Sylas was...happy. When he was with Kezia and Raiden things just felt right. He smiled more when they were around and though his aversion to touch had not changed in the slightest when it came to other people, there was a comfort in the way he could be more open and accepting of them. No, they weren't married yet, which he was sure bothered his mother but marriage was a big deal for both of them. Dresmondi didn't get married typically, though Kezia had once been married to a Coheedsman against her will. And Arynnites never rushed into that decision. Five years together without marriage was not uncommon in Arynn Frey.

And no, things had not quite gone 'all the way' yet, though they had done plenty else. They had been close a few times but it had been hard to get beyond that for Sylas. He was trying. He wanted it. Yet every time they got close he pulled back at the last moment. The reason was hard to explain. Yet Kezia had never seemed to blame him for that, even though he did feel like he was letting her down when it happened. Because her happiness was important to him, something else that was new to the prince. He rarely cared about how people felt but Kezia and Raiden were different.

They had been among the Dresmondi together often. Since they had first arrived Sylas had been a mouthpiece for them. He wanted to make sure they were doing as well as they could. When Kezia was appointed her new position she had taken much of that role but he still liked to be here with her to ensure them that they still had his support. He had been waiting patiently, chatting with a few Dresmondi who were now familiar to him when he looked over to see Kezia finished and moving towards him. He smiled at her, eyes sparkling with affection, and began to step in her direction when suddenly she stopped. Brows furrowed, he watched as Raiden suddenly took off into the crowd, an action which made his heart twist when he lost sight of the dyr. Kezia turned away from him and spoke a name in question that he hadn't heard her say in years but couldn't forget. Jaskier.

---

The last five years had been...a lot for the Dresmondi. Kezia and Raiden had left to Arryn Frey to try and get the collars off, something he had suggested. He had wanted to go with them but had been unable to at the time. However, Kezia's traveling companion had returned and said that Kezia was going to stay. Jaskier didn't understand why and it had broken his heart. He had half a mind to go after her but Clementine had convinced him otherwise. She made her choice and he knew how much she was struggling after Coheed. He wanted to give her the space she needed.

But he had missed her like crazy. She was his best friend and more. He had wanted so much with her but but they had just...never really had their chance. Did she have any idea how he really felt about her?

When the Eldouirs had taken over Dresmond, Jaskier and Clementine had become wanderers. He couldn't stay under their thumb and though he knew it was a risk, he had avoided attending Tribute each year so far, trying his best to just stay as far away from Elderkeep as they could. He wasn't sure why it took him so long, but finally he decided he wanted to venture into Arynn Frey. Maybe not to stay, he couldn't decide, but to see what it was like and, if they were lucky, to find Kezia and Raiden.

They had been in the area for only a day or two when Clementine, who had been laying at his feet and the two of them conversing about their plans for the rest of the day, suddenly perked up her ears and stood up on alert. Jaskier looked from her to the crowd around them but saw nothing. "What-" he had started to ask. "Raiden." Jaskier jumped to his feet just as Clementine dashed through the crowd, her body weaving between legs as Jaskier maneuvered to follow.

"They're close," Clementine said to him just before he heard a voice call out his name from somewhere through the crowd. "Kezia!!" Jaskier called, cupping his hands around his mouth as he tried to squeeze through the other Dresmondi.

It wasn't that she had forgotten Sylas in that moment. She was very aware of him behind her but her heart was racing at the idea that they were here. "Over here... they are close! Kezia they are alive!" Raiden was rushing through feet and carts that were moving. Lifted to the tips of her toes, as if it would actually do something, she desperately looked over the faces. Until she heard her name. Tears burst forward as she ran forward.

She hadn't seen him immediately, but after wiggling a bit more through the crowd she saw the tuft of disheveled brown hair had her yelling his name again. "Jaskier!" and just like she had done so many times at Conclaves, so many times when he had stopped into Adoi from traveling with The One, she ran and leapt into his arms. Her own wrapping around his neck as she held him close and let out a sob of happiness and relief. "My Medallion, you are safe!" She pulled back enough to capture his face between the palm of her hands and smiled brightly at him with tears running down her face.

Raiden had wasted no time either, the moment he had seen the fox he had pounced on her. Dancing around her happily with clicks and chatter as he expressed his own relief and happiness at seeing the two. "You came," she laughed a bit. Her toes finding purchase with the ground again as she stepped back to look at him. So very Dresmondi. It was almost a comfort to see him like that. Though her clothing was more Arynn Frey than Dresmondi now, having to stand beside Sylas and her time in Lorendale had accostumed her to it. And it didn't bother her one bit. Her skirt was still flowing and with bright color, though instead of patchwork like when she was in Dresmond, it was of fine, solid material. Her wrapped top was the look of Dresmond, but the fabric of Arynn Frey. Something of a mix, as she felt matched who she was now.

