Gray furrowed his brow. A soldier? He couldn't recall Elluin ever showing interest in such a profession, but perhaps their ideals had changed over the time they'd been apart. The idea made him strangely sad- the idea that perhaps they had changed beyond recognition, and he would arrive to find a stranger where his lover had once stood.
He nodded, deep in thought. "Thank you," he murmured, looking to the both of them after a moment. They seemed to be close, he observed. He cracked another soft smile before going on his way on the winding path through the small village, and back into the forest on the other side. He was not tired yet, so he did not rest. Passing through the small township, he hadn't wanted to ask for a place to stay the night, anyway. He was used to sleeping on the dirt, and he almost prefered it to the awkwardness of asking a stranger for a sleeping place. He was a bit hungry though, digging around in his pack and retrieving a slightly bruised apple to eat while he walked.
Glancing down at his compass, he confirmed that he was headed in the right direction before setting back off into the trees, a new spark of hope set alight. An Elf city not too far from here. He was making progress finally. He didn't even take into consideration what the Dwarf had said about the cold welcome he would surely receive- he'd been walking for all too long to be deterred by a few rude Elves.
With each step it got cooler, but easier to breathe. The path grew deeper and smaller, but still somehow got darker and more worn-looking. The trees arched up into a huge opening with vines, leaves, and mushrooms of the like until…
"Stop!" A rough clicking sound which sounded like the locking of a bolt into a crossbow alerted the Human of the weapon behind him. "You are not welcome here. Turn around now or I will be forced to kill you." The voice did not sound familiar, but it had the same accent that Elves had when they spoke English. Gray had found his mark for sure, but at what cost?
"Is there another traveler?" Called a sharp voice from inside the town, and a long shape emerged. This Elf had leaf green hair and bright grey eyes. They were also exceptionally tall and dressed in robes of green that matched their robes.
"Yes sir," Responded the Elf behind him. "Good ear, by the way." The pair laughed, but as the one Gray could see laughed, he pulled out a weapon (a spear) of his own.
Gray froze immediately, raising his hands up by his head slowly and displaying his empty palms to the soldiers. He hadn't expected to come across the city this soon, much less be greeted with a death threat. He was sure that he would be fine if he complied with their demands, though. After all, he had no foul intentions and he was hardly intimidating.
"I mean no harm. Please, I'm just looking for someone." As much as he often tried to hide the desperation in his voice when he found someone who likely had a lead, he took down his walls down for this interaction. He felt that both the honestly and the desperate undertones of his voice would likely help his case here. "Please, just hear me out," he begged. "I didn't come for a fight. I don't seek to enter the city, I just need help finding them. Please."
The tall Elf tossed his long hair from his eyes to lean down to properly take a look at the Human. "Well he certainly looks a mess enough." They laughed again. The green-haired Elf poked him back a couple times with the butt of his spear, bending out of the entrance as he followed him.
"We'll help you out if you don't enter the city. Come here, Dionga." Scrambling of feet presented a young Elf with fluffy blond hair and gleaming green eyes that seemed to laugh at the Human in front of him, but this Elf seemed to be around Gray's height.
"Technically we shouldn't help Humans at all," The taller Elf drawled with a slow yawn. "But if it gets you out of our hair. Oh, and I am the standing manager of dumb grunts like Dionga, so you're lucky you caught me. I know a lot of names. You can call me Voron. Who are you looking for exactly?"
Gray let out a breath in relief. "Thank you." He kept his head slightly bowed and his hands up, maintaining a harmless disposition and a clear acknowledgement of their superiority. As much as he didn't want to submit to these people, he knew it was what he had to do to get any information, and so he was overly respectful and cautious in his movement and speech.
"I'm looking for an Elf called Elluin. Tall, blue hair to about their shoulders, somewhat quiet from what I remember. I've heard that they might be serving as a soldier." He stayed as still as he possibly could, squashing the urge to stretch when the light curve to his back began to grow stiff and his arms ached slightly. The last thing he wanted was a misunderstanding- in this situation, it could quite well be deadly.
Dionga immediately plastered his face with a confused expression at the mention of the older Elf, his eyebrows cocked as he glanced up at Voron. Voron himself straightened up and slowly stretched out (as if mocking the Human in his own way) and looking up at the moon from where it was close to setting at this point.
"Hmmmm… Name sounds familiar. Think he lived here before leaving at some point. Then some damn group of Humans meddled around and they came back. For 'research purposes' he said." Voron ran his fingers through his leaf green hair and looked back down on Gray, his eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Why do you need something from someone like that? He's a weirdo now. He keeps going on about Human this and Human that… But I'm pretty sure he's still here as far as I'm aware."
