With his health improving, the decision had been made to rejoin Ashen, his sisters pack. All of the women had been in agreement as to joining Ashen rather than trying to reforge Fenmyre once he made his case. There was no telling whether or not he would become ill again and he refused to leave them and their children unprotected. So, the group of wolves made their way north towards Ashen's new "old" lands. He'd sent Roc ahead to give word to Venom that they would be arriving on the morrow. Tonight though, they would rest.

With everyone settled, Chimera felt the need for a little one on one time with Aliana. The clouded fae had done everything in her power to heal him when he'd been sick and she'd done even more to help him regain his strength once they knew that he would live. He owed the woman. None had gone to the lengths that she had gone to. Her love and loyalty had been proven time and again and Chimera needed to do something to reciprocate. Something to show that he realized her depth of love and he felt it as well.

Together the healing giant, still underweight but improving by the way, and his beautiful clouded queen, still as gorgeous as the day she was bought for him, made their way to a secluded patch of the Fjord. With some luck, they came upon a rather level place among the trees rather than the usual steep drop into the water below. The sun above filtered down through the needles and it wasn't too bright, but they could still feel its warmth here and there. Chimera lay down on his side and wasted no time in pulling the small fae against his body, followed with a gentle kiss upon her brow. They would have their conversation, but first he simply wanted to hold her and enjoy their moment alone together.

"Chimera & Aliana"

Aliana had matured much during their time away from the world they knew, and though it had been less than a year, time had dragged on painfully slow when her days were filled with constant worry and care over her sick king. Once a quiet and subservient slave, Aliana had blossomed into a demure and composed lady, a sagacious and keen mother, and a confident and elegant woman. Acting on her mate and children's behalf, Ali had taken the reins when it came to raising the six children Chimera had sired with her, all whilst helping the other ladies provide for their family. At the forefront of all her efforts had been Chimera's health, and the small clouded fae had spared no expense to make sure her love received everything he needed to recover. She searched high and low for all manner of herbs, consulted with foreign doctors and healers, and even traded her aquamarine and silver crown to nomadic merchants for rare medicines in the hopes of improving Chi's health. She spent sleepless nights at his side listening to his breathing, days snuggled up to him to keep him warm, bringing him meals and making sure he stayed nourished. All of this she did without complaint or hesitation. Nothing mattered to her like he did, and she would have traded a thousand crowns to save him from death. Jewels could be replaced; Chimera could not.

After he began to recover and expressed interest in returning home, Aliana had made sure to procure plenty of the medicines that had worked for him for their trip. They arrived in Boreas at the midpoint of winter, the cold and snow welcoming them back and immediately worrying Ali. Chimera's health had improved leaps and bounds, but he still had not yet regained his normal healthy weight, and there was still no telling if his symptoms would resurface. Fortunately, the Klein man's health seemed to hold stable enough as they made their way towards Ashen's new home. Chimera wanted to rejoin the pack while they got back on their feet, a decision Ali agreed with wholeheartedly. But for tonight, the group would camp out in the fjord just south of Ashen. Ali helped get their family settled in, and once done Chimera sought her out for a moment alone. As she did, Aliana gave no protest or hesitation to follow her giant monochrome brute out away from their camp and through the pines of the fjord until they located an isolated clearing bathed in late afternoon sunlight. It was beautiful and tranquil, perfect for the wolves to share a quiet moment together.

Petite snowy paws carried the supple fae over the mossy terrain, following at her mate's side as he moved into the sunlight and settled down on his side. Ali watched Chimera for a moment, basking in the sweet relief of knowing he had lived and was healing—but that basking was swiftly cut short when a pair of large paws came up to pull her down into his side with her, pulling a giggle of laughter from the fae. She snuggled up into Chi's side, letting her nose nestle into the curve of his neck near his shoulder to breathe in his scent. He no longer smelled of sickness and medicines and death. He had his natural male musk back again, and smelled only of her Chimera. The small femme's tail began a slow, happy beat of a wag while she brought her paws up to rest over his forelegs wound around her side, so happy that he was still alive that she could almost cry. The kiss to her brow brought a happy purr from the woman who tipped her slender muzzle up to return the kiss to the underside of his jaw. "You're getting your strength back, I see," Ali teased him playfully with another giggle, snuggling closer into his embrace to emphasize her words.

