Chapter Text
Vax’ildan awoke early, before dawn, wanting to get back to the castle before he was found missing. Gilmore rose with him, helping Vax get dressed and kissing him goodbye. He was so gentle now his anxiety had been calmed by their group bonding exercise. Vax’ildan kept returning for hugs and kisses, but finally went out the door on his own to walk back up the hill to the castle.
As Gilmore was already awake, he took the opportunity to finish the enchantment on Jarett’s ring. By the time he finished, the sun was just coming up, and everyone else seemed to still be asleep. Gilmore walked down to the kitchen and started to make breakfast out of the leftovers from yesterday.
It wasn’t long before two dark-haired heads appeared around the corner and Lockheed darted to the counter where Gilmore had put aside a plate of meat scraps for it. “How do the two of you feel about breakfast?” Gilmore asked the boys.
“We like it,” Hunin said, coming over to see if he could lend a hand with the cooking.
“Can you do bangers and mash?” Kyor asked, taking a seat at the table.
“I’m afraid we’re out of potatoes for mash, my love,” Gilmore told him apologetically. “Unless you boys want to run down to market? I’m sure they have plenty for sale there.”
Kyor looked at Hunin, uncertain. “How bad do you want them?” Hunin asked his brother.
“Not that bad,” Kyor said, ducking down, shyly. He took a slice of bread and smeared jam onto it.
“Alright, then,” Gilmore said. “Leftovers it is.”
The boys were just finishing off the last of them when there was a knock at the door. Kyor looked at Gilmore, frightened. “Don’t worry,” Gilmore told him. “That’s likely just Kima and Allura. They’re friends.” He went to the door to let them in.
“Well, don’t you both look lovely this morning?” Gilmore smiled, stepping aside so they could come in. Allura was dressed in a glittering powder blue robe that made her look even more ethereal than usual, while Kima was in full armor, her broadsword gleaming across her back. Both of them looked refreshed in a way that told Gilmore what they had been up to last night.
“Oh!” Allura pointed in surprise as Kyor peeped around the corner at them, Lockheed on his shoulder. “Now who’s this?”
“Arcanist Allura Vysoren, may I introduce Kyor, my godson.” Kyor waved shyly and stepped out of hiding. Hunin wasn’t far behind, standing protectively behind his little brother. “And Hunin, may I introduce my dear friends Allura and Lady Kima of Vord.”
Hunin offered a proper bow, though both boys were still in their nightshirts, not exactly ready for company. “Pleased to meet you,” Allura said with a kind smile.
“What’s up?” Kima greeted them, before turning to Gilmore. “Maybe your godsons want to wear pants when they meet strange women?”
Gilmore laughed, but the boys both disappeared to their room to get dressed. By the time they’d returned, Gilmore had made tea and was serving the ladies in the drawing room. They enjoyed some light--if awkward--conversation for a time. The boys didn’t seem to have a lot of social skills, which was good to know.
By the time Jarett came down to join them, freshly showered, from the look and smell of him, the boys had a standing invitation to Allura’s house, and were more than ready to go do something active. When Jarett came in to pay his respects to their guests and kiss Gilmore good morning, letting everyone know they were a couple in no uncertain terms, Gilmore asked if Jarett would take the boys with him to the barracks.
“Perhaps they’d like to meet Kynan,” Gilmore said. Jarett made a face that showed he felt Kynan was not the best companion for Kyor and Hunin. “Either way, I’m sure they’d love some fresh air,” Gilmore said. The boys nodded eagerly.
“Fine,” Jarett said, looking more put out than he was.
“Ah, and one more thing.” Gilmore rose to take Jarett aside. “Hold out your hand, my champion,” he told Jarett in Marquesian. Jarett obeyed, and Gilmore gently held his hand while he slipped the ring back onto Jarett’s ring finger. “This will let us speak if we get separated today.”
“I pray that will not be necessary,” Jarett said, putting his arm around Gilmore’s waist, his eyes burning with passion.
“Not now, my love,” Gilmore told him, smiling. “We have guests.” Jarett kissed him anyway, though likely not as long as he wanted to.
“Be careful at the barracks,” Gilmore turned to tell the boys in Common. “We can talk about weapons training for you later, if you’re interested.”
“Weapons!” Kyor shouted, both fists in the air.
Hunin, with the most serious of expressions, reached out and poked his brother in the stomach.
“Hey!” This started a slap fight, and Gilmore was more than happy to shove both of them at Jarett, ushering them toward the door.
“Soldiers without discipline will get no weapons,” Jarett told them firmly. That seemed to get them in line.
“I’ll find you soon,” Gilmore promised, waving as they went out the front door. Lockheed had been nesting in Kyor’s hair, but it chose to fly back inside and sit on Gilmore’s shoulder rather than go out into the cold.
“They’re very sweet,” Allura said with a smile.
“Oh no,” Kima said. “You’ve set off her baby timer. Thanks a lot, goldie.”
Gilmore laughed. “Feel free to entertain them any time, if it helps work those feelings out.”
“I’ll make sure they have whatever they need while you’re away,” Allura promised.
“Thank you, my dear. That does make me feel better.” After that, he excused himself to get ready for the journey to Emon.
“Don’t be late,” Kima told him, as they took their leave. “You know Vox Machina will leave without you.”
“I have little doubt,” Gilmore smiled.