Dionga's eyes finally lit up in understanding as his superior relayed details. "Oh, right, he's the guy who lives in the west of town with the scholars right?"
"I don't fuckin' know where he is," Voron growled back with a huff. "I've only heard complaints. He doesn't talk to anyone much now. Someone must have gotten sick of him and killed him or something." He smirked down at the Human.
Gray's heart leaped. He was here. He was here. He desperately tried to keep his hopes low, but it was damn near impossible. He was sure that he was shaking at this point, with fear, excitement, worry- he wasn't sure, but likely all three. "We- we have history," he ended up saying. He had a feeling that if he went into detail about the relationship he had with Elluin, these guards would only use it to taunt him. He drank up every word that left their lips all the same. He'd been looking for so long.
Someone must have gotten sick of him and killed him or something. His heart sank, sure the heartbreak was showing on his face as much as he tried to hide it. They were messing with him. They could tell that he cared for Elluin, and they were using that to toy with him. He knew that. And yet it still struck ice-cold dread into his heart. "Can I see them? Please? I- If you could even just send word for him, I'll wait here for as long as I have to."
Voron's shock showed on his face, but Dionga nodded a few times at the Human's request. "As far as you know," Voron snarled slowly, "He could be dead. Gone. I have no idea, but Dionga apparently does. If he's still alive, Dionga can scoot his little ass to go try and find him." Voron waved his hand and Dionga disappeared into the black entrance behind them. "I'll stay here for you then. Keep an eye on you and make sure you don't do something stupid. Sit down and keep yourself busy." Voron tilted his spear into his other hand and held it defensively in front of him, frowning down at Gray thoughtfully.
"But now that we have time, I'd like to know this history you have. You for such a… an old Human, being polite, came such a long way for an Elven mate? I"ve only heard rumors about Elves and Humans together, much less a Human being as loyal as you." Humans didn't really have a great reputation anywhere except with creatures like Dwarves. It would come to no surprise due to how the other Humans are to each other, that they were horrible with their fantastical counterparts. Elves, while to some Humans they were described as mystical and beautiful (which they were), described Humans as evil and weak without a sense of logic like the sharp Elven mind.
Gray didn't care about how they were treating him, when Dionga disappeared into the city, he was about ready to sob with joy. They were right there, within his grasp finally. He was trying to keep it together, but God was it hard. He had to be alive. He had to be.
He nodded slowly at Voron's request. It was the least he could do. The confusion of how he knew about the true nature of their relationship, but he supposed it was increasingly obvious with Gray's reactions to everything going on. "…What do you want to know?" He spoke softly, still trying to keep his emotions in check. He knew that Humans and Elves being together was rare, but it couldn't be that hard to grasp, right? It was still just two people in love. He supposed that most Elves probably saw it differently than he did, however. "I'll tell you anything you want to know." He owed at least that much.
(I????????THOUGHT I RESPONDE#D?????????? SPORRY FOR YOUR WAIT??????????? WHERE DID IT GO?????????)
(I"M>?????? LOTERALLY HEARTBROKE?????? WHAT THE FUCK>??????>?>D:IRCJOUT$PG":><#FMLKJCR>????? I was like why the f aren't they answering i see them »:::[[[[[[[ and i got my answer hngkmloepifrhj)
Voron peered curiously down at the other at his offer of telling him anything. It was an interesting offer for sure to the Elf, and being naturally curious was showing clearly on his face through his strong suspicion.
"I've heard of Elves who leave their home like this in search of education, that's what he did. I'm surprised he found a Human mate, though. Are you a noble? One of those rulers?" His gaze sharpened with a deep frown, looking over the Human at his feet. "You do not look like it. I do not recognize you, either. I've seen many rulers of Human origin pass through here, and I find it interesting that I haven't heard of you despite what Elluin has told me. He told us that he had a Human for a mate. That Humans aren't that bad, they just need good leaders and we should stop– blah blah blah. I don't know where he learned that from, so surely you're that Human that has taught him those things?" He shook his head a little, clearing his throat. "I'm getting distracted. What do you think your appeal was? From all of the other Humans? Why did you pick him? Just a simple Elven scholar… Strange situation. And for you to come out here after so many years, overcoming something other Humans couldn't… I'm curious why."
What Gray didn't know is that he essentially found a village made for war. It wasn't the main Elven city, not at all. It held intelligence agents, their scholars for war, soldiers (many of them), some elders for wisdom, and several leaders to keep everything together. As a Human coming and finding it was dangerous, but how could the dilapidated King care or know?
