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Cardan remembers days in which the setting sun, the signal to a new day in Elfhame, was a curse. There had been days where he could only stare at the ceiling, unable to face whatever pitfalls—Balekin, Locke, anyone—twilight had in store. Days where he was too ashamed to open his eyes, knowing he wasn’t sure if there was anyone in his bed. Days where the pain in his back and in his heart felt too heavy to withstand.
Many days now, though, those evenings seem like a distant memory. The golden hour is no longer his enemy, he finds.
Of course, the sun is not the only aspect of his life no longer bearing that title.
Jude Duarte, his wife, sleeps peacefully in the space next to him. The many miracles within one sentence still amaze Cardan. He worries for her, always, but the simple fact that she feels safe enough these days to sleep heavily fills his heart. She deserves that peace, even if she tries to convince herself otherwise.
He is happier these days and supposes he must take some convincing, too. When he looks at her, though, he can’t help but want, need to be the husband she deserves. It didn’t take him long to realize that he would do anything to put a smile on her face. Those are some of his favorite moments: them smiling at each other in love and quiet amazement.
In the fading light of day, he smiles, looking at the room they share. The room that has pieces of them both now. An upturned book here marks his getting distracted, lost in her arms. The half-written letter is reminiscent of a time in which he could convince her to rest with him, even for a while.
“What could you be contemplating at this hour?” Jude’s voice breaks him out of his reverie. He looks at her, brown hair sprawled over the pillow. Beautiful, she’s always so beautiful it makes him pause.
“Would it be terribly romantic if I said I was thinking of you? Us?” He responds, laying down on his stomach to face her. She squints at him, thinking.
“Only if it was the truth.” She says, playfully apprehensive.
“Well, you’re in luck,” he says, leaning forward and kissing her softly. “Because it would be the truth.”
She gives a soft laugh, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. He looks at her, remembering what he has been thinking about these days. He finds he is nervous, suddenly. Jude (because she notices, of course) takes his hand, weaving her fingers through his. She doesn’t push him, though, she never does.
“Today is our one-year anniversary of marriage.” He says, breathless and looking at their fingers. “It was…turbulent in the beginning, so there is no burden of remembrance I assure you.”
He turns and reaches into his bedside drawer, fingers folding over a ring box. He brings it forward and finds two hands suddenly covering his own. It is only then he finally looks at Jude, afraid of finding her embarrassed by his sentimentality.
She seems to be anything but. In fact, he finds her eyes shining.
“You remembered,” She whispers, sitting up now. “Of course, you remembered.”
“I did have the clarity to mark it down.” He relays sheepishly, not wanting to shatter the moment. “I know how meaningful the ring I returned to you that night is, and I would never assume to replace it. However,” he pauses. “I would be honored if you might add this one to your collection.” He opened the box, revealing a silver ring. It resembled a circle of woven vines, studded with diamonds around the leaves.
“I requested it made in the style of what Vivienne called ‘eternity rings.’ I wanted to convey that my love is both ever-growing and everlasting. For this reason, it resembles the vines of a flower. You do not have to wear it at all, I suppose, but I wanted to explain my meaning fully and without question. I wish for there no to be no doubt about who you are to me.” He feels he is rambling, but he is unsure if he’s said enough. How could he ever say enough? There’s a silence and Cardan smiles nervously. Softly and with a hint of self-loathing, he asks: “Do you like it?”.
Jude stares at him for a minute, a look of awed disbelief on her face. Then, she leans forward and kisses him softly. It’s all Cardan can do to not drop the ring box and hold her before she pulls back.
“I love it.” She says with a smile meant just for him, saying a thousand words with that alone.
Cardan smiles in relief, taking the ring out with a gentleness that suggest reverence. As he places the ring on her finger, he is reverent. He could think of no better word for what he felt than one that spoke of adoration. With the ring on her finger, now adjacent to the ruby ring, she takes his lips with her own.
He is all too happy to oblige her. When he rests his forehead against her in the interim, he whispers, “I love you.”
“I love you. Dearly.” She says, breathless and looking in his eyes. He cannot believe he ever thought he might ever love anyone else. His heart feels as though it can carry him. She looks at the ring a moment and he does not think his eyes will ever be able to leave her. But when she looks him again, there is a new shyness.
“I actually, uh, got you something, too.” She says, pulling the cover back and getting out the bed. She is still holding onto the habit of wearing his larger blouses to bed. It is only slightly intoxicating.
“You remembered?” He asks, head spinning a bit. Light shines in her eyes as she stops and looks at him.
“I couldn’t forget that day even if I tried.” She says and memories flash behind her eyes. The memories of the days in which he had been here, and she had been there. But it, like all things, passes. She goes to her mortal knapsack and unearths two books. He is not sure he is breathing.
She comes back to the bed, sitting and resting on her heels. She hands him two books, one with seemingly an old mortal weapon and one with elegant script engraved with the letters “E&D”. He runs his hand lightly over the inlays.
“I was in the mortal world, looking for something you might like and Vivi took me to this very large bookstore.” Jude laughs a bit, remembering. Then, she pauses, embarrassed.
“They’re silly…a mortal inclination.” She says, covering her face with both hands. Cardan sets the books down, gently. Then, with the same gentleness, he lowers her hands from her face. He takes them in his own.
“Tell me about them. Please?” He is unable to keep the awe from his voice. She looks at him and takes a breath. She’s steeling herself, treating the embarrassment almost as a foe she must overcome.
“I saw these and I remembered reading them when I was around 15 years old. I think Vivi had brought them back from some outing or something. Even then, there were two characters that were…reminiscent of you.” She says as he quirks an eyebrow. She points to the copy that is a darker shade of blue.
“His story starts before he finds a purpose, having been in darkness. While he finds it, it still ends rather sad yet hopeful.” She points to the lighter book, just as passionate. “She finds a different him in this book rather aloof and cold at the beginning but is able to uncover the true man worth loving.”
“And you think that I would enjoy them?” He asks, a smile overtaking his face. She nods and smiles, too.
“Very much so,” She thinks. “And, if you’d like, we can discuss it whenever you’d like.”
“I’m afraid you will not be able to stop me from doing so.” He remarks, taking her hands in his. “I adore them, Jude. Thank you.”
“I’m sorry it’s not some big thing, I just—” She pauses. “I wanted to give something you were passionate about, something you didn’t always get to indulge in.” Now it is his turn to kiss her, smiling against her lips.
“Your soul knows mine, Jude. This is further proof. I will start them now.” He lays down on the bed, picking up the darker shaded one. Jude smiles at him, shaking her head and laughing softly. She lays down on his chest as he opens the pages, preparing to read aloud to her. He stops before, though.
“Happy anniversary, darling. I am the luckiest alive and madly in love with you.” He says as she looks up at him. She smiles, resting again on his chest. The ring glints off her hand as she traces small shapes into his skin.
“Happy anniversary, Cardan. I am so happy I love you.” She says, ever so softly.
In all of Faerie, a more enamored couple could not have been found. Stars know they deserved it.