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 Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 8:48 pm
 Moving with a certain familiarity of ritual, Faroth reached up to the cabinet to retrieve the small pot of honey as well as a pair of small wooden cups, placing them on a tray before moving away. Another small tin of dried tea leaves was lifted that he sniffed at curiously, then nodded in what seemed like approval before adding them to the rest.
A plate with several scones from the downstairs kitchens sat waiting already, speckled with bits of fruit. She'd learned which were his favorites by now. Just as he was learning which teas paired best with the sweet treats to complement rather than overpower.
Miracle of miracles, right?
Her room seemed a bit more decorated than his own, yet the speckled Faun moved about as comfortably as he would in his own alcove. How time flew...it seemed only yesterday...wasn't that how it went? To be honest, he wasn't that worried about counting the time. It wasn't really important with so many other things to keep track of. Like what scroll they were moving onto today.
He moved the tea and scones to a table beside a seating area of sorts that seemed more a pile of assorted pillows in some haphazard arrangement. Faroth took the liberty of taking up a comfortable reclining position, before looking towards the other with a beckoning, inviting motion. "I've got everything ready, dear. Now, what was this new, interesting scroll you wanted to read today?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 10:05 am
 It had become all but commonplace at this point for Faroth to spend time with her in the simple, yet finely decorated alcove of hers. Recently, he spent more time with her than she with her immediate family, and that was not simply do to their being busy raising children of their own. No... it was entirely him, and he only that managed to lighten her cheeks and fill her stomach with warmth in the most pleasant of ways. Even now, at times it only took a brush of his hand against her skin to near take her breath away.
Love... She hadn't any idea that it felt like this.
And love she could say it was despite her lack of a reference point. It felt to her as so many others described it, only more. Everything, from his smiles to his caresses to his kisses just felt so very much more than she could have ever imagined.
Not to mention that one time... Oh no; that still made her ears steam. Not that she hadn't enjoyed it, but... Well... It was so embarrassing to think about in commonplace!
Best not to.
Looking up to Faroth as he came in, her scroll only somewhat pressed together from her thoughts, the princess smiled the warmest of smiles as she beckoned him closer. It was funny how he'd decided to give her the wooden cups he carried though she already had a set, but they always felt warmer. Unlike the first, they carried with them no madness, no fear, no guilt. It was likely stranger that she'd been unable to rid herself of Venus'. She couldn't help but compliment his improved sense of pairing teas and treats. "Quite the nice choice. Are those, dare I say, chestnut scones?"
"This one tells of the history of Equestria as we know it to be. I have but only started writing it down, so I hope that you do not find it too terribly boring or poorly written." Since the attack, the princess had taken to re-documenting the history of her homeland so that all of the young foals and fillies borne here might learn of their ancestry. It was nostalgic, and it calmed her. This was the first time she was presenting it to anyone else.
In another, unnoticed part of the room, Portia's pearl seemed to shine particularly brightly that evening.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:37 pm
"They might be," Faroth chuckled teasingly, pulling the plate closer for easier access before settling in fully. He wrapped an arm around Celestia's waist to pull her close, his hand resting comfortably on her hip. Such peaceful evenings were made all the better with such pleasant company. He'd never imagined himself one to settle into a relationship with one who meant so much to him...or he to her, most of all. That was still the hardest part of all this to believe.
Even if he couldn't understand most of it, he peered over the scroll in her hands, the elegant-looking script, complex and holding mysteries he may never unravel. Not on his own at least. He still marveled at how much knowledge could be stored and shared via this medium. It was a wondrous magic in itself.
"I think this is a great idea what you're doing. Someone needs to be able to pass on stories of where you came from, what you did before Telrunya. Besides, how could I possibly be bored by hearing more about where you came from?" he asked with a boyish grin. What he said could be taken as flirtatious, of course, but that wasn't the end of it. He was a traveler and an explorer at heart. Even if he spent time at home in Laisidhiel as of late, that didn't mean he wasn't still fascinated by what else lie beyond the horizon.
