Chapter Text
Janai spent the rest of the day in a haze. She wouldn’t have been able retell events after the Challenge in a reasonable order to save her life. They all blurred together. The cheering crowds, the shouts of congratulations, how excited her people were. The laughter of her brother was drowned out by the thousands of voices celebrating. His smile was not. Nor was Kazi’s or Gren’s. Janai remembered their happiness as fragments.
Her attention was centered on Amaya.
Amaya as she swept Janai off her feet into searing kisses every other second. Amaya buckling the Katolian sword onto Janai’s waist - and at that the citizens of Lux Aurea went wild. Amaya holding her hand as they walked through the streets back to the palace. Amaya smiling. Amaya happy . Amaya, Amaya, Amaya .
They were halfway back when Janai remembered she was still shirtless. She started to turn around, to go grab the tunic she had forgotten but Amaya gave a tug that ended with her holding Janai. The human was looking at her with a look that said where do you think you’re going ? It was paired with a mischievous smirk and eyes that glimmered with love. Janai forgot her own name. She forgot they were standing in the street. She leaned down and kissed that look off her betrothed’s face.
Even through the binding Janai could feel her heat being flare up. It was lucky she was still bound, even though it should have been undone before she left the Sun’s Ring. She had no desire to test her control and harming Amaya was unthinkable.
When the two separated again, smiles firmly in place Janai felt herself have a full body blush. The entire street was filled with her people. And all of them were cheering for the two women. She glanced around bashfully and tried to pull away but Amaya tightened her grip. Who cares? Her eyes said. Let them stare .
Janai swallowed roughly, feeling a heat that had nothing to do with her gifts or the Sun. She wished she could be half as nonchalant as Amaya was about this. But she couldn’t. It was everything she had ever denied herself for decades. But it was also something she refused to be shamed by.
So, she leaned down and kissed Amaya again before resuming the trek back to her home. Someday soon, it would be their home. And really, if asked, that was what Janai would be able to recall after the Challenge. The fact that she would get to spend the rest of her life with Amaya. The struggles were far from over but today would be one of the best of Janai’s life. Best enjoy it.
The next morning, Janai woke up to a headache and the strange feeling that she had forgotten something. She...had been celebrating last night? Well, it would certainly explain the pounding in her head. Though, not why the effects hadn’t been burned away. Heat-being mode was convenient for many things, though most wouldn’t think a life free of hangovers was one of the benefits. At least, she assumed this was a hangover. She had never had one before.
Janai groaned and rolled over, sighing contentedly as she snuggled closer to the warm pillow in her grasp. For once, she wished that the Sun would just go away.
That train of thought was derailed when she realized that her pillow was moving. Janai reared back and wasn’t that a mistake, because now her head pounded worse , and scrambled away from the person in her bed. The Queen was panicking. This would be a scandal, a disaster, who had she -
Her mind just. Stopped.
There, in her bed with ridiculous hair and laughing eyes was Amaya.
Sun, what had she done -
Had she ruined their friendship? Why was Amaya in her bed? Why was the human just laughing at her?
Janai opened her mouth to say something, anything, when Amaya pulled her down to kiss her.
Oh.
She melted into the embrace, letting the kiss burn away every thought. Janai gasped as she felt Amaya’s clever hands tracing over her arms, her back, her stomach. Her bare arms, back and stomach.
Her groggy mind struggled to catch up through the haze of a hangover, the kiss, and Amaya’s touches. Finally, when they were both gasping for air, Amaya let Janai pull away.
The elf didn’t go far, still closer than she probably should be but she couldn’t bear to be parted from this woman. Being so near was almost worth whatever heinous crime was being inflicted upon her brain. Light, how was the Sun stabbing her. It wasn’t supposed to do that .
Janai reached up to rub her pounding temples as Amaya watched with amusement dancing across her face.
“Oh, shut up.” She grumbled in response.
That just set the woman off again. Even through the pain, a soft smile spread across Janai’s lips. She never thought she would have this. Plus, the glowing runes on her arms reminded her of what the hell was going on.
