Chapter Text
Hooves pounded against the fields as dirt sprayed upwards, chunks of grass kicked up from the force of the stillion that barreled through the glen, sparking sunrise shimmering, lighting the dew drops of the misty morning like candles.
Breath fogged in the cool temperature as the fire lit grass swayed harmlessly, the light of the dew unable to burn as a hand brushed the powerful muscles on the stallion's neck. The beast snorted and moved faster, the two hearts beating in tandem as the path ahead stayed clear, the tree upon the hill swaying softly in the breeze that coursed through Sterling Gables, the eternal winds that breathed life into every molecule on the lands.
Clothes fluttering, Stina released the reins and let Ranendyl drive them to their destination, putting full faith in her companion as the stallion whinnied and shook his head. His wild spirit as untethered as her own as he made for a new record to the hilltop. Stina could feel his excitement coursing through him, the unbridled joy, the determination to go faster. Stina patted his side and laughed when a spike of exhilaration flashed through him and into her; the need to be as fast as the untamed winds of the glen.
“Come on you old man,” Stina laughed as Ranendyl scoffed at her remark but there was only joy in his heart as they neared the top of the hill.
“Come on, come on, come on-” Stina chanted then shouted with glee as they cracked through through their imaginary finish line and Ranendyl bucked her off, Stina using the momentum to spin herself into a smooth landing with telekinesis as she laughed, rolling in the dirt as the massive stallion tumbled beside her then popped back up on his legs, trotting in place before kicking up in excitement.
“YEAH!” Stina laughed, throwing her fists up in the air as Ranendyl kicked and jumped, proudly trotting right up to her as he nudged her with his snout. Stina smiled and reached for him, stroking his face and kissing his nose.
“You were brilliant.” She whispered and he gave a gentle snort in response before he nudged her again.
“What?” She smiled as he tried to lift her arm with his nose, nickering at her as Stina looked down at her side then barked a laugh.
“You couldn’t wait two seconds ?” Stina snorted as she got up to her feet, Ranendyl snorted again and bit at the air next to her bag that held his precious treats. She always carried some with her in a small pouch that hung at her hip since she couldn’t help but reward her loyal stallion whenever he did a good job or got them to their destination in one piece. However that led to his entitlement to his goody bag and any opportunity he found to demand a treat he took.
Stina produced a small round wafer from the bag, it looked tiny in her hands as most things tended to be but the wafer didn’t last long as Ranendyl half covered her palm in slobber as he licked it right off leaving nary a crumb of remembrance.
“EWWWWW!” Stina groaned and shook her hand out as Ranendyl whinnied with laughter. She reached forward trying to wipe her hand on him but he dodged with years of experience as he walked a lap around her, tail swishing with pride.
“I’m not giving you a second one,” Stina warned and he snorted at her, pawing a hoof at the ground. “Don’t grunt at me! How would you like it if I licked your foot?”
He made a face and turned around to kick up dirt at her boot.
“‘Get over it’? It’s gross !” Stina snapped back.
He swished his tail and gave another stomp.
“Don’t forget who feeds you.” Stina crossed her arms but he just looked at her from over his shoulder then sat down with a huff.
“Oh yeah, like mom will put up with your demands!” Stina scoffed. He lifted his head and neighed loudly, stomping once at the ground before grunting.
“Stubborn beast,” With a roll of her eyes Stina reached into the bag again and pulled out a second treat, making sure to rattle them around and smirked with Ranendyl’s ears perked up. “You know if you’re going to be slobbering and pouting I guess I’ll just have to eat these myself.”
Ranendyl scoffed but turned, a glare in his eyes like he was daring her to do it. Problem was Stina could also see the small disk of doubt that she just might, the treats were perfectly edible for both elves and horses after all.
“I packed a good ten of these so I might just have myself a nice snack.” Stina hummed, tossing the treats in her palm a little and Ranendyl grunted at her again, knowing her tricks but falling for it anyways as he got up and marched over to her as Stina smirked proudly.
“What?” She grinned as he frowned and lifted a hoof to gesture at her hand, his greedy stare eyeing down the treats.
“These are for civilized, slobber free unicorns.” She tsked, moving her hand away as he groaned and shook his head around in a way that she knew meant he was rolling his eyes at her. She picked one up and his nostrils flared as he tried to get a sniff at the strong wafting scent of swizzlestick spice; his all time favorite.
He groaned and got up, pacing around before standing in front of her again and holding out a hoof to demand one. Stina pressed her lips together to stop herself from smiling as she held out one to him on her fingers but he instead scooped down to nibble at the ones in her hand, making an effort to get as much spit on her hand as possible.
“I’M GOING TO SELL YOU!!” Stina roared as he galloped away and she chased.
-
“Did you lose a fight with a dwarf?” Timkin smiled as Stina walked over with Ranendyl in tow, covered in hoof to mane in dirt and grass stains.
“How much do you think they’ll give me for him?” Stina asked as she shoved the reins at her father and Timkin laughed, taking them gently from her hands.
“You’ve got to stop boxing with him,” Timkin warned as Stina passed by him to the small basin of water to splash her face with and wash her hands.
“He fights me!” Stina insisted as she scrubbed some of the dirt out from under her nails. Ranendyl whinnied his snappy reply as Stina flipped him off while Timkin untacked the beast. Stina wiped at her face with the small towel at hand.
“Make sure not to track mud inside.” Timkin warned as Stina started to walk towards the house but stopped and turned.
“Why? Did mom just clean?”
“No, your grandmother is here.” Timkin mused and Stina watched the way he reorganized the same pile of blankets, crossing her arms.
“So you're hiding here?”
“Who says I'm hiding?”
“The fact that you're hiding in here and not chatting it up in there.” Stina quirked a brow as her father returned the look as Ranendyl walked back into his own stall like the clever stallion he was.
“Well,” her father shrugged as he dusted off his pants and tunic. “I'm just not a big fan of the topic.”
“What's the topic?” Stina frowned, watching as Timkin nervously picked at any dirt under his nails. Her father was one of the bravest men she knew, having survived through Exillium all on his own and even going so far as to get himself reinstated in the Lost Cities after his banishment to graduate with the rest of his original classmates. He had never once balked at touchy subjects or even shied away from topics a normal elf would never speak of in public so whatever was happening in the house must be a worthy enough opponent to make her father hide.
“Something came in the mail today, it's for you.” Timkin cleared his throat, scratched at his scruffy beard, and then wiped at his nose.
“Dad, I'm not a kid anymore, what came in the mail? What's going on?” Stina demanded but the sorrowful look in her father's eye at her reminder that his daughter was no longer small enough to carry and too awake to protect from the horrors of the world made her pause.
Timkin took in a breath through his nose, sniffling slightly, beckoning her without gesturing as Stina took a step forward and he enveloped her in a hug she didn't expect.
“Dad?” Stina blinked, wrapping her arms around him as Timkin laughed and rubbed smooth circles on her back.
“You've gotten so big Dessy,” he sighed as Stina raised a brow and tried to make a joke.
“You've just noticed?”
Timkin laughed and reached up to ruffle her hair, taking a step back to look at his daughter who was his near mirror image, sculpted with his features and expressions but painted masterfully with her mother's touch.
“Get inside, I'll join you in a moment.” Timkin sighed, turning Stina around and letting her go with a little push.
Stina looked back before she began walking, allowing her father the chance to cry on his own and braced herself as she approached the place she called home and someday her children would too if the title passed onto her.
