenith now, one of my brood shall bear you home. Do not tell me thou needst it not— the way is long, and thou art weary...
So it is that Ariane arrives at Asah by dragonback as dusk falls. Her ride home isn't inclined to linger, giving her time only to give them a grateful pat before taking off again in a flash of white wings. Ariane yawns (she may have wanted to argue, but Vidofnir wasn't wrong; she did doze off for a bit on the way here) and stretches out the travel stiffness, noting that Estinien and the broodlings are nowhere to be seen before she heads in. She's grateful for their absence, honestly. Aymeric alone should be the first to hear the news...
"Good evening, love," she greets him cheerfully, coming up to embrace him from behind as much as his wings allow (which means more "lean upon" than "embrace," really.) "Vidofnir says hello. Stayed out of trouble while I was away, I hope?"
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
somewhere in the [handwave] future
Date: 2021-11-07 01:32 am (UTC)"Ah. Thank you," Ariane says faintly, taking a heavy seat upon a chunk of rubble. It's funny, really, how a few words can shake her world to its very foundations. Words only confirming what she already suspected, no less!
The great white wyrm crouches low, bringing her head to Ariane's eye level. Ariane automatically reaches up to rest her hand on Vidofnir's muzzle, as though she were a mere chocobo rather than a dragon big enough to eat her whole. Thankfully, she doesn't seem to take offense, emitting the quiet rumble from deep within her chest that serves as her version of a chuckle.
How dost thou feel, little one?
"Queasy?" Ariane suggests with a self-conscious laugh. Where does she even begin? Her head is spinning with hopes and fears, delight and anticipation and too many plans that require planning. "I mean... that too, but honestly everything. All at once. I thought once he changed we couldn't— and that's fine, of course, I love the hatchlings with all my heart, just—"
Thou needst not explain thyself to me, Vidofnir says gently. Hast thou shared thy suspicions with thy consort?
Ariane shakes her head. "I wanted to be certain first."
Thus didst thou seek my counsel. Her eyes crinkle again in a draconic smile.
"Thus did I seek your counsel," Ariane agrees. She shuts her eyes, leaning her head against the dragon's snout. "Thank you, Vidofnir." (When did she drop the "great" before her name? Probably around when Aymeric gave her his first brood of grandchildren. Vidofnir is family now, and she no longer feels the need to be excessively formal.) "For this, and everything else you've done for us."
Thou art not of my brood, warrior. But thy consort is, and thou, friend of Ysayle, hast long been an ally steadfast and true. It is no burden to assist thee from time to time. Now... Vidofnir rises to her full height, so that Ariane has to crane her neck to look her in the eye. If thou shalt return to Zenith now, one of my brood shall bear you home. Do not tell me thou needst it not— the way is long, and thou art weary...
So it is that Ariane arrives at Asah by dragonback as dusk falls. Her ride home isn't inclined to linger, giving her time only to give them a grateful pat before taking off again in a flash of white wings. Ariane yawns (she may have wanted to argue, but Vidofnir wasn't wrong; she did doze off for a bit on the way here) and stretches out the travel stiffness, noting that Estinien and the broodlings are nowhere to be seen before she heads in. She's grateful for their absence, honestly. Aymeric alone should be the first to hear the news...
"Good evening, love," she greets him cheerfully, coming up to embrace him from behind as much as his wings allow (which means more "lean upon" than "embrace," really.) "Vidofnir says hello. Stayed out of trouble while I was away, I hope?"