The Great Hall quieted when the doors opened. Everyone turned to stare as Evåinic walked into the room. His armor was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he wore slight baggy pants and a robe that fully exposed his healed, tanned chest. His arm wrapped itself around Sabele's petite waist, keeping her snuggled into his side as they entered.

She wore a dark blue dress that covered every inch of her and kept her snuggly warm should any stray breeze attempt to chill her. It pooled around her ankles, occasionally giving a peek at her bare feet.

Handmaidens stopped to stare at her, jealous of her beauty, a green tint covering their irises. They weren’t the first they’ve done this too.

Other gods found themselves staring too long and received a deadly glare from Ev, a clear warning sign to stay far from the soldier’s absolute pride and joy.

He pulled her up to where a small round table stood. His mother was seated there along with Venés and his stepfather, Aleanga. Sitting down, he pulled her onto his lap, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Sabele is staying with us now?!" Venés squealed in delight causing a few to laugh but most stayed quiet, intently listening and watching their every move.

"Yes! Another girl to go shopping with!" Fliana clapped in utter excitement, a flash of lightning cutting across the sky.

"Why are they staring at me?" Sabele shifted uncomfortably in Evåinic's lap, her voice low enough for only the two of them to hear.

"Because I've never brought a girl here with me and nobody's ever sat on my lap before. They're just shocked. Plus, you're a priestess few have seen." He rubbed her arm hoping to loosen some of her tense muscles.

"Famous for being the youngest and quickest to gain multiple gods affections, I might add," Aleanga leaned over to whisper in her ear, earning a playful slap to the shoulder from his wife, as if she understood what he was hinting towards.

"Everybody stop staring at her. I don't see the problem here. Is she not allowed to sit wherever she pleases?" Agous loud voice boomed through the hall, catching everyone's attention. After a moment of silence, people went back to what they had been doing and the livelihood in the room returned.

Handmaidens tried to get her to move from Ev's lap so they could play with her hair but he shooed them off and they went to other goddesses to entertain.

"I didn't realize I'd be such a fuss." Sabele relaxed into Evåinic, watching the happy chaos before her.

"You're not a fuss, dear. Minor gods act more like children half the time. How have you been? You haven't summoned me in many years." Agous stood behind them in silken robes. His brown hair hadn't changed since the last time she had seen him and his eyes were still a bright and fierce gold.

"I'm doing good. I haven't been asked to summon you. Your advice on curses was a great help to me over the years though." Sabele bowed her head from where she sat. She doubted Evåinic would have let her up, to begin with to bow properly.

"I'm glad to hear that. You are no longer a priestess dear, you don't have to bow. You are family now," he ruffled her hair before turning back to his seat. Fliana scooched onto his lap and he played with her hair as they whispered to each other. Like a couple first in love or newlyweds.

"See? You aren't a fuss," Ev brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. "Now eat. I'm determined to fatten you up some more," he pushed a tray of fruits towards her and she greedily dug in, occasionally feeding him some as well.

"Hey, Ev?"

"Hmmm?"

"I want to tell you something important," she set down the small fruit and turned to look him in the eye.

"I'm all ears, babe." His gaze had been wandering around the room, watching everything that was going on but now he focused solely on her.

"When I closed my eyes, for many years I could only see my nightmares or just utter darkness," Sabele leaned her head on his shoulder to whisper the next piece in his ear.

"I'm sorry," and he was. Evåinic could only do so much for her but to Sabele he had done so much that she could never repay.

"But, thanks to you, I finally know what it really means to dream."