Sterling Gables had once been only one story tall, built by Pelipa Heks and her husband Kev Thornvale. Each brick placed by a hand of love and care, each pillar designed to take the weight of what would come next. Generation after generation rooms and floors were added until the house itself was a staple of the history of their family name. Each Heks put in charge of the ranch would live here on the property, spouses and children running amuck wherever they pleased, renovations and construction constantly building upon what was there before until the torch burned brightly in Vika Heks’ hands, ready to be passed down whenever she chose to let go.
It was a heavy duty to step up and take the reins, there were many responsibilities that had to be given the utmost priority and tasks that needed to be done day after day, repeating on and on for all of history until the next Head of the Ranch came along. Stina only hoped she was her mother's pick, that she could take that step forward and hold the torch in her hands.
Climbing the steps towards the front door Stina’s head raced with the possibilities, what could make her father weep with such joy and sadness that her coming of age that had long since passed, standing now at the rather young but otherwise grown age of 21, and what beast may lie ahead.
A beast that brought her grandmother to her doorstep.
Yoris Heks was a serious woman with little care for excuses and dilly-dallying. Stina’s first impression of the woman was a stone statue, her face so serious it looked like it was carved from the toughest of rocks and designed by the most elegant of sculptures. The Heks were known for their sharp looks and tough exterior but Yoris Heks was a woman to be feared for she led the example of why one must always remember unicorns have horns that can kill.
According to her uncle, people believed Yoris, upon meeting Timkin, would punt the foolish talentless man straight back to the Neutral Territories and drag her wayward daughter to the Matchmaking office in Atlantis, pull out all five lists herself until she found anyone more suitable for her daughter than a banished man. With her temper some had even wagered Yoris wouldn’t bother calling any guards and simply plant Timkin into the ground herself with her own bare hands. But the day of her parents' union, Yoris Heks had no words for gossiping lips to whisper; any event she attended after she was as unreadable as the smooth face of undisturbed water. They had assumed the lack of her daughter’s presence by her side spoke volumes of their current ‘strained’ relationship.
Little did the public know Yoris had cried the most at the wedding.
If anyone looked back at the photos of the day there wouldn’t be a dry eye in the entire crowd. Tissues had been needed for every single guest and then some. Stina’s uncles had been a major source of the waterworks but if you ask any of them who cried most they’ll point the finger at anyone but themselves.
Stina cracked open the door and poked her head inside, catching the tail end of the conversation and laughter that was being held inside.
“...with twenty! I was sure I’d be writing invitations until my fingers cracked but you all saved me the trouble.” Yoris scoffed as Stina left her boots outside and shuffled her feet into a pair of slippers as she sneaked towards the main living room.
“Well how is that a bad thing? You got your invitation days done and over with, all fingers intact, and you still got two whole weddings and another along the way.” Vika replied and Stina poked her head into the archway slowly as she watched her Nana Yoris shake her head and nudge her husband.
“I never know where she gets her attitude from.” Nana Yoris sighed as her husband barked a jolly laugh and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, papers and old albums littered the small coffee table that divided mother and daughter as Stina cleared her throat and announced her presence.
Bright cerulean eyes glanced towards her as if Yoris had known her granddaughter had been standing there all of two seconds and wasn’t the least bit surprised to see her there but it didn’t take an empath to decipher the gentle lowering of a tea cup, it just took a Heks.
“There you are Destry.” Yoris nodded as Stina bowed at the waist and walked towards her grandparents first, exchanging hugs and kissing their cheeks, reminding her Grandfather Asger that yes she had always been this tall.
“Dad said something came for me?” Stina addressed her mother as she moved to sit down beside her. Vika nodded and wiped at her eyes, reaching up to place a kiss on Stina’s head as her daughter leaned down to allow it.
“Yes,” was her mother’s gentle reply, her voice light and warm yet rough with fresh tears as Stina looked from her mother to her grandparents in confusion.
“And that is?” Stina trailed off and watched with burning intensity as her mother brushed aside pictures and scrolls; the photos, Stina registered, were that of her parent’s wedding as well as her Uncle Derik’s but the scrolls had been lists of items and accountings of purchases, big purchases. Vika pulled an envelope from the bottom of the pile, the wax seal of wings. Anyone with half a mind could recognize that seal, the mark of the Vackers.
Stina took the envelope from her mother’s hand, not failing to note the slight tremble in them, as she pressed her thumb against the seal and flipped it on the back to see:
For Stina Destry Heks of the Heks family
From Fitzroy Alden Fallon Avery Vacker
Leap: Sterling Gables
“A letter from Fitz?” Stina asked aloud to no one in particular, her fingers trancing the letter of Fitz’s name. It had been written by Fitz himself, she knew, much to her own disappointment, the curve of his letter and the peculiar way he tilted the tails of his Ks.
He wouldn't write her a letter just to ask for baking advice would he?
Stina flipped back to the seal, its soft white color indicating this was an invitation, obviously but the official Vacker seal brought more emphasis on the importance of the invitation. She reached for the knife on the table, lifting it to the side of the seal and striking through, wax crumbling and pieces falling onto her lap.
Stina wasn’t sure why her fingers trembled slightly, lifting the flap and reaching inside to pull out a night-blue letter with the words written in silver ink that shimmered like the stars themselves. Soft hues of purple and pink swirled in the colors as Stina’s eyes raked over the galaxy trapped in her hands, reading the words too quickly to fully comprehend them.
‘Stina…formally invited too…greatest honor…with much hope…attendance…Winnowing Gala’
The letter fell from her fingers.
It fluttered softly to the table.
And with it a small cutting of Scented Tamacher.
Stina stared down at the words ‘Winnowing Gala’ over and over as if she must be mistaken, seeing the same formation of letters popping up a few times on the page, brows bunching together as she tried to make sense of it.
Her hand reached forward, gently holding the Tamacher between her thumb and forefinger, spinning it gently as the whispers of her Uncle Kelri’s wise words pulled forth the translation from the depths of her memories.
Stina looked towards her mother, confusion lacing her features as Vika reached for her free hand and held it tight.
“You don’t have to accept if you don’t want to.” Her mother promised as Stina looked at the flower and a thick heaviness coated her tongue making it hard to swallow. She hadn’t planned to register for the Match, especially not when she was younger, she detested the very thought of going to Atlantis to the Matchmakers office for anything other than saying ‘hi’ to her Uncle Kelri. But after the battle in the marketplace at Loamnore and seeing Sophie sitting in that small chair all by herself by the cot; Stina took a lot of time to think about the odds of life, the many possibilities out there, the billions and millions of chances they had every single day; it had been so overwhelming Stina could see why some people who swore all their lives they would never register picked up a packet and filled it out within a week. Stina had taken four months.
When she told her parents her decision to register they hadn’t looked at her with disappointment or resentment that she learned nothing of their love story. They simply held her as she cried and apologized to them for her failures as their daughter, unable to continue the work they had begun, the work she wasn’t capable to complete, the work an outsider had to do as she was too useless to succeed.
But she never imagined she’d ever get an invitation to a Winnowing Gala, that somehow by some comic punishment from the stars a poor soul would be stuck with her name on their list and have to hope she declined. She never imagined one of those poor souls would be Fitz Vacker.
__.__
“I’m done signing invitations until the day the sun burns.” Fitz groaned as he draped himself across the chaise of the Eastern Living Room as Keefe laughed and kicked his feet up on the ottoman in front of him.
“You know you didn’t have to sign all 100 of them right?” Keefe smiled, leaning back in his chair as he ran a hand through his hair. Keefe was the perfect image of a wayward son even years after escaping his father’s hold and his haunting mother’s incessant plans, but Fitz liked the way Keefe looked now without so many shadows around his face, his eyes clear as the sky above Everglen.
“Making my signature into a stamp feels dishonest.” Fitz argued as he unbuttoned the top of his tunic and tried to fan himself.