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Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:00 pm
Smiling lightly, the princess gingerly reached forward to take one of the scones into her fingers before leaning back against him. Bringing it to her nose, she sniffed it twice before placing it against her lips and taking a single, slow bite of it. Chewing, she enjoyed the flavor sensation in her mouth before swallowing and glancing over. "Very well done." They were, dare she admit it, nearly as good as her own.
Nearly.
Even a princess could be a bit vain at times when it came to her culinary prowess.
Her eyes fixated on Faroth's as he glanced over her writing, a soft shade of embarrassment glossing over her cheeks. Even if he wasn't the most proficient at reading, the fact that he might recognize some of the words was important enough. "What is your opinion of the script? Too plain; too intricate?" The princess was treating her work as, essentially, a formal document, which meant formal speech and writing.
But there she was again, doubting herself and her abilities. 'Such a trait is not fitting for a leader' she could practically hear Clairvoyance saying to her. "Yes, I hope that faun and fauny alike will find it not only informative, but also intriguing and entertaining. The young foals have so much to learn of it." Looking to him, she smiled, "As you do, my special somepony." Celestia didn't refer to him by that often, but when she did it usually was with a tone of voice that suggested her attempt at flirtation. The innocent, non-sexual kind of course. Spirits could only dream of the day she would actively try and suggest anything of that sort. If one looked at the 'pearl,' they might notice a strange quivering about it and a shift from shining brightly to nearly glowing an interesting shade of blue.
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 9:22 am
Faroth chuckled at the inquiry about the script. His opinion? "It's very pretty," he answered, lifting his eyes from the page with a cheeky grin. "Though, if you want more of an opinion on what it says, it might be faster if you read some to me." A joke at his own expense, yes, but with Celestia's help, the jab didn't feel as painful as it used to. Afterall, he could no more judge himself on his inability to fly, right?
Leaning down and nuzzling her shoulder with his cheek, Faroth continued, "I'm sure it's fascinating. Especially being so different from how things are here. With so many new little ones around, they should know Laisidhiel inside and out...but there's always more beyond our own home. If nothing else, they should learn something about where their parents came from." Selecting a scone for himself and settling back, he added, "Though it's a shame I can't see it for myself, the next best thing will be hearing all about it from you."
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 11:17 am
Celestia nearly shivered at the jolt his soft nuzzling sent through her body, a feeling she still wasn't entirely used to, but had learned not to reject further. After all, such a feeling had led to... well...
If she thought of such things surely she would break out into a blush!
Glancing away and towards the parchment delicately decorated with script before her, she hoped that he might be oblivious to the warmth that persisted, or, if not, play it off without comment. "You flatter me so!" she jested as she moved it so he might better see it, regardless if he could read it. "In the beginning..." she started, her voice trailing off as a sharp thud and crack came from elsewhere in the room. "Oh great spirits!"Now clearly enlarged and visible from the other side of the room, the small pearl was glowing brightly and covered in fine cracks. Somehow it had fallen from its higher position and the impact had helped it to break its surface.
At the sound of Celestia's concerned voice, the pearl responded with a wiggle and the widening of one of it's cracks, the process happening in an instant with a sharp jolt. Then another sprouted from that, and another.
And another.
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 9:58 pm
Faroth didn't misinterpret the Princess' sudden tension for rejection. Oh no, he'd learned to read her reactions as their relationship had developed further and he knew all too well the divergent path his gestures could lead thoughts down. Too easy.
It didn't make the game any less fun.
Hiding a mischievous grin, the dappled Faun mercifully refrained from further teasing and leaned back, allowing her to rest against his chest while he 'read' over her shoulder. He was just settling in for a tranquil afternoon when the sharp crack shattered the peace. His ears swiveled forward in alarm in search of the source of the noise. He realized only belatedly that he'd tightened his previously-relaxed grip on her shoulder, trying to draw her closer, until he realized the sound had come from the odd object's fall and loosened his hold with a muttered apology.
Wait a moment...what was that?
