![](http://cobalt-company.wdfiles.com/local--resized-images/writing:2025-09-19-language-of-love/style="margin:/medium.jpg) |
| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Celaven comes home to Felwood to find Velrin, Caspis and Nylarria have a gift for him. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Velrin is at home with Caspis and Nylarria. They're all sitting inside and waiting for Celaven to return. Velrin smiles and shifts restlessly while she holds a small wrapped package close to her chest.
The day is beginning to turn to twilight when the familiar soft footsteps sound outside the little hut in Felwood. Celaven pauses outside the door for a moment, and then enters, with a soft smile already on his face as he sees Caspis, Nylarria and Velrin.
"Good evening," Celaven says, nodding to his loved ones. "Felwood seems different today. More squirrels and birds, less lingering infernals… and there's something I can't quite put my finger on. How fare all of you?"
Caspis's eyes warm slightly as he stands to bow to Celaven in greeting - the closest he usually gets to a smile.
"I am well," he says in his deep, resonant voice.
"Ven!" Velrin hops up, sets down the package, and rushes over to wrap her arms around him. Her excitement at his arrival seems to speak for itself.
Nylarria remains seated but turns to face Ven as he enters, something she normally doesn't bother to do when someone enters a room.
Celaven's smile warms towards Caspis, and he catches Velrin in his arms. "I am glad to hear it. Things are going reasonably well with the 7th Legion — it is strange to spend so much time in Stormwind, after the long fight in Hyjal and then at the Wyrmrest Temple. But… Tyrrell and the others seem used to the patterns. I expect I will grow accustomed to the rhythm of the 7th with time."
"I'm just glad that you're home for now." Velrin says, staying glued to his arm.
"Some respite has been welcome," Caspis says. "We did our part, and all things have their seasons." He seats himself again, cross-legged on the floor, picking up the cup of tea he's been sipping at.
"I'm glad to be here as well," Celaven says with a nod, moving together with Velrin to take a seat in the circle. "This place grows ever more comfortable, thanks to the druids' work. The healing that is possible is truly remarkable. And yes… we have done our time with war for now, and I will cherish the time we have for peace. I am keeping up with the news of Pandaria, though. That may touch us sooner or later."
Velrin purses her lips, "Indeed… I heard that people's darkest thoughts take shape there…"
Nylarria scoots over to give Ven some room to sit.
"A very curious phenomenon, indeed," Celaven says. "I've never heard of such a thing — these 'sha' — and I have no idea what might be causing it. I suppose there are still mysteries left in the world."
Caspis frowns thoughtfully at his teacup, seeming disturbed by the idea.
"Yeah…" Velrin nuzzles her face into Ven's side, "I want to go visit sometime, but I'm afraid I'm going to just make everything worse."
"I think we would need to be very certain of our mental state, before any of us go there," Celaven nods, resting a hand on her shoulder. "I expect that's a problem with the possible military presence as well. Those who have seen combat are often not perfectly balanced in their emotions."
Velrin's ears droop at that.
Nylarria pipes up, "Why are we talking about Pandaria? I thought you were looking forward to giving that to Celaven." She says, possibly in reference to the present on the table.
"Oh?" Celaven asks, raising an eyebrow and glancing to the table. "Should I open it?"
Caspis's ears lift curiously.
"Yeah!" Velrin squeezes Ven's arm, "Caspis and I wanted to do something nice for you. I wanted to give it to you earlier but… you know… it's been kind of busy recently."
"I helped a little bit as well." Nylarria states matter-of-factly
Caspis continues to watch Celaven with a curious expression, eyes drifting from the present to the young man and back again. He doesn't seem impatient, but the rare sharpness of his focus indicates that Celaven's decision to open it or not is a matter of some suspense.
"All of you… for me?" Celaven's own ears rise in surprise. There's a moment of vulnerability in his expression, delight with a faint thread of fear. He rises and retrieves the present from the table, unwrapping it carefully.
Inside of the box is a charm made from a long stormcrow feather and a link of silver, star-shaped charms. It looks much like Velrin's own owl feather charm with its silver moon.
Velrin is clasping her hands in front of her chest anticipating Ven's reaction.
Caspis gazes at Celaven solemnly and steadily. There is something uncertain and vulnerable in the set of his ears, though.
Celaven examines the charm with wonder, brushing his fingers along the feather.