(asdlfsjgkal that's kind of hilarious- don't worry about it haha)
Gray's upper lip quirked slightly, somewhat amused at how curious the Elf was. He worked through all the questions mentally for a moment, thinking of how he'd respond.
"I was a ruler for a while. I suppose I still am, technically. I hope that wasn't the only appeal I had though." He chuckled to himself, reflecting on the happier moments of the past. "I don't think I chose him, per se. I just… I don't know. Love is strange that way." He tried not to get too cheesy with his words, but there was only so much he could do while trying to explain love. "I just grew attached, I think. I mean, I could go on for hours about what I love about him, but I doubt that you'd be interested in that. As for what they saw in me, I've no idea. I probably asked them a few times, but I can't recall his answer clearly." That was a bit of a lie. He remembered one specific night where he'd had a long, hard day of arguments and frustration, and he'd retired to his chambers worn and exhausted. Elluin was waiting for him, and they seemed to immediately sense that something was wrong. Gray had just broken down and spilled over, spewing out all his worries and insecurities. He spoke about how he had no idea what Elluin saw in him, and how he wasn't sure that he was the right person to rule. Elluin, being the absolute angel they were, was there for him. He recalled nearly every word they'd said to him that night, and he relived it when he was feeling particularly upset with something. But he didn't want to share that with anyone. That was a moment for Elluin and him alone.
"I don't think I taught him any of those things, he just always seemed interested in it. He'd ask me questions every now and then, but I didn't condition them to like Humans. We just… fit. I needed him, and so did the Kingdom I suppose, because when they disappeared, it all… pardon my language, but it all went to shit."
(uijgnt I'm glad I checked LMAO I remember fucking writing it and being like yeah ok ok ugh)
Voron set the butt of his spear down into the ground and leaned some of his weight onto it, tilting his head to listen thoughtfully. "Interesting, for sure. Elluin when he was young was quite smart. He left when he was young into his hundreds, and he must have met you in some point. I don't remember why he left specifically, I'll be honest. That was much too long ago, and we Elves don't really remember small details like that. It melts away with time. However once you see Elluin, you'll have to decide what you want with him. If you want to remove him from his post, he can leave if he wants, especially with a mate and a reason, but you must not tell any other Human how you got here. I'm still puzzled as to how you found this place, but by how you look, I don't think you were given instruction. The call of love was truly just that strong, and you subvert normal expectations of Humans. I'm impressed."
"I don't know what you're talking about," muttered a soft voice from behind Voron. This voice was the only one that was familiar out of all of Gray's travels. It had a classic hush to it, like whispering was too loud, but perky and positive in its own way. The voice behind it was low and smooth like other Elf voices.
Dionga's voice chattered back: "I was just instructed to bring you to meet him. I don't know what it's about."
Gray nodded along as Voron spoke, agreeing when he had to. He of course wouldn't tell anyone the location of the city- he doubted he would be able to recall the exact location even if he wanted to. He voiced this with a small chuckle, beginning to speak on a somewhat different topic when he heard it. The oh so familiar voice that had been playing in Gray's mind for years, a voice that he'd longed just to hear one more time. His respectful posture was abandoned, whipping his head up to search frantically for the source. Sure enough, as if he were dreaming, there they stood. They were material and real.
Gray was shaking, needing to put genuine effort into staying on his feet. This was real. This was real. As soon as Elluin met his gaze, tears were streaming down Gray's face. He wanted nothing more than to rush forward and embrace them tightly, but he was frozen in place, part of him still unable to believe that he'd finally found them, and the more logical part of his brain worrying that Voron would impale him if he did. He pinched the palm of his hand, tears coming down quicker when he felt the sharp sting.
Elluin no longer heard the guards who kept the city he lived in safe. He looked up for the supposed visitor he had, thinking it was a prank of some sort. Elluin had thought because of the war and the collapse of the kingdom that Gray was dead. There was so much anxiety surrounding that for hundreds of years when they were apart, melting away the years and years they spent together into fuzzy memories that the Elf clung to desperately. There was a certain point in his life that he accepted that perhaps he was crazy, especially when it came from so many Elves around him.
Though as their similar brown eyes locked, Elluin pushed his way through the guards, waving off the yelp from Voron as Elluin forced his way through. The Elf dropped to his knees and grabbed Gray's face in his hands, his eyes drinking in those features he had grown to long for after their years apart.
"My Gray, my precious king," Elluin whispered to him, still holding his worn and traveled face in his fine hands. Elluin looked older over the years, with more tired eyes that used to hold immense amounts of stress. As Elluin looked at his love, it melted away into relief that was unabashedly shining on his sharp features. "You came– I had no idea you were still alive! I should have looked for you sooner, I should have…" His voice and tongue rambled off "I should have"s, his long pale fingers touching each part of his face as if he'd disappear. But Gray was here with him. He had found him.