She had been so wrapped up in Amaya last night that she had completely forgotten to have the High Priestess or even Aodh remove the runes that bound her heat-being mode. No wonder Janai was suffering from a hangover for the first time in her life. The only reason the injuries Odalis had inflicted were healed was because Amaya had demanded it.
In addition to that, Janai blushed as she remembered that she had refused to let Amaya go at the end of the night. Which is what had led the elf to dragging the human into her bed. Luckily, nothing else had happened - Light knows Janai wouldn’t have wanted their first time to be through a drunken haze. Especially because she had never been drunk before .
Tipsy, yes. Drunk, no. Heat-being mode had always burned away alcohol faster than Janai could drink it. She blushed as she remembered extolling on the virtues of Amaya’s eyes. For an hour. In front of her brother, Kazi, Gren, and Amaya.
Well, that was slightly embarrassing. Though far from the worst thing. Amaya did have eyes Janai wanted to lose herself in. No, the most embarrassing part was the assumption that many of her people would make because Amaya was in her room this morning. Sun, they had just confessed two days ago. Though, they were basically married in the eyes of her people.
Honestly, the Sunfire were probably ecstatic for the most part. Her people could be hopeless romantics sometimes and nothing said hopeless like “enemies to prisoner & jailer to allies to friends to lovers.” With a True Challenge sprinkled in along with direct acknowledgement of Sargon and Cadmael? Light help her, there was probably someone already writing their story.
Janai should be more concerned with how the human kingdoms and Alliance members would react to this. She buried her head more fully in her hands. Politics was the stuff of nightmares. She had always preferred the sword to words.
Amaya gently pried Janai’s hands from her face to ask, “You ok?”
The elf gave a wry smile and decided to exercise her clumsy sign language. “I look that bad?”
It was worth it for the brilliant grin she received from the human. “No, you always look beautiful. But you do seem to be out of sorts this morning.”
Janai heaved a sigh underneath Amaya’s concerned eyes. “I forgot yesterday.”
The human arched a brow.
“Only briefly! It's not like I’ve ever -” here Janai had to pause to think of how to finish her thought. Finally she settled on signing bad-drink while verbally saying “ been drunk before. That was taking up most of my thoughts.”
Amaya blinked, tilting her head questioningly. “You’ve never been drunk?”
The woman signed Janai’s butchered attempt and then also the correct sign. Janai repeated it a few times, though she hoped to never have to use it again.
“No, my gift usually prevents it.” Janai responded, leaning over to give Amaya a quick kiss before rising from bed. She immediately wanted to burrow back underneath her covers. She felt ill and dizzy and how did people deal with this regularly?
When Janai was able to focus again Amaya was looking at her with fond pity. “Maybe you should stay in bed?”
Janai scowled and gestured towards the glowing runes on her body. “Don’t tempt me. Besides as soon as this is gone I’ll be fine. Hopefully.”
Janai’s scowl only deepened on seeing the smirk that started stretching Amaya’s lips. She wasn’t going to like whatever the woman was going to say.
“But Janai, you’re already fine.” The human gave her a slow once over as she signed. Amaya’s gaze was so intense it was almost like Janai could feel it. It felt almost more intimate than when the human was actually touching her. She shivered.
“You - you are the worst.” The elf was so flustered she forgot to sign. Or rather, she forgot any signs. Damn this woman.
“What does that say about you? You’re marrying me.” And there was that smug expression. Every inch of Amaya’s body exuded satisfied pride. The human was sprawled across Janai’s bed like she owned it - and in truth soon she probably would. Janai certainly had no objections.
If only the woman didn’t act like a hotcact preening for a mate. It was both irritating and attractive. As many of Amaya’s habits were to Janai.
“It means I have the ability to fall in love with the worst choice possible.” Janai was honest to the bone. She wasn’t sure she could be anything else. She almost regretted how blunt she was when she saw hurt flash across Amaya’s face. She continued to speak both with sign and verbally, so Amaya could read her lips if the signs were nonsense.
“It means that my heart saw a bold, honorable, beautiful human woman and decided that it was either her or no one. It means that you may be the worst choice for me for so many reasons but that in the end those don’t matter. I love you. Not despite them but because of those things.”