Exchanging a look with Celestia, he turned back towards the object, keeping his eyes on it. "...'Tia? What...is that? I thought it was some sort of decoration." Frowning, he continued to watch it, unsure if he should be concerned just yet, though... "It's...glowing."
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 9:21 am
"I-it was just that; a decorative gift from a friend." the princess said in an exasperated tone after making eye contact with Faroth. Now, she hadn't told him a thing about how she'd come to receive it from Portia, nor had she slipped up even the slightest about why she'd been gone for extended periods of time not once, as she had been with her family, but twice. If there was one thing that Celestia was particularly good at, it was not telling somepony more than they needed to know.
She moved a bit out of Faroth's grip, a little closer, before jerking back as the thing split in two.  As the pearl finally spit in two, a small, fishlike creature peered its head from within it. Its wide eyes took in the peculiar situation, the comfortable alcove and very confused pair of eyes that stared back at it. Falling to its side, it seemed to flop a little bit before its full form was revealed: similar to a naiad in the water, but with thin, translucent wings on its back. The princess's appearance did little to hide her amazement and confusion as the infant emerged from the pearl, something she had never, absolutely never, hear of occurring. Eggs were one thing, that she could understand. Even acorns made sense after speaking with Rais when they had first come to the Great Tree.
But a pearl?!
From Portia's pond?!
Oh no. No no no. What should she do? What would Rais say? What would Faroth say? Looking to him, she quietly perused. "Faroth..."
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 8:18 am
If Faroth had caught any of the defensiveness in Celestia's tone, it was dismissed by his curiosity surrounding the object. He held up a hand to catch Celestia as she jerked backwards, though his eyes remained on the cracking sphere. He eased up from the reclining position and rose to his hooves, crossing towards the object.
It was...a child. A baby, more like. At least, that's what it seemed to be. And...fins? A tail? Well, Faun came from acorns, so perhaps this pearl...was some kind of egg? Was this a baby Naiad? He had no idea what they looked like when they were born; he'd only really ever met a couple of adults in person at most.
He'd neared the tot, which had at this point wriggled mostly free of the pearl shell. Keeping his voice low and steady so as not to alarm it, he couldn't hide the wonder in his tone. "It...looks like a baby Naiad. I think. Never seen one before." Not that the ones he'd met had antennae like that, or the extra fins, but...hey, his girlfriend had wings and a horn...it wasn't so far-fetched to think that there might be different features for Naiad as well.
Bending over to view the creature at eye level, he held out a hand, then 'waved' at the tot with a finger. "Hey there." Smiling gently, despite the strange situation, he continued speaking, "...just what are you, little guy?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 8:43 pm
A naiad...? And a baby one at that? For how much the princess had desired a child of her own, it was only in this instant that she realized it was on the condition she had time to prepare for such a thing. To have it happen all at once, so suddenly... It really was rather sudden.
That said, it still warmed her heart, brought a smile to her face.
Moving closer, her shoulder bumping lightly against Faroth's, she almost cooed at the young child. "Isn't he precious...?" A pause as she lifted her hand up to wave. Before the young boy could open his mouth to cry, he was completely enraptured by the two moving giants in front of him. They looked so strange... Back and forth the grey one's finger moved. The boy reached out for it in vain.
"Whatever shall we call him?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 9:26 pm
Having at least some experience with little ones, Faroth chuckled and moved his hand closer so that the tot could latch on, as he was sure to do. Seemed to be a baby thing, clinging to whatever got within reach. But, if it kept them calm and happy, that was an easy enough solution. He didn't rush to pick the boy up just yet, letting him acclimate to his surroundings and these two new strangers in front of him.
Instead, Faroth continued speaking in a low, calm voice to Celestia, though he was feeling less and less 'calm' himself as the situation became more and more real. A baby Naiad? Even if the Earth and Water were allied, what exactly were they suggesting they do about the boy? If Celestia was wanting to name him...did that mean she was suggesting they keep him? It wasn't as if he hadn't had to address the surprise of children before, however...the situation had been far different then. And the children had at least been Faun. A baby Naiad?
