Ashton glanced over the woman, she was tall. Her cloak was lined with silver fur to match her thick dress. She looked as if she were readying to leave the castle. The sword sheath attached to her belt accentuated her curves. Those curves did nothing to hide her powerful physique. Ashton had no doubt, she would go down fighting, pregnant or not.
Beloved turned around waving, "I have some questions! I wanted to see! I will lay witness, to hearts testimony." Beloved chirped happily.
"Milady, she be… ah snake god's lassie." Sven explained as the lassie stepped through the ring of fire into his personal chambers. Sven stared as the ring closed… oh, there'd be hell ta pay when he got home. The thought made him smile. All good fights ended in bed.
Ashton blinked, then poked the smaller egg. Something pushed back.
Sven's attention was now on the pulsing eggs. "Oh, they be lively." His lady wife could take care of herself… at least against such a wee lassie.
Eir was both fascinated and unnerved as the eggs started to show movement. Was like no egg hatching he'd ever seen. Of course, he'd only seen chickens hatching.
Frigg tried not to worry for their lady, after the last miscarriage… blessings. The beasties promised blessings. After a few minutes a ring of fire popped up with the wee lassie's face.
"How old are you Nix?" Beloved asked curiously, she and Queen Elsha were sitting on a couch.
Ashton blinked, then started counting on his fingers, "Almost… as old as the sun?" He hadn't really thought about it… or counted.
Beloved nodded as the rift closed.
Sven peered past the lassie the second time the ring of fire appeared, his lady wife looked… mildly concerned.
"Big Snake! Big snake, how old are you?" Beloved asked with sparkling eyes.
Haven glanced up from his coil. Nix had taken to sewing again, a rather interesting pastime for a bird. "Older than the current Sun."
Beloved nodded seriously as she closed the rift.
Eir had an idea of what they were talking about. It would seem, the lassie truly did have questions.
Sven almost thought the lassie wouldn't return before the eggs hatched, but just as one of the eggs was starting to show a nose, she came skipping through a rift. Waving to his lady queen as she closed the rift.
Beloved ran over, pulling the male's arms down so she could see as the small nose retreated. "Oh, you can do it, you are so strong! Don't give up little snake, let the world hear your song." Beloved coaxed blowing on the small eggs.
Ashton stood on the snake tail for a higher vantage point. Soon, two little snake heads broke free from their eggs.
Sven stiffened up as the slimly little snakes left gooey trails as they freed themselves. No one said birth was a clean affair. Both snakes raised their heads, tongues tasting the air as they swiveled to look at the birds.
Ashton hopped closer, they were small, grey, scaly. Not his idea of pretty, but they were cute in their own way. He offered up two silver flames. The male struck at the flame, falling out of the human's arms. The female struck at him…
Beloved caught the male snake, wrapping itself around the small flame.
Ashton caught the female behind her head. Venom dripping from her open mouth, "Well that was not nice, that was a bit rude, trying to eat me as soon as you're loose." Ashton pouted turning the female snake to face the small flame as her body wrapped around his wrist.
Haven raised his head, crown feathers lifting at the challenge. All twelve birds carried his scent… to attack them was a challenge to him.
The female hissed, whipping her tail at Ashton's wrist as she tried to squirm free.
Beloved returned the male who was contentedly tearing chunks from the flame to swallow. Then she turned an unhappy frown on the female, placing her hands on her hips. "That was very mean, just because Nix is good, does not make him your treat." She tapped on the small female's head.
The small female was immediately subdued, going limp. Ashton returned the snake to the human along with the flame. Ashton pouted, "They are picking on me, don't see me as a threat… should I be offended… or happy about it?" Ashton asked with a sigh as he poked the female's still wilted tail. She curled up, facing away from him.
Haven shook out his feathers, "More like she knows you were the brooder. She's no doubt looking for an easy meal."
Eir stilled at that comment, then looked between the birds… so… the male was less dangerous than the female. That was typically the case… but something about how the snake god said it…
Sven was now… bonding with his wee basilisks. They weren't the bird snake hybrids he'd heard tell of. These looked… like small snakes. He did learn, that in about three months, anyone looking them directly in the eye could cause death. For now, they'd just be petrified.
Lassie Beloved. A strange name for a stranger bird, put something over their eyes so death or petrification would only happen intentionally. Sven and those he gave small scales to would also be immune to the basilisk venom and death eyes.
After twenty or so years, they would be able to spray their venom like cobras… not something he wanted to imagine. All interesting stuff… but the most interesting… or at least attention grabbing were the two birds hiding on his side of the elk king.
Sven glanced to see the snake god raise a brow but remain still. The two birds were crouched, peeking over his elk's back, only to duck back down.
"So, you asked your questions, did she give good advice? Any you like, were they concise?" Ashton asked in a lowered voice.
Beloved nodded, "Her advice was in general, my time I should take, but… I am inpatient to conquer my mate."
Sven almost choked on his own saliva. Then he glanced up at the giant snake… conquer… a god. That… was an option. Not the one he would personally go with, but an option.
Ashton nodded along, "What did she say?"
