Evergreen

Turning the delicate necklace over in his hands, which were colossal in comparison to it, it was crafted with fine pearls that glistened like miniature moons of different cycles, rare gems which human hands have never touched, nor found, iridescent seashells that changed into different colours when the caught them just so, to finally, the focal point of it all: a single, radiant emerald placed in the center.

Poseidon had searched tirelessly for it, from sifting through his own personal collection, to diving into the different kinds of underwater caverns in his kingdom, to finally last of all- bargaining with an ancient sea spirit, who had been rather obstinate about keeping it, until he finally relented the precious gem, which was different than any emerald Poseidon had ever laid his eyes on, he could not not have taken it for himself, when its mesmerising green shade was almost an exact copy of Hariel’s enchanting eyes.

The necklace was fit for a Queen.

Lost in his thoughts, he was blind to his surroundings as he adjusted the emerald one last time, before he deemed it to be secure, and perfect all in all.

He then imagined how she would react to it, would she smile one of those soft smiles of hers that lit up his whole world? Here, he then felt warmth spread from his chest to every particle of his entire being.

“I see you’ve finally made it then, it’s for the girl, isn’t it? The one you, and almost everyone else I’ve heard have been prattling about for these past few years. You weren’t like this with the others, “ Triton, who had suddenly slid into his view of the necklace, his attention on it as well then suddenly spoke, breaking the silence that had been in the room just now.

Poseidon then started at that, the sudden entrance of his son had almost made him drop the necklace in his secure hold. And before he could deny it, his son then turned a blank look towards him, which told him that he wouldn’t be getting out of it, nor that he would believe any of the supposed lies he might say.

So, Poseidon simply looked at him in silence, before he thought about what he had been told.

And he was frozen on the spot then.

For it was true. 

He never had went out of his way to make a gift for someone himself, he had given his time, energy, and -

Heart, he then confessed to himself in realisation,  into making it.

So he then simply nodded to the boy, even when Triton had already known.

“It’s for her birthday.” He then confessed, which Triton nodded to with a smirk.

“I figured as much,” 

“This isn’t going to leave these walls, am I understood?” Poseidon then sternly commanded of his son, which Triton huffed at.

“Of course not.” Triton said, before he once more turned his gaze on the necklace in his grasp.

“So, you’re going to make it official then?” He then curiously asked him, which Poseidon stopped at, his hold almost tightening on the fragile necklace, before he controlled himself.

But Poseidon didn’t answer him, for he then froze at the question, his mind was racing over it then.

He then watched as the emerald glinted up at him, with an allure that was almost knowing, which was ridiculous, seeing as it was an object.

But it was an object made of his own hard labour and-

He then felt his throat constrict at the sudden revelation he still kept a secret, even to himself.

But he knew.

She then flooded his mind, from the glances he had taken of her from a distance, her presence taking his entire focus, from the way she seemed so at ease, and graceful, and beautiful, in her gentle movements, especially when she would dance with little Teddy, making the boy erupt into loud and cheery giggles, where she would laugh unabashed as well, taking the attention of all those that lingered in the background, to finally her own lovely face gazing up at his with an emotion the girl knew not, but Poseidon knew what it meant.

It seared him wholly with pleasure, but then, like one of his storms that would pulverise civilizations-  the familiar dark sense of possessiveness fell upon him. And with it, an instinct, as primal as the ocean itself would surface.

He what it meant, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to face it.

But then the thought of her with anyone else, her gentle, warm smile, and rinkling laugh turned to another- it left him cold in a way he had never felt like before.

His fingers then loosened their hold on the necklace, which bore his intentions as clear as day, his thumb then brushed over the gleaming emerald.

He felt his son’s knowing gaze on him then, but even then, Poseidon stood quiet throughout it all.

Her gaze was cloaked in darkness behind the blindfold Nymphadora forced her to wear, before she pulled her along to wherever the party- her birthday party was being held at.

“Is this necessary, ‘Nymph, you know that I’m not a child, right? That, and that this isn’t really much of a surprise to me, seeing as you did proclaim that you were going to do this unnecessary affair, really.” Hariel then huffs, but the corners of her mouth lifted despite it all.