“Boy scout.” Keefe laughed, throwing his head back as Fitz shrugged and looked up at the ceiling. They had been in this room for hours now combing through every invite to make sure all 100 were ready and addressed to the correct people before sending them out to the post. Fitz had insisted he sign each and every single one of the prewritten letters; he felt bad enough that the invitations weren’t the least bit personal to the individuals on his Match List but to be fair he didn’t even know over half the girls there, a few names had popped out as familiar but only a small handful he could say for certain he knew who they were.
Fitz had signed up for the Match around the time Keefe had gone off to join the Neverseen back when they were stupid teenagers jumping at whatever impulse bit them and running towards danger with very little heads up, but Fitz hadn’t picked up any Match Lists back then and by the time he had finally graduated the Elite levels he hadn’t put much thought in the Match until he couldn’t go shopping with his mom without hoards of smiling mothers asking if he’s planning a gala yet. He could only say he was considering it so many times before he and his mom got tired of it and Fitz actually considered it. Pulling just one list to fend off the pestering questions.
Thankfully he had been formally invited to a Winnowing Gala just last year and had attended with Biana as his plus one. His appearance at the gala had not only satisfied the hungry public for his dating intentions but satiated any more pestering questions. It had even answered some of his own questions he hadn’t asked himself until Biana had dragged him shopping for a whole new wardrobe just for the seven nights he’d be in attendance at the gala.
Looking through racks and racks of clothes had been so draining but as he thought about what each stitch could mean, each silent threat and honest plea, standing still for tailors to adjust the shoulders of his jerkins hadn’t been so bad anymore. It made him wonder what someone would do if he held a gala; would they note the lack of emeralds on his cuffs or try to translate the flower arrangements, how much effort would they put into the dresses and coats they would wear to his gala, what would their dancing tell him of their true intentions, the placement of their fans and fleeting smiles.
The curiosity had kept him awake so much so that he sometimes would go down to the kitchen in his apartment just to bake away the thoughts into cakes and treats he could gift to his friends. Of course there were only so many sugary snacks even Sophie could eat before she tapped out.
At one point he visited his mother and asked her what had compelled her to pick up her match lists and she admitted to holding it off for a very long time, too scared that if she picked it up as soon as she had registered she’d be squandering a chance to meet her perfect match as a mature and grown woman. She was glad she had waited, perhaps too long in some opinions, but that had resulted in meeting Alden and while they’ve had their ups and downs Della wouldn’t trade the time she spent waiting for anything in the world.
So Fitz went to Atlantis.
Sure he wasn’t nearly half the age his mother was when she met his father but Fitz was well into his adult years and nearly at full maturity for an elf. As a boy it always creeped him out to see older couples when on his missions to find Sophie, he had thought the idea of seeing someone change so much over the years as barbaric and strange. But the older he got the more beauty he saw in aging in such a way. To see the years traveled together written on their faces; sometimes he noted the changes on his friends, how Keefe’s face had shaped out, how Biana’s nose changed, how Dex grew from the shortest boy to nearly the tallest. Once Fitz was 27 he would stay the same for the rest of his eternal life, he wanted at least a little growth, a little time with someone, even if it wasn’t for forever to grow old with. There were a hundred chances on just one list and he would know the number of each possible match seeing as it was his list after all and would of course have to do his best to meet each one over the course of seven nights.
Winnowing Galas were so much more complicated than his mother had initially explained to him as a boy but then again so was everything. She had a habit of sugarcoating the truth and squeezing things into more palatable forms, but of course there was no hiding how big a gala could get. A Winnowing Gala had to be decided months before it was ever actually held, people would be clashing to go to one gala over another and seamstresses would be swamped with overflowing customers if people just held a gala on a whim.
Each gala lasted seven days and seven nights with the nights being where all the dancing and talking and drinking were done while the days mostly had private meetings between potential matches. The host could ask for a date with one of his potential matches or even the match could ask out the host, it wasn’t as uncommon as it was when his mother was young but it was still surprising at times to hear. Introductions were had almost every night as different matches would try to get a moment with their host, if they took a liking to him at all. When Fitz had been a potential match he had only danced with his host four times each night after the first. Which sounds like a lot until you realize the gala starts at sundown sharp and ends only an hour or two before sunrise.
Some people use the months before the gala is held to call off of work for that whole week so no one has to spend sleepless night after sleepless night shuffling around the Lost Cities half awake and possibly throwing the entire world into chaos because they’re not getting enough sleep.
The first night is technically the easiest night of them all since it’s all introductions-
“Yo? Fitz.” Fitz only had a second to register Keefe had been calling him before someone threw a pillow at him and Fitz jumped. He sat up and looked towards the entryway where Biana stood and raised a brow at him.
“Did you fall asleep with your eyes open because that’s seriously creepy.” Biana huffed, putting her hands on her hips as Keefe snorted and put his feet down, grinning at Fitz who glared at him. Keefe just held his hands up in surrender.
“I tried calling you but you were off in your own world.” Keefe defended as Fitz sighed and turned back to Biana.
“What’s wrong Bee?” Fitz stood as Biana gestured for both of them to follow her flickering image.
“Come on you boneheads,” Biana sighed like she was the one stressing about the gala more than Fitz was. “I’ve got to do everything around here.”
Keefe and Fitz shared a look before following after Biana as the tiny brunette marched down the hall quickly, Woltzer and Grizle in tow. The gala was to be held here in Everglen as Alden and Della insisted it would be alright and they were dying to host a gala here for their children. Fitz couldn’t object once they played the ‘hopeful parents’ card and he had to admit when he imagined his gala he had pictured Everglen as the venue, the Grand Hall was more than suitable for a gala but Fitz was starting to take more of a liking to the West Ballroom as it would have a better view of the sunset and could paint the ballroom in golden light just before his big entrance.
It wasn’t that he wanted to make some big presentation of himself, the whole of the Lost Cities already knew too much about him as it was but no one could blame him for being a bit of a romantic. He couldn’t picture a girl just yet but when he thought about entering the ballroom, sunset at the perfect point in the sky to bring the room alight, the one who would catch his eye standing there… It was enough to make him giddy with excitement.
Especially knowing certain people would be there.
As Keefe and Biana talked ahead Fitz thought about the name he had seen on his very first match list. It had surprised him and sent Biana into a whole rant for about an hour, Keefe had just sat there with his mouth open for ages until they were finally able to move on.
Stina Heks was on his match list.
She was on his first match list.
And besides his family and the Matchmakers, no one else would know her number until they all came to the gala to pick up their dance cards. Each dance card would have the name and number of each match who would write back their acceptance or rejection of his invitation hence why invitations were sent out the same time the gala was announced and months before it was to be held. So people could wonder and whisper and prepare dresses and coats to wear for the event.
“Ah, there you boys are.” Della Vacker smiled as she nodded at her daughter as Biana beamed and moved to her side.
“I didn’t realize we were missing.” Fitz chuckled as Keefe shrugged and put his hands in his pockets, looking around the room full of boxes of hats and racks of clothes.
“I think we might go missing in here.” Keefe grinned as he eyed all the finery of Fitz’s mother’s collection. If there was anyone in the Lost Cities who had a bigger collection of clothes then Fitz coud have to award them personally for somehow beating his mother’s record. Fitz was confident if his mother was an ancient, Everglen would be half a clothing museum with a style from every age and era.
“Don’t make fun,” Della chided with a gentle smile as the three of them sat on a bench across from her plush chair. Beside her she had three boxes with Fitz and Biana’s names on two but the third had the label torn off. Something in his chest sank at the sight of it.
“So what’s up?” Keefe asked as he eyed the boxes and Della gave them all a bashful smile.