Could they even care for one here in the Tree? And if not...
Yet, staring at the child, wide-eyed and reaching for his hand, Faroth found it hard to entertain any possible alternative.
Forehead creased in thought, Faroth finally offered, "I'm not sure a Faun name would be appropriate...but, I have no idea what sorts of Naiad names are common. Any ideas, 'Tia?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 10:10 pm
Perhaps the princess was able to calmly accept everything happening before her because it didn't really feel as though it were actually happening, but rather as thought it were a dream. Quite the realistic dream, but a dream nonetheless. Or perhaps it was because the faun beside her did not appear put off by the notion, the opportunity, presenting itself to them both.
She felt truly blessed in this moment.As the big, grey creature moved his finger to an accessible, the sprite was hardly hesitant to take it in his hand. It felt so funny, so different from what his self-awareness told him it was like. It was a little frightening, but also exciting.
The sprite giggled.
Looking a moment longer at the grey one, his eyes caught the movement of long, flowing hair, Flowing forever. Hair. Flowing. His grip loosened as he fixated on the changing colors and luscious appearance of it's movement, hardly paying attention to the white one before it all."I cannot say I have any better awareness for such things than yourself..." Celestia admitted, her brows furrowing oh-so-slightly. "Must it be a Naiad sort of name? Were he born in Equestria..." she paused, speaking softly as if to herself, "...perhaps I might call him Wellspring after Portia's pond and his birthplace...? Would such a name be proper here?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 12:30 pm
Faroth couldn't suppress a chuckle of his own as the tot took ahold of his finger. What was it that made the grip of a little one seem so strong? It wasn't more than a moment though before the toddler's attention shifted instead towards Celestia's hair. Well, he couldn't fault the boy on that one. Faroth may or may not have found himself fascinated by his love's locks more than once as well.
The boy seemed to be quite cheerful, bright-eyed and engaged by his surroundings. As previously stated, he seemed fairly aquatic, as Faroth would expect a Naiad child to be. Though, if the boy was a Naiad...how in the world would they care for him here, in Laisidhiel? They'd need a ready source of water, wouldn't they? And how much would be enough? Surely as the boy grew...
Well, it seemed the decision had been made to keep him and there was no going back now.
Though he had to strain to hear the last part, Faroth nodded in agreement with 'Tia's suggestion. "Doesn't have to be, no. I mean, even if he is a Naiad, being raised in Laisidhiel? I think he's got a mix of cultures already. I think Wellspring would be a fine name." He'd caught the muttered mention of the boy's birthplace being a pond. Though curious about this pond and who Portia was, he had to admit that detail supported the theory of the boy being Naiad in nature.
After a moment, he looked back at Celestia with a raised eyebrow and an expression of amusement. "So...heck of a 'gift' from a friend, dear."
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:30 pm
As she looked back to her love, Celestia's eyes seemed to sparkle at the approval of this name for the young one before them. Her smile softened as she moved to reach down and raise him, gently taking the boy's weight into her arms, higher and closer to them both. The more she looked, the greater the motherly warmth in her bosom. "Wellspring... Ah, little Wellspring it shall be then." she cooed, her hands reaching forward to softly stroke his cheek.
At the reciprocated giggle and yawn from the little one, she looked over at Faroth again, his gaze meeting her own, and a giggle escaping her lips at his humor. "Certainly. Stepping closer, turning as she did so such that they were side-by-side, she added, "Mayhaps next time I shall take greater care to return with but a rabbit or small mammal of sorts rather than a stone?" Her playful tone and gleaming smile all but betrayed the serious joke she'd meant to make.
Well, things were certainly going to be different from now on. So much they had yet to do! If he was a naiad as they assumed him to be, they'd need to fetch a large bucket of water right away. How much water would it need? How often would it need to be cleaned? There was just so much she didn't know.
But what she did know was that she was grateful to have her special somepony beside her right now, willing as she was to take this next step of their lives together with her.
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