(goddamn, this is making me realize how touchstarved i am asdfgasfghj)
Gray fell to the ground, unable to keep himself up any longer. Sobbing with joy, he buried himself in Elluin, pulling them as close as he physically could until he was seated in their lap. He ran his hands over everything he could reach, his clothes, his scent, his arms- everything Gray had worried that he would never see or feel again. His journey was over, finally. Of course he still had much to do in relation to his kingdom, but with the love of his life by his side, it would all be so much easier. He could feel Voron and Dionga's eyes on them, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Gazing into Elluin's eyes with adoration and wonder, he felt it was suddenly only the two of them. This was all he had longed for. Everything he'd wanted for years now.
He shook his head with a watery laugh at the Elf's rambling worries, pulling him down enough to press their lips firmly together for as long as his shaky breathing would allow. "You- you didn't know, love. You had no way to know. Besides, I found you, didn't I?" He ran his hands over Elluin's shoulders, needing a constant touch to reassure himself.
(same askdrigjkgvm)
Elluin pulled off Gray's pack so he could properly wrap his arms around the other, pulling him up and tight against him. He held the other like he was something dear and precious that he had lost, clinging on in a silent promise of never letting go again. He allowed for his lover to silence him with a kiss, giving a slight, wheezy laugh of his own in his copious amounts of relief.
"They only needed me for a few years, but I heard of the kingdom's fall really shortly after I left. I thought they executed you, I really thought they got rid of everything." One hand stroked through Gray's still wet hair, but Elluin didn't seem to mind. Elluin himself was dry, with his hair tied up loosely to keep out of his face. "You still look so handsome. So tired, hungry… but handsome. My handsome king." His smile was weak and his cheeks were wet, and a slow inhale shuttered his entire body. "It's so incredible, I forgot how good you make me feel. I missed you so much, my king. I'm so glad you found me, Gray, I'm so thankful." Elluin never really cried, or barely talked this much when they were together, but the Elf thought it could be excused just this once. Excused of his soaked and still crying eyes and his bright smile as he looked over the other man's face. Years of lost love gleamed in them as he took his head in his hands again.
"I managed to escape. I-I knew it would never be the same without you, so I came to find you as soon as I could. I'm so sorry it took me so long," Gray murmured. "I missed you so much. I never stopped looking." He'd done so much over the past few years, and somehow at the same time, he'd done nothing. He couldn't wait to tell his lover about everything he'd done. He shifted his arms slightly to help slide his pack off, dropping it to the side with little regard for its contents. All of it could be replaced if need be. A wide smile still gracing his lips, he could taste his own salty tears on his tongue.
He nodded quickly at Elluin's rambling words, shifting his hands down to grab onto the sides of their shirt tightly. "Yours," he confirmed with another sob. "Always." Gray didn't acknowledge the clear exhaustion and hunger that was commented on, too ecstatically happy to ruin the moment by talking about his poor self-care. Now that he finally felt like he was home, he looked back on it all with mild shame. But his lack of sleep had gotten him here quicker, and he would do it again in a heartbeat if he needed to.
Elluin sniffled deeply again, letting the sharp inhales rock his tall body. "We need to get him inside," He said after a few moments of looking at his lover. "I don't care what you say, he needs our help. I'm going to wrap him in my cloak and take him to my home." Elluin tucked his arms under the Human and stood up with the other securely against his chest. The other Elves looked on in slight confusion, Voron with his head tilted.
"I- we can't allow Humans in-" Voron started to say, but was cut off by a swift glare from Elluin.
"Didn't you hear him? He traveled here from his kingdom after it fell. He was the king who lost his kingdom and he traveled so long. Let him stay a few days, and he and I both will leave once he's recovered his strength," Elluin spoke boldly and strongly over the unsure words of the guard Elves at the gate, who exchanged looks and stepped out of Elluin's way.
The Elf set the king down slowly, removing his long cloak. It was a scholarly blue color, and it matched his set of flowing deep blue robes. Usually Elluin didn't wear such things when he was around Humans, but it was his mark among other Elves to be easily identifiable. Elluin wrapped his cloak around Gray a few times and put the hood up, bending down to look at his face again with a smile.
"I'm gonna take you back to my home and see what we can do. Then we'll go back." His brown eyes were wide as he spoke, but that smile returned with his passionate energy.