“Now, I didn’t order these recently so they might need a bit of adjusting-”
“Oh my stars mom!” Biana cut in as Della lifted the box with her name on it and opened the top to reveal a long cape with a familiar silhouette. Biana brought her hands to her mouth, recognizing the family cape and reaching for the box. She stood and put the box down as she held up the cape, turning to Keefe who got up and helped her clasp it onto her tunic. It was slightly too short but the golden wings at the top of the cape seemed to move with her arms as Biana spun around and rushed to the mirrored platform to see how it looked on her, the jewels and sparkling threads all woven together to create a symbol of status, of their family crest, of unity.
A family cape was nearly as important as a family crest pin but when it came to galas they helped identify who was the family of the host, who was someone you had to impress over the course of seven nights.
“When did you- oh my stars Fitz look at the way it catches the light!” Biana squealed as she spun around and Keefe clapped for her as Alden joined them in the room.
“I didn’t miss it, did I?” Alden asked as he walked over to his wife to kiss her cheek only to get surprise tackled by his daughter as Biana came barreling in to hug both her parents.
“Thank you thank you thank you!” Biana beamed as Alden broke into a big smile and wrapped his arms around his daughter tightly, kissing her cheek as he returned her joy.
“Of course my little star,” Alden whispered, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind Biana’s ears as Della handed Fitz his box. Of course there was a matching cape in there for him though his mother was right about the adjustments being needed, his shoulders were a little bit too wide and the cape stretched across his back as Keefe stifled a snort.
“Looks like you’ve got to lose some muscle, Fitzy,” Keefe grinned as Fitz flicked his cape at him.
“And you need to gain some.” Fitz shot back as Keefe gasped in mock offense.
“I have plenty of muscle, thank you very much.” Keefe huffed as Biana raised a brow and cleared her throat, pulling back a sleeve to flex on them both. Alden laughed as he turned to his wife and tried to join in the flexing but Della just rolled her eyes and squeezed his arm. She turned to Keefe and cleared her throat softly as the laughter died down and Keefe eyes the box, his gaze lingering on the torn label.
“I wasn’t sure if you would- what I mean to say is…” Della stumbled over her words as Keefe brought his ice blue eyes to meet her cobalt blue. “You can decline but-”
“Is it his?” Fitz interrupted and the room came to a halt as Della’s fingers froze on the lid. Slowly she looked up at Fitz. Her eyes filled with a sadness he knew could never be erased with time as she shook her head and gestured for them to sit again as she held out the box to Keefe. Keefe looked around at the people who had half been with him throughout his younger years and the family who still held out their hand to him now.
Fitz knew his best friend all too well as Keefe hesitated to take the box, the potential symbol of belonging. Keefe’s own family crest was something he’d never wear again so long as he lived and even after that he would never allow himself to die a Sencen.
Keefe glanced over at him and Fitz gave his friend a nod.
Keefe lifted the top of the box and suddenly it made sense why the label had been torn. Keefe held in his hands a Vacker family cape but it wasn’t Alvar’s old cape. No, this one was too short for that. It had been Fitz’s.
“Are you serious?” Keefe asked softly as he looked to Della and then Alden, holding the cape close to his chest as they nodded before he glanced at Fitz once more, eyes brimming with tears. Fitz looked at his best friend and thought of all the things they had gone through, all the secrets and the lies, the betrayal. Fitz gave Keefe a smile and wrapped an arm around him.
“I want you there,” Fitz said earnestly, squeezing Keefe’s shoulders tight. “You’re my brother.”
Keefe sucked in a breath then turned to bury his face in Fitz’s shoulder. Fitz moved to hug him properly as Keefe’s shaking hands held the cape in one trembling fist as the other gripped the fabric of Fitz’s sleeve.
“You better not be fucking with me man,” Keefe whispered, a sob in his words and Fitz shook his head.
“I’m not.”
“You can’t be fucking with me right now.” Keefe’s voice cracked as his chest heaved with a shuddering breath. He sniffed and Biana rubbed his shoulders. Keefe wiped at his face with a hand but the movement he saw the joy in Biana’s eyes he broke down in sobs, rushing to hug her too as Biana squeezed him with all the love in her heart.
“Ugh, you guys suck.” Keefe groaned as Alden laughed and handed him a tissue to blow his nose.
“You’ll be less happy in a moment,” Alden teased as he gestured to the cape. “That’s certainly not fitting your shoulders so we’ll need to adjust it straight away.”
“And I have a few choices for tunics and jerkins right here.” Della nodded, waving a hand at a rack of clothes as Biana nudged Keefe.
“It’s not too late to decline.” Biana teased as Keefe smiled and ruffed her hair.
“Not on your life!”
__. __
“So Fitz is finally hosting a gala?” Dex asked, tossing a ball up and catching it as it fell down. Biana nodded and hummed as she tortured Sophie with a manicure.
“He’s pulled a list and set the date and invites, the West Ballroom is being previewed for any potential quick touch ups though I still argue the Grand Hall is better.” Biana rambled as she filed Sophie’s nails and Sophie raised a brow.
“Isn’t the grand hall where you guys eat?”
“You’re thinking of the Eastern Dining room.” Biana corrected as Dex snorted.
“Riiiight, you know that one is sooooo much more different than the south dining room which has such great lighting.” Dex grinned and Biana cut him a glare that could boil the ocean, she rolled her eyes at him but Dex shrugged merrily.
“Hey, my house is normal sized, sorry I can’t relate to your fancy royalty problems.”
“We’re not royalty.” Biana groaned as Sophie laughed.
“Right, you just live in a place that has more rooms than Buckingham Palace.” Sophie said as she reluctantly gave Biana her other hand.
“Sophie you live in what used to be a reception hall,” Biana pointed out, gesturing with her nail file to Sophie’s massive room that took up the entire floor. “I don’t want to hear a word out of you .”
“I didn’t pick it!” Sophie defended as Edaline laughed and breezed into the room with Keefe in tow, carrying a tray of mallowmelt and cups of cinnacreme.
“I can only imagine how much shopping your mother is up to.” Edaline said as she placed the tray of cups on Sophie’s desk and Dex leaped to grab his cup first, hardly waiting to blow on the warm, sweet drink as he took a gulp. Keefe walked around offering mallowment as he went from person to person, a crumb on his cheek from his own piece he had already taken a bite from.
“I think she’s sold out all of Atlantis.” Biana snorted as she prepared the colors she was going to paint, losing the blue that was sitting next to her thigh.
“Knowing Della I’m surprised she hasn’t already.” Grady huffed as he sauntered into the room and leaned against a bookcase, a smudge of Edaline’s lipstick on his cheek and a soft blush on his face.
“Oh I remember our gala,” Edaline sighed softly as Grady’s smile melted into one of pure love and devotion as he held out his arms for his wife as Edaline gilded towards him, dancing to a memory as Grady twirled her and dipped her like a true gentleman.
“And they call me the mesmer.” Grady whispered and for a moment Sophie felt as though she were intruding on their dance as Biana sighed softly and nudged Sophie’s leg.
“I’m all flustered and it’s not even my gala we’re hosting.” Biana chuckled as Sophie gave her best friend a smile.
“I think if I have to see any more tailors I’m going to riot.” Keefe remarked as he plopped down beside Biana and handed her the blue she was missing.
“I told you it wasn’t too late to say no.” Biana chided as she took the nail polish and started working on Sophie’s new design of the month.
“You’re helping?” Sophie asked, looking at Keefe who met her gaze, those stunning ice blue eyes. He gave her a smile that made her chest all fuzzy and warm, leaning back on his palms.
“You’re looking at Fitz’s third in command for the gala.”