Beloved hesitated as her face flushed, "Well, we must be compatible, in and out of bed, but she was concerned… he… might be too big." Beloved whispered.
Sven actually started choking, turning away as he reached for his water flask.
Eir fell the air still as the snake god's entire demeanor went from lazy nonchalance, to being ready to strike.
Ashton and Beloved slowly peeked over the elk's saddle, then ducked back down. "He is… kind of big, but adjusting his size… he should be able to config…"
Beloved nodded seriously, pretending her ears weren't flushing. "I need to see, because to see, is to believe."
Sven knelt down as he thought his coughing fit was finished. Well, now he was coughing on water instead of just saliva. Beast gods above… surely the snake god could hear them.
Ashton nodded seriously. "We must trick him, we must be sly. How awkward a request, what if he denied?"
Frigg was holding his breath so he didn't burst out laughing. Were they going to try… looking at the snake gods… twig and berries? Surely not… his mind must be in dirtier than the stables.
Beloved sat down as she thought up a plan… she'd inspected his body as a snake… she hadn't seen his reproductive organ then… "Can birds mate with snakes?"
Ashton stared at her wide eyed, then shrugged, "I've… never tried. I do not know… but if any can, that's something to learn as a couple you grow."
Beloved nodded again, then bit her thumb nail, "I should seduce him, then he should show… the real question is how to tempt my big snake so?"
Sven was horrified at the idea… lassies should no be the one to pursue a mate. Tis the male who should be proven their worth. When he saw the snake god slithering toward them… he kept his opinion to himself. Aye, smart men ken when to stay silent.
Ashton pursed his lips, "I've never seduced, nor been seduced… to start with a god… the tried? The true?"
Beloved peeked over the saddle with a determined face. "The tried, the true."
Sven was wheezing he'd choked so hard. Beast gods above… never let it be said birds weren't bold. He'd never look at a bird the same…
Frigg watched as seven little black birds and the two bigger birds gathered in a circle to chirp seriously. "Tis the strangest day ah me life."
Eir was eyeing the female snake, still watching the large male bird. Surely… the smaller birds were more likely to become a meal than him?
Haven lay coiled just beneath the tree, waiting. Watching. A tried and true method of seduction? From two birds who had never done so? What surprises would the sun bring him today?
Beloved leapt over the elk, hands on her hips as she met her big snake's inquisitive eyes. (Carly Rae Jepsen, I really like you. Producers Peter Svensson & Jeff Halavacs)
I really wanna stop
But I just got a taste for it
Haven blinked as Beloved walked toward him, out of the corner of his eye he saw the seven little ones spread out while Nix fell through a rift. Soon enough Beloved was stepping over his coils to place her hands on his face. Were it anyone else, it may look… domineering.
It's way too soon, I know this isn't love~
But I need to tell you something.
Haven's eyes constricted as Beloved leaned in, dropping a light kiss on his nose.
I really really really really really really like you
And I want you. Do you want me? Do you want me too?
Haven blinked in surprise at the sudden declaration. He started changing to his half human state.
Oh, did I say to much?
Beloved fell through a rift as the coils shifted beneath her feet, I'm so in my head, when we're out of touch.
Haven felt something lean against his back, encouraging him to lean forward as Beloved looked up at him. Then, Nix was singing from behind him.
It's like everything you say is a sweet revelation.
All I wanna do is get into your head
Haven leaned until Beloved wrapped her arms around his neck, gently kissing his lips.
In this temptation,
Sipping on your lips, hanging on by a thread, birdie
Haven followed as she dragged him in a playful circle, his tail becoming a tangled mess all the while Nix stayed plastered to his back.
But how'd we get in this position?
It's way too soon, I know this isn't love~
But I need to tell you something
Haven felt the wind rush past as they fell through a rift. Beloved pulled him close, nuzzling his nose as she continued the song.
I really really really really really really like you
Haven nuzzled her back, creating a gust of wind to slow their fall.
And I want you. Do you want me? Do you want me too?
Haven let go as she pulled away, dancing on the air currents he created just for her. He followed after her. As Nix picked up the song again. Sitting on his tail while playing a guitar.
Who gave you eyes like that?
Said you could keep them?
Sebastian was squinting up at the sky. They were so far up it was hard to hear. As far as seduction goes… this was more a confession…
Haven didn't even blink as Nix leapt off him as they started to fall. Beloved reaching out her hands. Haven angled his body to reach for her.
I really really really really really really like you
Haven caught her to his chest while Nix fell just above them, still playing his guitar as if they weren't plummeting to the earth. Then again, who among them couldn't fly?
Oh, did I say too much? (did I say too much?)
As Haven and Beloved started to spiral, they were caught in a gust, carrying them in gentle currents. Beloved pulled away, but locked fingers with him. Haven followed her lead as they danced in the sky.
Just before they were about to hit the ground, Haven wrapped Beloved in the center of his coils.
Ashton created a gust of wind cushion their fall. Landing on the giant snake ball.
"Eh? Eh?" Ashton blinked as the ball continued to shift… then fell through a rift. Ashton leapt off to the side wide eyed… "Eh?"