"This is beautiful," he breathes. "It reminds me of yours, Vel, and… stepfather, is this feather of you?"
Caspis lowers his gaze and nods, cheeks darkening slightly.
"Well… since you… since you lost your an'da, a-and it made you sad I…" Velrin mumbles bashfully, "I thought maybe you would want, um, want something to cheer you up and… and remind you of your family…"
"We no longer travel together the way we used to," Caspis says softly. "Our hearts have grown closer, while we must live farther apart. When Velrin mentioned the idea, I thought perhaps… this is a way I could stay with you, wherever you travel."
"Thank you," Celaven says, his voice soft, almost a whisper. His gaze is fixed on the charm, and his silver eyes glisten with tears. His voice grows a little stronger as he adds, "I will carry it with me always. A reminder that my father was wrong. That I am worthy of love, and that I am loved. That I have you, Nylarria, and my love Velrin, and my true father Caspis, the father of my heart, who still lives."
Caspis looks to Velrin, his ears still set a little shyly. "I am not skilled at thoughtful gestures," he says, "and I am grateful to Velrin for bringing this idea to me, so that we might show our love to you together. You are fortunate to have someone in your life who speaks the language of love so freely."
Velrin smiles seeing how touched Ven is by the gift and then goes over to braid it into his hair to match her charm, "I'm glad you like it, darling."
Celaven raises a hand to brush a tear from just below his eyes, holding still for Velrin.
"I do, and I am," Celaven says with a smile. He adds with a brief warm exhale like a laugh, "And Caspis, I am happy that you have my mother in your life as well, though I believe she is better at feeling than speaking. Velrin…” he turns to look at her, “…has been teaching me to ask for what I want, as well. I was taught as a child to swallow those words, to give and not take. But I love you. I love all three of you. And I want to remember that this is returned."
Caspis nods. "Like your mother, I am not good at expressing love in words. Or… gestures like this. But I am not too old to learn."
Caspis is very good at expressing love through cuddles, but he does not mention this.
Nylarria’s ever-tense posture relaxes and traces of a smile play on her lips at Ven’s words.
Velrin blushes and hugs Ven tightly once she finishes putting on Ven’s new charm, “I love you too. And now we match.”
Celaven smiles, curling one arm around Velrin and raising the other to touch the charm. He might be good at cuddles too. Maybe they can all demonstrate in a group hug? But for now… "We match. Thank you. If I ever do go to Pandaria, may this keep the shadows at bay." He pauses, then looks to Nylarria and asks, "What part of the charm did you work on?"
“I made sure to fasten the feather securely without damaging it.” Nylarria answers. She scoots closer and places a hand on Velrin’s back, “I’m used to improvising garments from found materials.”
"It is very well crafted," Caspis agrees. "You should be able to wear it for a long while."
"And then… the charm was designed by you, Vel, after yours?" Celaven asks her. "Something from each of you. I will wear it with pride."
Velrin blushes and nods then kisses Ven on the cheek.
"I feel I should have brought something in return, but I didn't realize…" Celaven says, smiling. "I will, in the future."
“You’ve already given us all so much. We just wanted you to know how much we all love you.” Velrin rests her head on Ven’s shoulder and smiles at Caspis now, “Now you get to have your an’da with you wherever you go.”
Caspis nods solemnly. "We are all with you," he says. "Always."
Celaven pulls Velrin closer and reaches out his other hand for Caspis, with a gentle glance to Nylarria to indicate her invitation to hug.
"Sometimes I do miss the days when we were all deployed together in Hyjal," Celaven says quietly. "Yes, it was war, but to know that the ones I love are so close by. My unit in the 7th Legion is important to me now, too, but I… I miss you all, when I'm not here. It has been… hard to make sense of my own feelings, after Dawnshadow's death. I hadn't even spoken to him in years, but there's still… the loss of what could have been, maybe? Or maybe it is just knowing that closure is not a thing I'll ever have, except in dreams and nightmares. I think… when I am with the family I have chosen, it is easier to let those things go."
Caspis moves to sit by Celaven, reaching a long arm around to encompass both him and Velrin. Cuddle efficiency.
Velrin snuggles into the cuddle blob. Nylarria hesitates but takes a step closer to place a hand on Ven’s shoulder.
Celaven closes his eyes for a long moment, content in the embrace of people he loves.