“Who’s second?” Dex asked between bites as Keefe pointed to Biana. “Oh, yeah, duh.”
“That’s awesome Keefe.” Sophie smiled as Keefe gave her a big grin, she had to focus on her nails to stop herself from looking at him for too long as Keefe ran a hand through his hair.
“I think I’ve had to judge at least five different color pallets and at this point they’re all blurring together.” Keefe groaned and laid down on the petal covered floor, lifting a few in his hand to shower his face in.
“With Keefe’s memory and taste for art we’ve managed to get a few concepts through to Fitz quickly.” Biana nodded as Keefe smirked proudly from his petal grave. He sat up and brushed some of them off as they fluttered back to the floor. One stayed stuck in his hair and Sophie had to fight her instincts to reach for him and take it off along with the crumb on his cheek.
“Fitz is lucky I’m so brilliantly me,” Keefe sighed. “Otherwise who knows what he’d do without me.”
Biana rolled her eyes but didn’t say a word as Keefe looked at Sophie with a sparkle in his eye Sophie couldn’t decipher.
“He is,” Sophie swallowed as she nodded and glanced away again. Dex said something else but Sophie’s mind began to wander as she snuck glances at Keefe; it had been so long since the day she met him, that smirking boy on the bench. Back then he had been annoyingly charming in his own way and downright obnoxious in others. But as time passed and they faced greater dangers Sophie couldn’t help from looking his way more often. They had been through so much together, all of them, but Keefe always felt so different from the rest. Only after the battle at Loamnore did she understand why.
When Sophie ran with Keefe in her arms, discovering her Running Blip or whatever the other called her dashing teleport, Sophie hadn’t bothered to think much about anything besides him. Sometimes when he closed his eyes she could still see the boy he had once been, asleep in her arms so peacefully yet too still.
She had stayed by his bedside for weeks unable to move or think. She hadn’t left until Fitz had half tossed her into the shower, making soft jabs at her unwashed hair. When Sophie came back freshly showered and dressed she found Fitz crying by Keefe’s bedside holding his hand, promising to be better, that things would be different now. Sophie had meant to back out of the room quietly to give them a moment but she had tripped over nothing and Fitz looked up at her, eyes red and puffy with tears. He looked so embarrassed that she caught him crying but Sophie had walked over to him and hugged him tight. He hesitated for a moment, wrapping one arm around her, the other unable to let go of Keefe out of fear he might disappear on both of them once again.
It had taken weeks for Keefe to wake up and Sophie had to hold herself back from leaping at him and kissing him. Fitz and Elwin had already been there which helped stop her impulses from taking over but that burning feeling to hold him in her arms and kiss him had never gone away. A part of her had wondered if that was being cruel to Fitz who she had had a crush on for years but seeing as she never confessed to him and he didn’t seem to show any intentions of doing the same, she considered her conscious clear of guilt.
Fitz had been by Keefe’s side from that moment on and it was like she could see the best friends they had once been so long ago. Sometimes she could catch Keefe looking at Fitz like he admired the boy who stood beside him at every new twist and turn and Sophie couldn’t help but feel the same. Something in Fitz had changed the day he wept by Keefe’s bedside, he had become far more protective of Keefe than even Ro had been. If Keefe needed anything Fitz was there for him like the brother Keefe never had; when Keefe had needed a private place to stay far away from people as he figured out what to do with his new abilities Fitz had wrangled a whole private estate where Keefe could be for hours on end; when Keefe had suggested going a scan of his body to figure out anything off Fitz had practically begged Tam and Wylie to help Elwin. There wasn’t a thing Fitz wouldn’t have done for his best friend.
He had even tried to get Keefe into trying the Elite levels but Keefe had refused and instead gone on a two year trip around the world. He came back just in time to surprise Fitz at his graduation as the boys celebrated the night like they’d won a battle they’d been fighting their whole lives. Sophie swears the huge party they had the day Gisela Sencen had finally been put behind bars to face the heavy consequences of her actions still didn’t compare to what the boys had planned even though they had somehow managed to get Stina to say yes to going.
“So what does a Winnowing Gala involve?” Sophie asked as it hit her she never truly grasped the concept.
“Which night?” Dex asked and Sophie whirled on Edaline and Grady as they started to leave the room.
“There’s more than one night?” Sophie exclaimed as Edaline turned to her surprised, brows bunching as she nodded.
“It’s a full week Sophie.”
“A week ?!” Sophie’s jaw dropped. She could imagine one big ball for a special night but a week’s worth of dancing and wearing pretty, sparkly outfits? She could hardly stand one formal outing at the best of times and those were all mandatory Team Valiant stuff the Council had insisted they attend.
“You’ve never been to a gala have you?” Keefe asked but he hadn’t really aimed the question at her as he tilted his head and seemed lost in thought for a moment before giving her that mischievous grin she adored.
“You wanna go?” He asked and Sophie blinked at him.
“Go?”
“Yeah,” Keefe nodded. “To the gala.”
“Fitz’s winnowing gala ?” Sophie clarified and Keefe nodded again.
“That’s the one.”
“Isn’t that just for his matches?” Sophie pointed out but Keefe shook his head.
“As both a guest and part of the hosting family I can bring a plus one and show you what a real fancy gala can be like, if you want.” Keefe shrugged, running his hands through his hair, just barely missing the flower petal as Sophie leaned forward and picked it out.
“Keefe, are you asking me to a dance?” She teased, trying to play it cool and probably failing miserably from the way Biana’s eyes bugged out and jumped from Sophie to Keefe. Sophie was sure her cheeks had to be bright red but at least Keefe seemed as flustered as he did as his eyes sparkled with mischief and he reached for the flower petal in her hand.
“Maybe I am Foster. Do you accept my invitation?” He asked, his voice soft and low. Sophie imagined him dipping her on the dance floor, their lips inches apart, his hand over hers just like how it was now.
“Yes.” Sophie breathed.
“What?!” Grady balked from the doorway as Edaline slapped her hand over his mouth and shoved him out the door. They danced around each other, Grady trying to butt in but Sophie was too lost in Keefe’s eyes to focus on anything else.
__. __
“Eyes up Stina.” Her grandmother warned as Stina cursed under her breath, lifting her chin and looking into the eyes of her cousin as Jaeden winked and gave her a grin.
“Yeah Dessy, eyes up.” He smirked as Stina scrowled and knocked his foot.
“Destry don’t maul your cousin, Jaeden don’t mock your cousin.” Their grandmother snapped as they both straightened their backs and continued the dance, moving apart and placing their palms together as they turned in slow half circles before spinning and placing their other hands against each other. Stina lifted her foot carefully but Jaeden had gone faster and kicked the back of her leg.
“Ow!” Stina hissed between her teeth as Jaeden stumbled and winced.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine-” Stina started to say until their grandmother cut in again.
“Destry, you’re just taller than him. You’re not an ogre, you can lift your foot properly and Jaeden-”
“Step, turn, palms, heels.” Jaeden nodded, already knowing where he went wrong on the beat as their grandmother nodded and gestured for them to go on. They had been practicing the dance in Nana Yoris’ home for the past hour and while it wasn’t a difficult one to begin with there were a few continuing issues. Stina’s problem wasn’t anything that had to do with her understanding of the music and rhythm but rather her height problem.
She was already doomed to be the tallest girl in the entire Gala, the last thing she needed was to accidentally elbow someone in the head trying to twirl. She had made the decision to take Jaeden, her second least favorite cousin, to the dance as her companion seeing as her father would be too teary eyed, her mother would be too busy, Jurek was ugly, and Stina’s actual favorite cousin was a toddler with a bedtime that could only be extended to 7 (she asked). Technically Stina could’ve asked Maruca, or Linh, or Tam, or, stars forbid, Marella but Stina would need another Heks at her side to face the tidal wave of scrutiny sure to come her way from her presence alone. Jael, Jaeden’s twin brother, was woefully as annoying as his other half but unavailable and Stina knew if she brought either Marijne or Leorine they’d feed her to the wolves. Technically she liked those twins over the ones with her right now but here she was.