“Oh hush none of that, missy! We’re almost there anyways,” Her cousin then eagerly says, while she pulls her arm, which was looped through hers.

“Now just a few more steps, be careful not to lose your footing, alright! Ah wait I have to guide you through it, my bad, but don’t worry, nothing’s going to happen when you have me!” Nymphadora then proudly says, and Hariel imagines that she’s puffing her chest up like one of Draco’s peacocks then.

Her mind then merged a cursed image of Nymphadora’s head  on one of the peacocks, her gaze beaming on hers, while she showcases her feathers proudly, all with her feathered chest pulled up into view.

Which makes her grin at the vivid imagination of it, almost choking at the laughter that almost escaped her then.

“Aaaaaaand, we’re here!” Nyphadora then shouts, which brings Hariel back to the matterat hand.

Her birthday party.

And then she feels the blindfold being pulled from her head, and she’s then blinded by the sudden light in front of her, before her focus got back to normal.

And wow the sight that met her, made her freeze on the spot.

They were in a clearing, she deduces to be close to their home, for the walk hadn’t been that far away from it. But well, it was awash with a fairy like glow of different colours around the grassy place, they floated around the place the whole clearing in the nights sky, almost shimmering like the stars.

She could hear soft music playing in the background then, and her gaze then went to an enchanted station nearby, where she could hear, feel and see the melodies drifting over to her. Before it was a lone dancefloor, and then she spotted a large table with a spread of food on it.

The clearing was alive, and magical, it was beautiful, but it didn’t grab her attention as the beaming faces of her family and friends did, who then in unison wished her a happy birthday, which she blushed at.

She was then bombarded with glittering sparks that erupted around her, which she then laughed at.

“Guys,” She huffs at them, but her smile betrays her, 

“Thank you.”

She was then pounced on by an eager Teddy, who pulled her over to blow the candles on a beautiful and delicious cake, which Remus held in his arms with a soft smile.

“Come on, you need to blow the candles now and make a wish!”

“Son,” Remus then fondly admonishes, which Teddy only innocently beams at, before he turns his gaze warmly on Hariel’s own.

“So, how about it then, do you want to blow the candles, Harry?” He then says with a quirk to his brows, which Hariel grins at with a shake of her head.

“Why not,” She then huffs which the rest then cheers to, Nymphadora and Teddy, who she now held in her arms, being the loudest of all.

“One-two-three!” They all shouted, before she, with the help of Teddy then blew on the candes, she had cajoled him into helping her with this large task.

Her gaze then met each and every one of her family and friend’s faces, before it landed on him.

Her breath then suddenly left her at the way he stood a few paces from her, watching her with that soft smile, amost shy smile of his that made him seem much younger than he was, but especially within his old-like eyes.

He then walked over to her, and while she knew that he towered over her by a great deal, she only now realises it, especially when he leans towards her, his presence enveloping her.

“Happy birthday, Hariel.” Sei says, his voice low and warm, which made her cheeks feel enflamed suddenly.

She then startled at his closeness, which she had grown accustomed, but now it felt- different.

She then quickly looked away for a moment to gather her bearing, which Sei raised an amused brow at before he widely smiled at her.

“Thanks,” She then as quickly replies, before her gaze meets his once more.

His looks at her in fondness, she then realises with a start.

“You look very beautiful.” He then tells her, his voice a gentle rumble that sent a thrill in her whole being, before he leans even closer to her, and Hariel forces herself not to react weird anymore, this was normal.

It was just their usual greetings, and he’s being nice, she then firmly tells herself, before she kisses him back on his stubbled cheek.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” She then replies, with a teasing smile on her lips, which then earns her one of his chuckles, which vibrated even more into her person, making her feel warm from head to toe then.

“Harry, come sit. “ She then hears Remus say to her, which then made her gaze quickly at his direction. He  was standing next to a chair on the center of the table with an expectant smile, which Hariel nodded to before she then excused herself to do just that with a chuckle.

Hariel doesn’t know how she found herself suddenly in this position, dancing- with Sei, while a romantic sounding song was playing in the background, but she has her suspicions when her gaze meets the cheery and proud one of her older cousin’s.

Fucking Nymphadora.