The human was staring up at her in amazement. It made Janai wonder. She had been hurt in romance yes, but if Amaya was reacting like this? How badly had she been harmed with her past relationships? It made Janai’s protective instincts flare. She would ensure that Amaya had no doubts. By using words she would normally never utter, that Kazi had had to be bullied into teaching her after seeing the human use them so often. “You’re Amaya. And I wouldn’t change a damn thing about you. Fuck what everyone else thinks.”
Amaya’s eyes filled with tears and she threw herself at Janai. The elf was barely able to prevent them from falling to the floor. Hello, hangover. I almost forgot about you. Still, she managed it. She felt like she would manage anything for Amaya.
It was several long minutes of just holding each other. This time, it was Janai’s turn to smooth her hands over Amaya’s back and arms. An attempt to soothe the woman’s shaking, to reassure Amaya that she wasn’t leaving. That she was here. That she would stay. Janai would have to remember to ask if there was a way to check in with Amaya when her eyes and hands were unavailable.
Finally, when they separated Amaya began to wipe roughly at her tears. Janai beat her to it. Gentle, she wiped away the salty tracks before laying two soft kisses - one on each cheek - on Amaya’s face.
Her betrothed was staring at her with a reverence that almost made Janai uncomfortable. It was hypocritically considering how often the elf looked at Amaya the exact same way.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” Janai immediately responded with a smile.
Of course, as soon as she stopped focusing on Amaya the Sun began its assault anew. Past time to find Aodh then. This was going to be a disaster, Janai could sense the mockery coming her way.
Glancing over at Amaya to receive a beaming smile, Janai decided there were worse things. This was worth it.
Janai was revising her opinion. Somehow, Amaya had convinced her to leave her shirt off while searching for Aodh. The woman just had to be convincing.
“ But Janai, you’re just going to have to take your shirt off when you find your brother anyway.”
This statement was paired with kisses and the baby hotcat eyes. Sun, why did Amaya have to know how attractive she was. Amaya had also insisted that they both wear each other's swords for now. So Janai was shirtless, wearing Amaya’s thick belt and heavy Katolian blade and trekking through the palace with the human’s hand in her own. She was sure she looked ridiculous. Especially because Amaya had put her crown on for her.
Still, it wasn’t a total loss. Janai had managed to force Amaya into some of her own clothes. While slightly too large for the human it was still better than Amaya wearing the same Katolian uniform from yesterday. Amaya had objected to this.
“It would give your people the wrong impression!”
Janai had just glared, shoving the clean clothes at the woman. The elf had reverted to speaking while sprinkling hesitant signs in as she spoke. Each attempt made Amaya’s smile shine brighter than the Sun. Even as the human had to correct Janai periodically. She seemed to be particularly fond of repositioning the elf’s hands and fingers. “Everyone is going to assume we slept with each other anyway Amaya. Better to just own it.”
Amaya sputtered, her hands starting and stopping before finally settling on, “Isn’t that a bad thing?”
She looked hesitant again. Janai was beginning to hate seeing Amaya so uncertain. It made her heart ache to see the normally confident woman question so many things.
“Not really.” Janai shrugged, being slightly more blase about it than she actually was. “I don’t know how it is for humans but for Sunfire there is no shame in sex before marriage. Especially because all that is left for us are lesser formalities.”
“What?”
“When I won the Challenge, our union was considered blessed by the Sun. There is no higher honor. We are basically already wed, in my people’s eyes. If you and I were anyone else that would be the end of it. However, since I am Queen and you are related to a human King we will still need to have a ceremony. Unfortunately.”
Amaya flushed and looked like the wind had been knocked out of her. “We’re already married?”
“To my people? Yes.” Janai smirked. Flustered Amaya was so rare but one of Janai’s favorite iterations. Though, any Amaya was a good Amaya.
The human recovered quickly though. She always did. The look on her face as she began to sign was searing. “If last night was our wedding night, I think we should stay in bed. I apparently have some making up to do.”
Janai choked on her own spit. Every time she challenged Amaya. This happened every time and somehow she kept doing it. She felt her eyes change to gold and the runes flared white. Again. Amaya laughed.