“And turn.” Their grandmother ordered as they spun out, bowed, and stood back up, posture perfect. Nana Yoris nodded and clapped to command the recording to stop as Jaeden sighed and shuffled around in his spot while Stina moved to grab her glass of water. Nana Yoris was Stina’s grandmother more so than she was Jaeden’s but as the grandson of Yoris’ eldest brother, Jaeden was as welcome as any Heks could be.
There would be some judgment about Stina bringing a cousin who was a twin but it wasn’t like that was something Stina could or even would undo if she had the power. It was a stupid thing to judge people for, the probability of twins or even triplets was low but never impossible, it made nonsense to act like that was any indicator of ‘spoiled genetics’ but people did always love having something to talk about.
And it wasn’t like Stina was any better.
Afterall, she helped people continue talking instead of speaking her true mind on matters. Always hiding away, pushing anyone down if it meant some sanctity could be had. People had a right to talk about her but when it came to her family…
“Jae sit down, you’re making me antsy.” Stina sighed as Jaeden moved to sit quickly.
“How are you more nervous than I am?” Stina laughed as she leaned back in her seat and Jaeden shrugged and wiped his palms on his knees.
“Well for one it’s a Vacker Gala. Do you have any idea how massive that is?” Jaeden sighed as he shook his head and crossed his arms one way as Jael mirrored him on the opposite side.
“What about the Vacker’s isn’t a big deal?” Jael huffed as Jaeden nodded his head, the two identical men almost exactly the same down to their pants. They had picked different shoes but swapped the right foot so Jaeden could better follow which foot would go where in his steps.
“It’s just a Winnowing Gala with a hundred girls in attendance, give or take a hundred more if each girl brings a guest, the immediate Vacker family and staff. All and all, that's less than four hundred elves, we have more horses at home than there’ll be people.” Stina said, doing the swift math she had been repeating to herself over and over again to calm her own mind about the gala that was set to take place in a few months.
“You can’t compare horses to elves Dessy,” Jael shook his head while Jaeden nodded his in agreement with his twin. “Elves can be vicious beasts.”
“Have you met Bastard?” Stina raised a brow. Every Heks had a unicorn that they had taken a liking to, practically a soulmate from the bonds some Heks had built over the years; but her mother hadn’t been as lucky as Silla Heks to form a life changing bond with an alicorn. No, her mother was bonded for life out of spite with the most stubborn, aggressive, short-tempered stallion in the entire universe and beyond it. Bastard was such a pain in the ass Vika had never even named the thing out of pure annoyance with it but seeing as it still needed something to identify it, it was given the ‘name’ Bastard.
“That thing doesn’t count as a unicorn.” Jael waved away as Jaeden nodded then sighed and looked at his brother.
“I wish you could come.” Jaeden mumbled and Jael patted his arm sympathetically.
“Think of it this way, the rest of the girls there would be taking behind Dessy’s back if she brought two dashing men to a gala.”
“What men ?” Stina snorted as the boys held a hand to their chest, they said some obnoxious reply then patted themselves on the back, rambling on and on about this and that. The only downside to having cousins was the fact that they existed but it wasn’t like Stina could return them. Besides they were helping her out big time but she had questions only one person could answer but she was unwilling to stoop so low as to ask.
She still couldn’t puzzle the handwritten letter personally asking her to attend nor the cutting of Tamacher. It wasn’t something too out of the ordinary for people who previously know each other to send personal letters but the Tamacher…
Not to mention what had come to her doorstep after she had written back her reply after agonizing over it for hours on end.
Fitz had sent her drawings, well made drawings that could only be the work of one Keefe Freakyhair with a small note of thanks for her reply and acceptance, the very classic ‘hope to see you there’ that everyone and the Council used to sign off such things but there had been a little arrow pointing to the corner of the note and when Stina flipped it over two drawings of flowers had been on the back with the words; ‘What do you think?’
What the blazes he had meant by that Stina couldn’t tell you. She didn’t know if he was being clever or giving her some cryptic hint to the theme of the first night. It seemed like a Fitz thing to do, he was always the type for organization and clear messages. A hypothetical metaphor couldn’t fly over his head without crash landing at his feet from bashing against the invisible wall that was his inability to understand hypotheticals. The guy needed to know when, where, how, and what to wear or he’d explode. But asking ‘what do you think’????
Was it a team thing?
Team Orphedettes VS Team Pleated Thornberry.
While their meanings could be interchangeable there was a difference in tone as well as subtext. Depending on who went where that could already sort people into different categories to help Fitz sort out what he might be looking for too.
Or Biana was making him pick a flower and he figured since he couldn’t pick or tell Biana to choose whichever without getting tackled he’d toss the choice to someone who couldn’t care less.
Or she was overthinking everything.
She couldn’t help it, not with the gala weighing so heavily on her mind. Fitz had set a game where the slightest twitch of an eyebrow could mean war between families and the loss of generation-long friendships with the possibility of no victor.
If Fitz didn’t find anyone on this list suitable to his tastes he could try with another list, there was no ‘winning’ at a Winnowing Gala. Just broken hopeful hearts, rivalries brought to life, and hardcore gossip. Whenever Marella decided she wanted a career change she could run gossip columns writing every single horrific and scandalous thing that happened at galas like this, it would make good use of her gossip powers.
“Now, now,” Nana Yoris called them to attention. “Let’s go from the top.”
__ .__
“You’re jittery,” Keefe smirked as Biana smacked his arm with her fan. He just flashed her a smile too as Fitz smoothed the front of his tunic and checked the shoulders of his cape again.
“It’s a big night.” Fitz shrugged, trying to stay calm but his nervous energy had been softly polluting the air; Keefe could sense it like someone sprayed the whole room with it.
“You’ll be fine, there’s no reason to worry.” Alden smiled as he walked over to them and placed a gentle hand on his son’s shoulder. With the two of them side by side Keefe could see the strong resemblances between the two Vacker men. One could argue Della’s genetics did a number on Fitz and Biana but in certain lighting and just the right outfit, Fitz looked like a dead ringer for Alden’s mini me.
Though nothing about Fitz was ‘mini’ anymore. They had grown up, as people tend to do but with a whole lot more trauma than most teenagers had probably had to face. But Keefe would never trade the things he went through for a normal life, not when he was standing here now.
As a boy he always wanted to be one of the Vackers, staying here for hours pretending he was their son, looking to Alden for that proud dad smile he longed for. It was embarrassing thinking back on it now how badly he had wanted the things he swore he didn’t care about but who was teaching him how to understand his own feelings? It certainly wasn’t Cassius and much less Gisela . No, that kind of heads up would’ve been too unfair. Instead he had to learn the hard way that the things he thought he knew were all just illusions; he had no ‘good’ parent, the Vackers weren’t perfect, and Alvar was not the hero he thought he was.
Keefe would never admit this to anyone nor ever dare say it outloud and risk someone overhearing it, but the day he woke up after ‘accepting his legacy’ Keefe had been a mess to end all messes. His body had felt so alien to him he wanted to melt all his skin off with Elwin’s elixirs until he could get the itching feeling out. His head hurt so bad and his throat ached like he hadn’t drank water in years, Sophie and Fitz had been there and Keefe couldn’t even speak his relief to see that they were happy to see him, that even after everything he still mattered.