*
It was not yet noon when Gilmore made his way toward the barracks to collect Jarett and the boys. But before he’d even gotten that far, he noticed a large crowd gathered around the training yard, including Vex’ahlia and Keyleth, which did not bode well.
There were advantages to being tall, however. Gilmore walked up to the observers and peered through to see Vax’ildan taking his frustrations out on that awful Kashaw--or was it the reverse? Both men were hacking at each other in earnest, and it made Gilmore wonder just how this sparring match had started.
“They both professed their love, and now they’re fighting!” Vex’ahlia was telling Keyleth. Gilmore hoped to gods she was joking, or he was going to leave right now.
“The pretty lady is trying to stab the cleric!” he heard Kyor’s voice, and looked down to find both boys picking their way through the crowd toward him.
“I told you, that’s not the lady, that’s her brother, dummy,” Hunin told his brother.
“Shut up!” Kyor pouted at him. “They look the same, anyway.” Gilmore put an arm around each of them, shushing the boys so that he could concentrate on the battle.
Both Kashaw and Vax’ildan looked far too serious about this sparring match, and were about to take it further when two blasts of bright green magic made craters at either of their feet, and Zahra stepped forward to put a stop to their practice.
“We’re just playing,” Kashaw said to her.
“Alright, boys. Enough. I appreciate it,” she told them.
“Alright, we’ll play slap and tickle later,” Vax replied, impishly, as he backed off. Gilmore tried to cover the boys’ ears, but he found he sadly did not have enough hands for the job. This seemed like as good a time as any to take them to the castle to introduce them to Cassie and Salda’s brood.
Gren, Illiya, and Odessa were beside themselves at meeting two new young people--their social circle was so limited both by their station and the fact they rarely left the castle. Gilmore could tell Hunin and Kyor both felt the imperial children were just babies compared to them, and not worthy playmates, but they were polite to the younger children, and humoured them.
“I’m told you’re going to be part of the siege,” Salda said, pulling Gilmore aside while the children got to know one another.
Gilmore offered a pained smile. “I’m not certain ‘siege’ is the right word, but I will be accompanying Vox Machina to Thordak’s lair.”
“Even worse,” she said, gripping his arm. “Please return safely,” she said. “I can’t bear to see you again the way the dragon left you last time.”
“I’ll do my best,” Gilmore promised, hugging her. After promising the boys would come visit the children tomorrow, Gilmore took Hunin and Kyor to meet Cassandra.
As always, she was in the midst of several tasks at once. “Oh!” she said, looking up when she saw two persons she had never seen before enter the room. “Who are these newcomers to Whitestone, Lord Gilmore?”
Gilmore turned to look at them, as Kyor had immediately jumped behind Gilmore to hide, and Hunin was casually lurking behind his little brother, not hiding per se, but not making himself visible, either. “Sherri, I’ve meant to introduce you, as well. Hunin and Kyor will be living with us for the foreseeable future.”
Sherri pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and peered curiously at the boys. “Hunin, Kyor, this is the Lady de Rolo of Whitestone, and this is my apprentice, Sherri.”
“Good day, ladies,” Hunin said, offering a stiff bow. Kyor gave a quiet squeak of anxiety and hid further behind Gilmore.
Cassandra smiled politely at both of them. “Please, call me Cassie.” She craned her neck, trying to get a better look at Kyor. “It’s alright. I won’t hurt you.”
“Promise?” Kyor asked, peering out from behind Gilmore with big doe eyes.
“Cute boys,” Sherri said. “Where’d you find them?” Her keen eye landed on Gilmore, suspicious.
“We can discuss all of that later,” Gilmore said smoothly. “For now, just know they’ll be staying with us, and I’ve asked Allura and Salda to look in on them while I’m in Emon.”
“Okay,” Sherri said, looking no less suspicious.
“Of course, they’re welcome to come visit the castle any time they like,” Cassandra said, looking very charmed by both boys.
“Is she the one Kynan’s in love with?” Kyor asked innocently, looking at Hunin.
“Oh no, she’s much too good for him,” Hunin replied, and Gilmore had to hide a smile. Manipulative little demons.
“I agree,” Kyor said.
“Kynan?” Sherri scowled.
“Well. It was so nice meeting both of you,” Cassandra said, looking very flustered.
“I’m glad we met you,” Kyor said, walking over to take her hand.
“A real pleasure,” Hunin said, taking Cassandra’s other hand. They leaned forward in tandem to kiss her on either cheek, leaving her sputtering and blushing. Then both boys walked back to Gilmore, looking smug.
“Until later,” Gilmore said. “Try not to work too hard, my dears.” He took both boys and hauled them from the room before Sherri could object.
“You are both devious and perhaps awful children,” he told the boys, amused, as they walked away.
“Kynan’s not going to win,” Kyor announced. “We always get what we want.”
“Please don’t terrorize the princess,” Gilmore begged them.
“It’s a matter of pride,” Hunin said. “Besides, we know she’s already spoken for.”
“Oh good,” Gilmore said, dabbing his brow with a handkerchief.
“But we’re still going to make her pay attention to us instead of him,” Kyor announced with a wicked giggle.
“You frighten me,” Gilmore said.
“Our bloodline gives us a very high charisma,” Hunin said, as if that explained everything.
“Please behave yourselves while I’m away,” Gilmore begged.
“Don’t worry, uncle,” Hunin told him. “Just come back alive. That’s the most important part.”
“Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?” Kyor said, looking up at Gilmore with the same devastating doe eyes.
“I shall endeavor to do my best,” Gilmore said.