There was a flash of curls and suddenly Kezia was there, in his arms. Tears fell down his own freckled cheeks as Jaskier wrapped his arms tightly around her middle, hugging her tightly to him. Kezia, his best friend, was here. She was alive and safe and where he always thought she belonged, in his arms.

Clementine was chittering and smothering the little genet as they greeted one another with excitement, relief, and delight.

"Of course I came," he said, wiping the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand as she touched the ground again. He got a good look at her and felt both happy and sad at the same time. She was alive. She was safe. But- "You look...different," he stated, smiling to cover his anxiety. "I know it took me a long time but I had to find you. Are you- well?" he asked.

---

Sylas watched from where Kezia had left him, refusing to move his feet, and a completely expressionless look on his face. His view of Kezia and Jaskier kept getting cut off briefly by people passing between them but still he did not move. What if after being reunited with Jaskier, Kezia suddenly realized how much she missed her real home? Was this...vagrant about to take away the only person he'd ever truly loved. Because he did. Sylas loved Kezia.

Settled on the ground, her hands still held his face. Watching the emotions roll through him and her fingers tapped his cheeks to let him know she was real. That this moment was real. Tears shining in her eyes. “Different? I suppose six years would do that.” she laughed. Something post Coheed, pre-Arynn Frey Kezia hadn’t done. The scars and collar gone from her throat… Sylas.

Her head turned towards where she had left him. Almost expecting him to be waiting right beside the two of them. But found that he hadn’t moved. That his face was perfectly constructed in his mask that he wore usually around others or amongst the upper class of Arynn Frey. “I am well, very well.” she turned her attention back to her best friend.

She reached down to lace her fingers into his. Something so natural she didn’t think twice on it. “Come, I want you to meet someone.” she tugged him towards Sylas. Raiden yipping at Clementine as he bounced around her. Gently nudging her as he started to move towards the Prince. As she got them all together, she beamed up at Sylas. “Jaskier, this is Sylas. Prince of Arynn Frey. And the man who helped remove the collar and has kept me safe.” she told him with a smile. Her eyes shining as she looked to Sylas. “Sylas, this is Jaskier and Clementine, our closest friends from Dresmond.” Raiden was still rubbing along the fox but he chattered his teeth towards Sylas.

Six years, it was crazy to think it had been that long and he felt bad that it took him all that time to finally get here. So much had happened since she had first left. The sound of her laughter was music to his ears and he instantly had the urge to pick up his lyre to play a tune inspired by the sound. The collar was gone, her sadness gone. She did seem so happy.

Jaskier followed her gaze to where she looked to see a tall and rather intimidating man standing a bit away from them but watching them. It was...unnerving. Who was that guy? He didn't seem like the type of person that Kezia would choose to spend her time with. But she seemed to happy to think that the man was somehow keeping her prisoner or anything like that.

The way her hand felt in his just felt so right. It felt so natural but so precious at the same time. He squeezed her hand softly as she guided him towards the dark haired man, feeling a bit suspicious of him.

Clementine was still excitedly playing and bumping her nose against Raiden but they followed along with their humans. She cocked her head as she looked up at the Prince. 'I don't like these people without dyrs. It feels unnerving,' she said to Jaskier. He gave a small nod as he glanced down at her briefly but did not reply.

Oh, so that helped explain it. It had been this man who had helped to remove her collar. And helped keep her safe? Of course Jaskier had to be grateful for that. Jaskier held out his free hand to shake Sylas'. "It's a pleasure to meet you Prince Sylas," he said, remembering to use his title as he had learned from his time as Ambassador. He had met others of the royal family before but he hadn't met this prince. "I can't thank you enough for helping Kezia and Raiden. They mean to the world to us."

---

After a few more moment Kezia began to pull Jaskier along towards him. He stood a little taller as they approached. He noted the way that Kezia was holding the man's hand and felt a surge of dislike in his stomach. Logically, he knew the Dresmondi had different customs but given his own dislike of touch, it was certainly noticed by the prince.

He nodded in greeting to the Dresmondi as all as to the dyr, giving them both respect. Kezia's smile that she offered him was reassuring but he still felt very unsure about all of this. Raiden even addressed him in his own way, which also helped him to feel more at ease, however slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you both," he said politely but when Jaskier offered his hand Sylas' own hand curled up into a fist at his side, feeling ill at ease. It wasn't an uncommon gesture. He'd dealt with it from plenty of people before for his whole life, but it still made him uncomfortable.

He tucked his hands behind his back, clasping one hand around the opposite write, and titled his body forward into a slight bow instead of accepting the hand shake. "Helping them was my pleasure. They are-" he looked from Kezia to Raiden and back again. "Everything to me," he said assuredly, looking Kezia in the eyes for a lingering moment before turning his attention back to Jaskier.