A part of him had been so terrified about what had changed about him after Loanmore he refused to look at any mirrors or reflective surfaces. He had to ask Ro to cover the mirror in his bathroom because of how badly his lungs refused to breathe air. When he finally gathered up the courage to look at himself Keefe had been shocked to see he was almost the exact same beyond the faint light mark across his forehead, almost like a scar, where the crown had sat on his head. Just looking at the mark had sent him spiraling so deep into his own mind he didn’t notice when Fitz came into the room and held him as he cried.
Fitz had taken care of him then and he took care of him well after the initial shock of waking up. Keefe had expected Fitz to be upset with him or something; after joining the Neverseen it seemed like their years of friendship were over, if one could even call what they had ‘friendship’. But Fitz stayed by Keefe’s side throughout every hiccup, every fight, every nasty insult. Keefe thought he was losing his mind some days but Fitz would go in there and watch the nightmares that plagued him and tell Keefe there wasn’t a single crack he could find.
It had to have been the hardest time of his life and Keefe hardly made it easy but Fitz had been there for him and Keefe would do everything to pay him back in brotherhood.
Alvar might’ve been the fantasy Keefe thought he looked up to but Fitz was the hero Keefe had thought he’d seen, a real hero.
“Tonight’s the easiest part,” Keefe smiled as he walked up to Fitz and put his hand on his back. “Everyone gathers around, gossip gossip gossip, ‘oh sweet hors d'oeuvres’, everyone says hi, and then in comes the Fitzer!”
Fitz laughed then, rolling his eyes at Keefe’s antics as Keefe spread out his arms like someone just threw confetti.
“Never call me ‘the Fizter’ again.” Fitz smiled as Keefe pointed at him.
“See, you just gotta hit them with your best smile, shake some hands and say hello and the night is gonna go by smooth as a heliofly.” Keefe nodded sagely as Fitz let out a deep breath and nodded, trying to heed his friend’s words and relax. Fitz shut his eyes for a few moments before he nodded, opening them and meeting Keefe’s gaze as he gave Keefe a grateful smile and nudged him along.
“I’ll see you once everything starts,” Fitz nodded as Keefe gave him two thumbs up and Biana hugged him tightly, whispering words of encouragement as Keefe and the Vackers moved along, leaving Fitz alone behind the doors to the second level of the ballroom and put themselves in their proper spots opposite at the front entrance where they would receive the guests that came through, show them where to pick up their dance cards, gather them all in the ballroom, and wait for Fitz’s grand entrance.
“Sophie’s coming right?” Keefe asked, fidgeting with his sleeves as Biana shot him a look.
“You tell me, she’s your date remember?” Biana smirked as Keefe frowned at her bt all Biana did was giggle and nod.
“She’ll be here.”
“Good.”
“With Grady.” Biana added as Keefe swore the floor came out from under him.
“With Grady?” Keefe repeated as Biana nodded and looked ahead indifferently.
“Yep,” She smiled, popping the p as Keefe groaned and tilted his head up. It made sense to bring a friend or a parent to these things but Grady ? Keefe may as well say goodbye to his plans of dancing with Sophie.
It wasn’t that he wanted this to be a date.
Well he did.
But he wasn’t going to ask Sophie on a date and then not tell her it was a date! That just- it wasn’t right but well, it was a Winnowing Gala and dancing was kind of the main part of these things and- yeah okay so Keefe really wanted to dance with Sophie and show her all the neat details about it since things were still a little complicated when it came to what she did or didn’t know about elf culture. He wasn’t showing her around because he thought she was ignorant and he, the oh so wise elf boy raised in sparkleland had to each her it was just…fun; hanging out with Sophie at balls and galas and whispering to each other little things they noticed together seemed like it would be a great time and Sophie always had the best reactions to things, it made Keefe want to invite her so bad. Sometimes Sophie would point out things Keefe had never thought of before and it always left him seeing the world in a different way. And yeah, he kind of wanted to have that tonight, even if it was just as friends because he’ll always be her friend.
But if Grady was coming…
Keefe dragged his hands down his face and sighed, already accepting that this night wouldn’t go as planned. If Sophie had taken Edaline then maybe but Grady . Keefe wasn’t sure sometimes if the guy still only referred to him as ‘that boy’ or not and with the way Grady’s face always seemed stuck on a frown Keefe had a pretty good guess.
“Are we too early?” A voice asked and Keefe nearly jumped out of his skin.
Think of them and like a vanisher they appear.
Keefe whipped his head to the door that were held open by the staff the Vackers had hired for the gala as Sophie and Grady passed through the doors and Keefe had to screw his jaw closed tight to keep it from dropping.
Families tended to wear their very best to galas, especially on the first night but damn .
Grady was a strong man and definitely looked it but with the half fur pelt over one shoulder with the Ruewen family cape flowing behind him, layer after layer of clothes building up his statue, the dark colors making his tanned skin and blonde hair stick out; he looked like he could stand at the front lines of a goblin brigade as their general.
And beside him Sophie was his second in command. She lacked the pelt but the cape looked like it was made for her (which it probably was) but the way she wore it couldn’t have been more refined, more elegant. Sophie had always been brave, badass and strong but with the dark red of her tunic meeting the gold of the eagle stretched across her back, reaching for the rose at the bottom of her cape that fluttered as she spun around taking in the decorations; Keefe was left breathless as her rich brown eyes met his and suddenly he felt like everything he wore was wrong or out of place compared to her.
“No you’re right on time.” Alden smiled, walking over and patting Grady on the back as the men shared a firm handshake. Grady nodded at Alden, flashing him a smile before moving on to greet Della, then Biana, and finally, Keefe.
“Keefe,” Grady nodded, eyebrows raised as if to say ‘try anything funny and I’ll strangle you with your own cape punk’ (that was probably an exaggeration) and Keefe swallowed hard as he nodded back, trying to stand up straight as he shook Grady’s hand.
“Welcome Lord Ruewen,” Keefe greeted, feeling like a total idiot as Grady squeezed his hand and looked into his eyes, probably sniffing out the weakness Keefe knew was in his eyes and empath or not, Keefe could feel Grady’s reluctance through his way too firm handshake.
“Dad,” Sophie snapped, elbowing Grady in the ribs as Grady let go of Keefe’s hand, allowing blood back into his fingers, and grumbled something to Biana about overprotective fathers as Biana laughed and kissed her cheek.
“Sorry about him,” Sophie sighed as she shoved her way to Keefe and shook his hand awkwardly, her nervousness radiating off of her as Keefe offered her a smile and tried to play it cool.
“Don’t sweat it Foster, we were just saying hi.” Keefe shrugged nonchalantly but risked a glance over to Grady as Grady gave him a nod before looking at Sophie who wheeled on him.
“You said you’d be nice.” She accused as Grady held up his hands.
“I just said hi!” Grady defended as Sophie glared at him. She was barely as tall as his shoulder with her fur boots but she was still able to make Grady back down as if she could out muscle him. If Keefe was told to bet money, his lusters would always be on Team Foster.
“Edaline couldn’t make it?” Della asked as Grady looked to Lady Vacker and nodded, bowing slightly in apology.
“She uh, wasn’t feeling well.” Grady excused as Della waved his worries away, fanning herself as though the room were hotter than the worst of summer days.
“The heat is very strong this season.” Della smiled, smoothing over whatever reasons Edaline had for staying tonight as if it were a wrinkle in a bedsheet. Grady nodded along with her, a small thank you in his eyes at the excuse she provided and the lack of any follow up questions.
“So how does this work exactly?” Sophie asked, moving the subject along as Della clapped her hands.