They were swaying together, the music a quiet backdrop to the sudden influx of emotions that were bombarding her at every turn, whenever Sei tightend his hold softly on her body.

That, and the way he was looking at her, which had her in a trance then.

The fairy like lights seemed to engulf the both of them somehow then, he looked even brighter to her now.

Especially his ocean eyes, her throat felt dry.

“I know you said no presents, but I have something for you, close your eyes.” Sei then softly said.

Before she could protest, she then relented at the familiar gentle but firm look he was giving her, which he beamed at before she closed her eyes.

She then felt him move behind her suddenly, before he just as quickly moved her hair softly away from her neck, his touch was light against her skin, but especially the warmth of his breaths set the hair straight and her skin on fire, and then he placed something light around her neck, the weight of it settled gently against her skin..

“You can open your eyes now,” He then softly rumbled, his breath still behind her.

Her eyes then slowly fluttered open, glancing down, she was then amazed at the sight of the necklace gently, but beautifully grasped against her throat.

Her fingers then lightly traced over it, awe filling her every pore.

“Do you like it?” Sei then suddenly abashedly asks her, his voice still close behind her, she can feel his nose then lean into her hair.

“Yes, it’s beautiful.” She tells him, her heart felt too have for more words then, for it was beyond anything she had every received before.

It strangely, or not strangely, reminded her of the beauty of the ocean, bound in silver, which was wrapped around her throat like a secret only, but also herself, she thought while her fingerthen touched the emerald in the center of the piece. 

“You shouldn’t have.” She then tells him, before she gazes back to him, finding his gaze already on hers.

“I wanted to.” He simply replies, “It looks beautiful on you.” he then tells her, which made her cheeks then traitorously warm under his attentions then.

He then reached a hand softly to her,and gently pulled her towards him, she could feel his breath now by the closeness she found herself in, they were almost fully pressed against one another.

His warm breath, which was steady then fell against her face, his eyes were firmly on hers, she could see it then- an unspoken affection painted in his eyes.

It left her both exhilarated, but also terrified beyond belief at what it meant.

His eyes then seemed to search hers for something, almost in a desperate way, before he seemed to find it with a sigh of relief, his gaze was then filled with a tenderness she had never seen before, the weight of his eyes especially, that held a quiet intensity of a thousand unspoken words- it held her utterly imprisoned.

But before she could say anything, he then leaned closer to her, and she couldn’t hear nor see anything other than him, and only him- that, and the thunderous and hopeful beating of her heart, but also his.

He closed the distance between them entirely then, and with a tender touch to her chin, he then presses his lips upon her own.

It was soft, but passionate for such an innocent kiss.

The weight of his large hand on her waist grounded her then, at the weight of the sudden burst of warmth that filled her then.

She felt like she was falling into the deep.

Into his kiss.

Her eyes were closed, she then realises, as his warmth seeped into her entire being, filling the cracks, especially that of her heart, which she hadn’t known to be empty before.

And when he pulled back, the kiss lasting longer than the moment it had been, he watches her then, the expression on his face steals her breath away in that exact moment then.

He then smiles before at what he seems to find in her gaze, before he leans down once more, expecting him to kiss her again, she then awaits for the familiar press of weight on her lips, but is surprised by the way he then trails soft kisses on her face, almost in worship- of her.

She closes her eyes then, and feels the soft and warm press of his lips then on her eye lids, which had been on her chin, cheeks, nose and forehead before.

Her breathing was laboured now, as he finally leaned to kiss her on the lips once more, but deeper this time.

His tongue then touched her lips for entrance, which she granted, and moaning, she then let his tongue discover her mouth, before it entwined with hers.

His other hand then reached her face as well, before it touched her face as tenderly as the other hand, both then pulled her face up into an angle, which felt even more amazing, which she wasn’t then only one in thinking it to be so- for Sei seemed to be letting out louder noises than her then, which she was quite proud over, even when she felt entirely set on fire.

He then softly let his mouth slip from hers, a string of saliva bridging both of their mouths, before it broke.

“That was wonderful- you are wonderful, perfect .” Sei then breathlessly uttered to her after a moment with an almost animalistic sounding groan, which left her utterly flustered.