“Just wear the clothes Amaya.” Janai said before stomping off to change herself. When she returned wearing trousers, boots, and her breast band she had to swallow. Seeing Amaya wear her sword and belt? Thrilling. Seeing Amaya entirely in Janai’s clothes ? It made the elf swallow her own tongue. Based on Amaya’s smirk, she could tell. It made Janai scowl. It wasn’t like the human’s gaze wasn’t basically a physical caress on all of Janai’s bare skin.
“Ready?” Amaya asked.
“With you? I’m ready for anything.” Came Janai’s swift response.
Every elf that came across them had to hide smiles even as they bowed. Janai raised her head, ignoring the flush spreading through her body and the flashing runes that gave away her emotional state. She glared imperiously at anyone whose gaze dared lingered for too long on herself or Amaya.
The gossip that would come from this. Janai could already hear the whispers starting. The General stayed with Her Radiance last night. The General is wearing Her Radiance’s clothes. They are both still wearing each others’ swords.
When she saw Amaya’s questioning look, Janai tightened her grip on her betrothed’s hand and shook her head. Now wasn’t the time to worry about rumors. No matter how self-conscious Janai could be it wasn’t worth changing her behaviour. It wasn’t worth adding to Amaya’s doubts. And honestly, these were kinder than some of the rumors that had floated around about her and Amaya in the past. Those didn’t bear repeating.
They found Aodh - and Kazi and Gren - the first place they looked. The informal dining room. It was breakfast time. Or rather, the fact that Aodh immediately turned to the opening doors with a grin, it was teasing time. Her brother had already finished his meal and was just waiting for them to come for theirs.
“There’s my favorite legendary romantic leads!” Aodh said.
Janai paused in pulling out Amaya’s chair, trying to figure out if it was worth deciphering that while she still felt awful. Amaya decided for her as the human sat down.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She asked, with Gren translating. Janai was taking her own seat and starting to gather her breakfast.
“Nothing, nothing at all.” He said with a sly smile, before adding. “Only that so far three of our most famous playwrights have asked permission to write your story.”
Janai groaned, laying her head on the table. “Please tell me one of them wasn’t Sila.”
The elf didn’t bother raising her head to look at her brother. His hesitation was enough. Of course she would ask. She had no shame.
“If Shaul was one, let him do it.” Janai said, her face pressed to the table.
“Shaul? Really?”
“I would agree to almost anyone over Sila. At least Shaul is more likely to focus on the drama of the queen taking a human wife. Sila would likely twist it into me being so heartbroken from past relationships that I settled ,” Janai spit out the word. “For a human.”
She raised her head in time to catch Aodh’s wince. Kazi’s as well. Even though they hadn’t known Janai personally during that time it was public knowledge. Old knowledge but public.
Amaya was back to intensely scrutinizing Janai. And not in a good way.
“Janai?” Amaya asked.
“Remember when I said I’ve had my heart broken before?”
Amaya nodded.
“Sila was the last disaster before you.”
Her betrothed’s face sharpened to a knife’s edge. “And she wants to write a play about your personal life? Did she expect you to agree?”
Janai grimaced. She saw Aodh gesturing frantically out of the corner of her eye for Amaya to stop. She didn’t like talking about these memories. But Amaya deserved to know. The good and the bad.
“I didn’t really deny Sila anything when we were together. It was one of the many mistakes I made with her. She was… ” Janai struggled with how to finish her thought when Aodh interrupted her.
“Sila is a self-centered bitch who only wanted to be with Janai for the power.” Was Aodh’s blunt statement.
Janai winced, and looked down at her clasped hands. She wondered if this would change how Amaya looked at her. The full story was worse but even this was enough to cause some people to view Janai differently.
Amaya gently lifted Janai’s head. The woman stroked along the lines of her paint for a moment. The tenderness - in her action and her gaze - made Janai shudder.
“It sounds like she didn’t deserve you then.”
Janai’s lips twitched.
“So, who exactly is Shaul then?” Amaya continued. Not forgetting but rather leaving the past as the past for now. Janai was certain it would come up again but for now she took the gift of trust Amaya offered.