"Chimera & Aliana"

Ali's lyrical voice caught the brutes ears and he chuckled low against her svelte frame. "I am feeling better, love." Strong forelegs wrapped around the clouded fae, pulling her in close and curling around her protectively. Chimera loved this little woman that had weaseled her way into his heart. He loved her so much that he had a question for her. A serious question, though it may seem somewhat silly, considering what they were to one another.

Chimera nuzzle into the woman in his arms, inhaling the pleasing scent of her clean coat. "I'm sorry that you're no longer a queen of your own realm," the man spoke softly against her neck, his paw stroking slowly down the length of her body. "If anything happens to me, you'll always be welcome in Ashen. Venom has said as much." Chimera continued to stroke her side, both for his comfort and hers. Aliana had worked hard to get him back to health, but neither of them knew if the illness would return or not.

"There are no titles that I could give you here that would be fitting." The man drew back enough so that he could look into the woman's cerulean gaze. The speckled pads of one big paw ran lightly over one pale cheek. "From queen to wife. Not a very fair trade, don't you think?" No matter her title, Aliana would always be his queen. The brute moved in to give the fae a loving nuzzle. "You will always be queen of my heart, Aliana Klein," he promised her softly.

"Chimera & Aliana"

Chimera’s confirmation that he was indeed feeling better always brought a relieved smile to Aliana’s delicate features. The clouded little fae had spent so many months worried sick over her mate’s condition that hearing he was feeling well felt like the greatest gift the gods could bestow—a peace of mind she hadn’t felt in a long time. As if to demonstrate how good he was feeling, the behemoth of a brute wrapped her up in his strong forelegs, his inescapable hold pulling her svelte body up close to his and drawing giddy giggles from the petite woman. Her aquamarine eyes slowly disappeared behind pale lids while she leaned into her love’s chiseled form, basking in his warmth and strength and presence with a content smile across her muzzle. This. This was all Aliana needed to be satisfied.

But Chimera, it seemed, had more on his mind than just enjoying a nice spring day and a clean bill of health. The dire brute apologized to her—an apology he didn’t need to make in her opinion—that she was no longer a queen. Ali was quick to shake her head in protest, soft murrs of delight purring in her throat as his giant paw roamed and stroked with comforting rhythm back and forth along her side, leaving lovely little tingles in its wake as his toes combed through her plush fur. His words stole a bit of her smile, not wanting to imagine a world where he wasn’t in it, but the practical side of herself knew it was better to plan and prepare for a possible future than to be lost at sea if his illness did return. "Hush, Chimera Klein. You’re not going anywhere for a long time still," she playfully chided him with gentle tones, opening her eyes to peer up at him with a loving smile. "I told you before, my love, I don’t need fancy titles or jewelry to be happy. I only need you and our children." It may have sounded sappy, but it was 100% true. Aliana had never come from riches, luxury, or privilege. All she needed to be fulfilled was her family—the one thing she had dreamed of all her life and had never had.

But Chimera, the sweet, stubborn man that he was, wouldn’t let her be satisfied with her place in the world. He leaned back until his mismatched gaze met hers, stirring her heart and making it flutter in her chest just as it did the first day he told her he was in love with her. The words he spoke next took away her senses and stole her breath. His wife. The clouded fae stared up in stunned silence while he stroked her cheek, gasping quietly at the honor he bestowed her. It was something she had never even thought of. She’d been so content to be one of Chimera’s women, but to be called his wife… Ali was tongue tied, struggling to find the words to say. "Chimera…" she finally spoke after a moment of reeling, only able to speak the name of the man she loved more than life itself. A dainty paw lifted to stroke over his cheek and jaw, expression overwhelmed with affection and joy. "You’re wrong. It’s the most fair trade I’ve ever been given." She was eager to nuzzle her smaller snout against his own, on the verge of tears, she was so happy and in love with this magnificent brute! Holding his handsome face in her paws, she lifted her head to place a tender lick across the bridge of his nose, basking in his embrace. "You will always be my king, Chimera Klein. I love you so much."

"Chimera & Aliana"