Gray didn't protest to being picked up, though he flushed slightly and buried his face in Elluin's shoulder in both a need to stay close and a desire to hide his face. He'd tried to keep it together and be respectful, but he'd lost it as soon as Elluin arrived. He listened as the Elves spoke, not wanting to interrupt. It was finally hitting him how tired he was, too- how had he even kept going with that routine? His body had been running on maybe a single meal a day if he was lucky, though most of the time it was a few pieces of fruit or maybe some nuts. It wasn't that he couldn't find anything, it was just that he never felt hungry. Maybe it was the stress and anxiety he had to combat everyday, or the immense struggle he had to go through every day keeping him from worrying about his appetite. Maybe a bit of both.
He felt so overwhelmingly safe and warm draped in Elluin's long cloak. He tugged it closer around him, reveling in the way that it smelled just like them. He'd never seen them in such attire, but they looked… good. Regal. As if he belonged here, because in a sense, he did. Gray nodded along as he spoke, trying to listen to what he was saying and not just the sound of his voice. "I- They're letting me in? Just like that?"
"Well, they had no choice." Elluin leaned up again and gently took Gray's hand with him. "If you find it necessary to post guards outside my home to ensure the town's safety, that is fine. I just want him to rest and eat and drink. You saw him. He desperately needs it."
Voron nodded and unsheathed his spear through a loop in his special robes that were more than just emerald green. They were the robes of a guard, and they had special pockets, loops, and sheaths of all kinds on their clothes. Voron bowed his head to the king, falling to a knee in what looked like reluctant respect.
"I believe what Elluin is telling me. He spoke of a king who passed that happened to be like you. I will escort and guard you as you pass through my town, but you must not alert any other of the Elves. They might not be so willing to listen." He leaned back up and stepped in front of Elluin, gesturing for them to follow and leading them through the dark tunnel.
Needless to say that Gray was shocked to see Voron fall to a knee before him. He was rendered utterly speechless, in fact. He supposed it would make sense to have some sort of respect for a king, but his kingdom had long since fallen and even if it hadn't he was still far out of his domain of rule. He never approached anyone expecting them to respect him as a ruler, especially Elven guards and soldiers. Quite the opposite, nowadays. He just appeared as a weary traveler. He expected to be treated as less than by all sorts of folk.
He just nodded, tucking the hood of Elluin's cloak closer around his face. If he was lucky he might pass by without incident. "You spoke of me, huh?" He smiled softly up at Elluin, squeezing his hand lightly in a show of affection.
When Gray looked up at Elluin again, the Elf was smiling and waiting for Gray before moving. "Of course I talked about you. You were so special to me. Everyone thought it was just a story I picked up from Humans when I was researching them, but obviously not." He tucked a hand underneath the cloak to touch Gray's cheek again. "But I can explain more when we get to my home. Just a little bit more." He took the other's hand again and led him after Voron, who was waiting on the other side. The area they emerged in wasn't busy due to it being close to moonset, but it was a dusty looking clearing that led off into separate paths. Huge walls surrounded them as well, with simple gaps leading to different sects of the Elven town.
"Elluin lives with the scholars, so we will be going to the Western area." Voron pointed to their left and started walking, and Elluin pulled Gray along with him. Excitement messed with the Elf's pacing as he resisted running ahead of Voron.
They were led through a tunnel, where the stone walls supported them slowly moving underground. "Our scholars our important to this war, so we have precautions in place in case they need to stay hidden. It took many many years and many Elves to build this, but our scholars our thankful for it," Voron said in an educative tone as he ducked out of the lip of the tunnel, into a large cave, where buildings touched the top of the brown, hard ceiling. Smaller buildings also supported the walls and seemed to be directly built in to the cave itself.
Gray leaned into the touch with a soft look of adoration, wishing he didn't have to move away just yet. When they arrived at Elluin's home, though, he reassured himself. He'd practically glue himself to their side as soon as they were both safe. He was sure they would hardly have any objections about that, anyway.
He picked up the pace at which he was walking, noticing that Voron's longer legs put him at a slightly longer stride. It was somewhat amusing to see, and Gray likely would've dwelled on it much longer were his attention not immediately snatched by the beautiful civilization around him. He'd never even dreamed of entering an Elven city, yet somehow it still exceeded his expectations. The structures built into the Earth, the tall, impressive walls and spiralling pillars… He'd never seen anything like it, only ever residing in Human towns and cities throughout his life. He followed Voron and Elluin obediently, letting his gaze continue to wander and admire the stunning architecture. He was careful not to let his hood fall down, holding it carefully with his other hand when he turned his gaze upward. They were in a cave. He'd never thought building in the dirt could have such a magnificent outcome. He turned to Elluin after a moment, eyes full of wonder saying everything he needed to.