“Shaul is widely considered one of the best playwrights alive. He is also well-known for his dramatics. I am sure that whatever he comes up with will likely end with me on my deathbed to be resurrected by the power of your love.”
Amaya’s eyebrows raised. “That sounds…like something you would hate.”
Janai shrugged. “He is very good though. Might as well have the best for our story.”
“So,” Aodh said, clapping his hands together with a too bright grin. “Shaul it is. I’ll have the message delivered promptly. He also wanted an interview?”
Janai opened her mouth to refuse but Amaya was faster. “That sounds like fun.”
She stared at her betrothed, taking a few seconds to just be surprised. “You...want input into the Romantic Play Shaul is going to write?”
“Why not? I’ve never really seen a play written before. I’m sure it would be an interesting experience.” Amaya responded with a grin.
Janai sighed. She knew that Amaya was teasing her. She could let the human go alone but that would likely end in disaster.
“It appears we will grant Shaul his interview. But only after the official ceremony.” Janai said, turning to her brother. He seemed pleased by this. Aodh would be. Shaul was one of his favorite writers. But he turned serious after a moment.
“About that. Any idea when that ceremony is going to happen? Some of the more traditional minds think it should be today.” Aodh asked.
“That fast?” Amaya asked.
“You’re the one who brought up Sargon and Cadmael in public. Did you forget the fact that they wed the next day Amaya?” Janai asked as she started to eat.
“You’re the one who gave me the sword!”
“Yes, but I merely implied a connection to the legend. You’re the one who brought it up right after the Challenge in front of all my people. They were probably wondering why we didn’t have Phaedra wed us on the spot.”
“Well, most seem to have reached the consensus that you need to negotiate with King Ezran. But you’d still better get on it. There may be riots if you aren’t wed by the Summer Solstice.” Aodh interrupted the argument happening between bites of food.
Janai stopped and turned to him. “What? What do you mean riots?”
“Sister, you issued the first True Challenge in centuries. You won it. And all you fought for was the right to wed the woman you loved. That’s...I’m not sure you understand exactly how happy our people are right now.” Aodh said slowly.
Janai frowned, she knew that the response had been positive yesterday but she still wasn’t quite seeing the connection.
Aodh then continued. “You were too busy existing with Amaya - as you should’ve been! - that you missed the fact that Lux Aurea as a whole was celebrating with you. You are the monarch who purified the Sunforge. Who protected us when all seemed lost. And your union has just been blessed by the Sun itself. For the first time in months, they aren’t thinking of fear. Of when the next blow will fall. Instead, they are looking forward to your wedding.”
Janai blinked trying to force her mind to work through the headache that was still there. She should’ve had Aodh remove the runes before any of this had started.
“So you’re saying that they want this wedding?” Janai asked.
Aodh nodded, earnest. “I think they need it Janai. I think we all do.”
Janai looked over at Amaya to see how she was reacting to this. The woman shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind being your wife officially within three months. I don’t want to give you time to rethink.” Amaya added with a teasing smile.
“Well, that’s not happening.” Janai responded dryly. “I suppose we’re going to have to contact Ezran then. And the Alliance as a whole. Three months isn’t very much time.”
“My nephews first, I think.” Amaya said with a soft look towards her betrothed.
“Whatever you want, love.”
“Do you think it would be possible for me to tell them in person?” Amaya asked.
“If that’s what you want. I did say whatever you wanted, didn’t I?” Janai asked, worried that the signs were incorrect.
“You did. Whatever I want, huh?” Amaya’s eyes glinted mischievously. Janai eyed her suspiciously.
“Within reason.”
“And if I wanted you dressed like this everyday for the rest of our lives?”
Janai choked. “Why. Why do you do this to me.”
Amaya chuckled, amused. “It was a serious question!”
“And I think you already know the answer. Aodh, please unbind me so I can put my shirt on.”
“I was wondering how long it would take you to ask.” He said, also laughing.
Thirty minutes later, Janai had no hangover, her shirt was firmly on, and Amaya was pouting. Janai rolled her eyes and kissed the pout off the woman’s face.