“Oh that’s right, this is your first gala isn’t it?” She asked and Sophie nodded bashfully, tucking a blond curl behind her ear as Keefe died a little on the inside at the gesture. There wasn’t a thing she could do that wouldn’t send him scratching at the walls and tonight was no better. Della beamed and her wrists sang a melody as her many bracelets clashed together before she gestured to Keefe and Sophie.
“Have a walk around the room, Keefe helped design it you know.” Della waved her hand as if to send them off as Keefe’s eyes bugged out and he looked from Sophie, to Grady, to Della.
“Uh, well they just got here-” Keefe stumbled for an excuse as Sophie shrugged a shoulder and looked around.
“Alright.” She said simply as Keefe shut his mouth and looked at her. She met his gaze as she gestured to the open doors of the ballroom. “We’re the first ones right?”
“Yeah,” Keefe answered breathlessly and when Della cleared her throat behind him Keefe snapped into action and clumsily offered Sophie his arm.
He had done it so instinctively Keefe didn’t pause to think about it until he looked at Grady and wondered if he just made the worst mistake of his life.
But Grady didn't yank Keefe's arm away, he didn't insist on waking Sophie around the room himself. He just looked at Keefe for a long moment before giving one solitary nod that had Keefe stumbling for breath as Sophie walked over and linked her arm with his.
“A walk around the room?” She laughed as Keefe nodded and guided them towards the ballroom. The weight of Grady's trust heavy on his shoulders, add that to the Vacker family cape Keefe had on his back and he was sure he'd collapse from the pressure before the night was through.
“It's a room and you can walk around when you get tired of sitting and eating, standing and eating, and dancing while trying not to throw up.” Keefe joked and regretted his choice of words almost immediately as Sophie wrinkled her nodded and nudged him.
“You're so gross,” She laughed, rolling her eyes like he was so lame but she laughed! So it qualified as a win in Keefe’s book.
“It's true,” Keefe grinned as he leaned towards her and mimmed losing his lunch as Sophie gagged and shoved him playfully.
“So what's the first question my good Lady Foster,” Keefe asked, putting on his most posh accent as Sophie snorted and looked around.
“Did you really help design most of this?” She asked with wonder as Keefe felt his cheeks flush.
“Yeah, Fitz made most of the choices, I just helped him visualize it.” Keefe admitted, looking around at the crystal chandelier that looked like a million long cuts of crystal spiraling around and spreading outwards in shimmering stars with little strings of jewels waiting for sunset.
“When it starts to get dark this place is going to look out of this world.” Keefe promised and Sophie glanced around at the band and the food and the fountain nearby gushing water to a pond.
“It already feels like I'm in Pride and Prejudice.” Sophie laughed as Keefe raised a brow but nodded, not sure what that was but made a mental note to figure out what it is.
“Trust me, if you think this is already super crazy fancy you should've seen what ideas they had for the Grand Hall. There were there arches of flowers that would drop petals all around and stuff, it was crazy.” Keefe stage whispered, leaning towards Sophie as he walked them over to the fountain for her to observe.
“This room has an indoor fountain, how was the Grand Hall even bigger?” She asked as if she couldn't imagine anything more than this as Keefe tried to think of things from her perspective.
“In the Grand Hall, the fountain is part dance floor.”
Sophie’s jaw went slack as Keefe felt exhilarating awe rush through him as he nodded and held out his arm.
“Right?” He gasped as Sophie shook her head in wonder.
“Won't people get wet from splashing around?” She asked but Keefe shook his head quickly.
“That's just the thing! They don't. ”
They moved along as Sophie reeled in amazement from the vast lavishness of the Vackers grand estate and they passed by the table holding the dance cards.
“Those are for the matches right? Everyone who said yes?”
“Yeah,” Keefe nodded as they moved closer to obverse quickly. “Each one has a name and number on it for every person on list who wrote back saying they'd come.”
“And how many said yes?” Sophie asked as her eyes scanned the cards.
“All of them.” Keefe said as he did a quick count and moved along after making sure no card had gone missing.
“And everyone just takes their own? No one takes someone else's card?” Sophie asked as Keefe shook his head.
“It's a bad look to take someone else's card because if that person shows up and there's no card for them they're going to ask the Vackers where it is and there's gonna be a whole fuss about it until whoever took it comes clean. It just makes you look like you need to bring someone else down to raise yourself up.” Keefe explained as Sophie glanced back at the table then moved on.
“So it's all about dancing?”
“No. Tonight is the first night which everyone always says it's the easiest but after seeing Fitz stress out these past few months I can say with confidence that the first night is the toughest because it's all about first impressions. Who tries to take a dance card, who gossips the most about the others, what guests people brought, what dress is old.
“All the matches who said they'd come go say hi to the family hosting- which would be the Vackers and me, shake hands, give gifts-”
“I was supposed to bring a gift?!” Sophie cut in as Keefe shook his head so fast the room spun.
“No! No gift necessary it's just a thing people do to impress! You know like back in Foxfire when people used to either get everyone the normal kind of gifts or something really crazy like letters with jewelry?” Keefe clarified as Sophie nodded in understanding.
“Or necklaces with cryptic messages?” She teased as Keefe smiled.
“Can't say the Black Swan ever gave boring gifts.” He winked.
“So they say hi then what?”
“Well, then they'll come here, pick up their dance card, gush about what number they got on the list. Since this is Fitz’s first list people will be extra crazy about what number they've got since they might be higher or lower than they thought they would.” Keefe went on as Sophie raised a brow.
“Isn't getting low a bad thing?”
“No. The number just means who is genetically more likely to be able to make the next, most powerful Vacker and that they answered questions that either matched Fitz’s answers on his Match Packet or complimented his perfectly. But in the end a 100 could be Fitz’s Match over the number 1 match. It's all about who they are, not just what they wrote down on a piece of paper.”
“Which is why tonight is about impressions?” Sophie filled in and Keefe snapped his fingers and nodded.
“Spot on Foster! Once everyone has their cards and are gathered in here Fitz makes his grand entrance. Giving all his matches the best first impression of him all at once since it would take way longer than seven night to meet 100 potential matches.” Keefe pointed up to the door Fitz was likely sitting behind at this very moment, pacing back and forth until given the signal to come in which, judging by the chatter down the hall back where they came, might be soon as people started to arrive.
“So it's not a dancing night?” Sophie asked hopefully and Keefe smirked.
“There's still dancing.”
“Damnit.” Sophie groaned as Keefe’s smile widened and he laughed.
“It's not that bad Foster. Most dances are pretty easy tonight since the band just plays the same songs everyone else knows. Tomorrow night is when they'll play more person- woah!” Keefe yelped as Sophie yanked him behind a pillar and held him against it.
“...what's happening?” Keefe squeaked as Sophie shushed him and looked around.
“Keefe do you know who's on the list?” Sophie whispered as Keefe nodded.
“Yeah…why are we whispering?”
“Because Stina Heks just walked through the door!” Sophie hissed as Keefe whirled and looked at the doorway where, sure enough, Stina Heks was strutting through like she owned the place with a man on her arm whispering softly, their sharp eyes taking in every flower arrangement and polished crystal in the room and seeming unimpressed as Della gestured to where the table with the dance cards where. Stina and the man bowed graciously and walked over to the table as Stina's eyes scanned the many cards for her name then stopped.
In a small act of emotion Stina straightened to her full height, the man staring back at her in confusion at Stina's wide eyes as Stina carefully picked up a card and held it out for him to read.
“Keefe,” Sophie whispered as Stina took the card and put it in her pocket, the dark navy cape bearing the mark of the Heks family crest billowing behind her as the man followed, the petal of a Pleated Thornberry fluttering behind as it fell from the flower in her hair.
“Keefe, what number was Stina on the Match List?”
“14.”