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SOOTHE

“ C as?” She looked up at him, eyes full of tears.

“Emryn.” He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close. “What happened? Why are you crying?”

“I don’t know if I can give you an heir, Cas.” She looked up at him again, blinking and making the tears run over her cheeks. “I’m too thin, and I don’t know if a baby would survive the fire in me.”

He smiled, laying his head on top of hers. “I have cousins, Emryn. If need be, one of their children can take the throne when we are gone. But you are too thin, and I think we should remedy that.”

“But-”

“We aren’t going to worry about that right now, Emryn.” He kissed her forehead. “We are going to take Brutus and go for a walk in the gardens. I’ll show you the fireflies, and then we can have a snack and cuddle in bed.”

“Alright.” He could feel the guilt and relief leaking off her in waves. “How is Brutus?”

“He took a nap and now he’s energetic again.” Cas took her hand and led her back down the hall. “I got him a beef bone from the kitchen and let him into the garden. He’s quite pleased with his lot in life.”

Cas took her out into the garden, over to Shana, who had volunteered to watch over Brutus while he fetched Emryn. He needed to give Shana another rise in pay. She truly had been a blessing these last days.

Cas watched as Emryn broke away from him and went over to Brutus, stopping to thank Shana for her help.

“It’s no hardship to watch him,” Shana said with a willing smile. “I will go and prepare your rooms, Highness. Is there anything else you need?”

“Would you see to it that she has a snack before bed?” Cas asked. “She has been pronounced too thin and needs help to put weight on.”

“I know just the thing,” Shana said, curtsying to Cas and Emryn. “I’ll have it prepared and ready for you.”

“Thank you, Shana.” Cas smiled at Emryn as Shana left. “Shall we go for our walk? The meadow fireflies will be out soon.”

He got Brutus’ leash out of his pocket and attached it to the pup’s collar. “Show Emryn how nicely you can walk with us, young man.”

They meandered through the garden, stopping every few feet for Brutus to sniff one thing or another.

Emryn was relaxing, her hand held tight in his. They didn’t really talk beyond Emryn asking him what the flowers were called, before she stopped and did a little sniffing of her own.

“That one smells wonderful.” She pointed to the honeysuckle climbing one of the bowers.

“I’ll tell the gardeners, and we’ll have some planted outside your rooms.” Cas said, making a mental note. “They attract bees, but they do smell sweet.”

“We’ll have to train Brutus to leave the bees alone.” Emryn bent to pet their puppy. “I don’t want him to get stung.”

“Experience is the best teacher,” Cas said. “He either loves or despises birds, and I don’t think he’s quite clear on it either.”

Emryn giggled, the sound light and bell-like. “Brutus, don’t chase the birds, you silly boy.”

Brutus looked up at the sound of his name, and Cas watched him realize Emryn was there again. The puppy ran over to her and popped up on his hind legs, pawing at her skirts.

“Hello, yes hello.” Emryn went to her knees, and Brutus climbed into her lap. “You’re a lovely large boy, yes.”

Brutus rolled over in Emryn’s lap, exposing his belly and waving his front paws in the air. Emryn just laughed, rubbing his chest until Brutus saw a bird.

The crane was standing in the creek and before either of them could get hold of his leash, Brutus dashed off after the crane. The bird was three times his height and didn’t seem bothered in the least by the galloping approach of the puppy.

And that was when Brutus hit the water.

The crane flapped off, still utterly unconcerned, leaving Brutus wet and confused as his bird friend flapped off into the sunset.

Emryn laughed, bent forward at the waist as Brutus climbed up onto the bank. Looking as dejected as it was possible for one puppy to look.

“Oh Brutus,” Cas walked over and picked up the soaking wet leash. “My lad, let’s get you dried off and clean.”

They took Brutus back to Emryn’s rooms, and she went for a towel. They rubbed the wet off their puppy and Emryn got a brush that the kennel master had sent over to brush the tangles out of his fur.

Cas watched Emryn brush Brutus, watched the puppy roll all over the carpet to get away from the brush, and kept the laugh well hidden.

It was rather silly, though; the puppy trying to escape the inevitable, and Emryn making little exasperated sounds as she tried to get him to hold still.

But she won out in the end, and Brutus promptly fell asleep at the foot of the bed.

“I still want you to see the fireflies.” Cas said as Emryn went to put the brush away. “And since his lordship is asleep, now is the perfect time.”

She nodded, smiling at the sleeping ball of fluff that was Brutus. “Alright.”

He took her back out to the garden, back out past the honeysuckle to the meadows where the horses grazed on sweet grasses and clover. The sun was setting behind them and as the light faded out into blue, the little lights of the fireflies started flickering all around the meadow.

And Emryn was there with him. Hand clasped tight in his as the little lights started blinking on and off.

“They’re calling to each other,” he said quietly. “Calling over what must feel like a huge gulf for something so small.”

“I can understand that a little.” She lifted a hand and a tiny light popped into being, flickering on and off briefly before she looked up at him. “If I called out, would you answer?”

She blushed scarlet in the dim light and pulled away from him. “That was- forgive me, Highness, I-”

“I would.” He reached for her. “If you called for me, Emryn, I would answer.”