Kezia of course hadn't thought to tell Jaskier about Sylas and the way to go about greeting him. Dresmondi were so very different, and Sylas was not an average citizen of Arynn Frey. Or even the normal royal like he was. So as Jaskier's hand extended towards him, she already knew that it wouldn't be met. Growing a touch protective of Sylas, and as his hands went behind his back, Kezia was reaching for Jaskier's extended one just after his short bow. Giving it a squeeze and then easing his hands back.

Her eyes met Sylas' and her heart raced then. She knew the feelings that the two shared, knew that it was strong, and yet hearing him say it so plainly for someone like Jaskier to hear was a lot. Their words, their touches, most were saved for when it was just the two of them. But that look shared between them, surely spoke volumes to any that witnessed. Including her best friend.

She stepped to Sylas' side, facing Jaskier with a smile, as if an intense moment didn't just pass between her and the prince at her side. "Are you here to stay?" She asked him, excitement dancing in her eyes at the idea that they were. "We have come such a long way from when we first got here. Sylas and I work to help Dresmondi and the Arynnites work together while they gave us refuge. How.... how is Dresmond?" Sadness leaked into her words because she knew that the answer wasn't good. Had heard it spoken about from others, but knowing Jaskier was going to give her a better idea.

The feelings he felt for Kezia and Raiden surged to the surface as he met Kezia's gaze. He meant every word and knew that he probably didn't say it often enough, never having been very good at expressing his feelings. His eyes flicked down to Raiden as well, lingering on the genet. As an Arynnite it felt a little odd to love an animal so much, but Raiden was not just a genet, he was a dyr, he was just as much part of Kezia and Kezia was part of him and his affections were not differentiated between the two.

He felt relief when Kezia guided her friend's hand down and even more so when she came to stand beside him. Though he had hid his hands just a second ago, the one nearest her fell more relaxed at his side, his fingers reaching towards her and brushing against her hip, just to have the comfort of her contact.

---

As the prince refused his handshake Jaskier felt confused. Had he forgotten Arynn Frey customs? He was sure he'd shaken the hands of Arynnites before but now he was second guessing himself. When Kezia pulled his hand down softly he looked apologetically to the Prince but his attention was quick to return to Kezia.

Now that she was asking how long he'd be here he wasn't quite sure of the answer. His whole purpose had been to find her but there was...clearly something going on here. He had imagined they'd be reunited and she would rejoin him in his wagon and they would go back to how things had always been. Now...well he wasn't so sure his fantasy could possibly become reality now. "I'm...not sure actually," he replied.

The second question was easier and let him not dwell on the idea of Kezia and Sylas together. "Not good, really really not good, Kezia. The Eldouirs have taken over. It's not even Dresmond anymore. They've renamed the area Elderkeep. They've altered our customs. They've demanded we serve them and offer tribute. It is...nothing like the place you once knew. And with the medallion gone there are no more dyrs either..."

The soft touch of Sylas was a comfort, feeling the familiar brush of his hand on her hip. And yet, the look that seemed to cross over Jaskier's face almost made her sad. It was as if he was shrinking before her, and it made her reach out almost instantly, her hand seeking his. Jaskier had been someone she had held close for years, and she wasn't willing to give him up. Not when she had just gotten him back. Yet the hand that reached to capture Jaskier's, her other hand reached back to take hold of Sylas.

Two halves of her. The Dresmondi who still held on, remembering the life she had once had. And the Arynnite one who had saved her.

"Can we try and get them here? The Dresmondi? We have the safe space... we have worked out a lot of things. I know its... its not what we are used to but it works." She pleaded lightly as she looked around at those who had made this their home.

Sylas didn't love seeing her holding Jaskier's hand but as she had taken his hand as well he gave hers a squeeze and remembered that he knew her well and he understood that Dresmondi were unlike Arynnites. While he, personally, was particularly averse to touch, Kezia was exactly the opposite and that didn't mean anything had changed between them. "It does, it works. We'd be happy to welcome more," he confirmed.

---

Jaskier felt a sense of relief when Kezia took his hand. They'd been friends for years and he'd missed her so much. Clementine nuzzled against Raiden, her tongue licking against his face. And yes, sure, it didn't feel great when she also took the prince's hand but Kezia had never felt about him how he felt about her, it wasn't a new feeling.

"That would be great but the problem is how to get them out. I don't think the Eldouirs would willing just let people leave."

Raiden was all too happy to continue snuggling against Clementine, but with his energy renewed, he was weaving around Sylas' legs a few times before returning to his long lost friend. Glad to have her, but also showing her that this man, the foreign prince, meant more to them than just some passing stranger. Raiden was willing and allowed happily the man to pet him and hold him. That Raiden felt that connection to him just as Kezia did with her clear display as well.

She let out a short breath, her hands tightening in the two she held at the news. "They are holding them captive?" There was a breathless terror to her voice. Something that made her flash back to her own captivity though it had not been at the hands of the gifteds. But instead to the ones of Coheed. The scars were long gone, but she felt the memory of the collar weigh on her neck and she swallowed hard to try and push it away. "Can we sneak them out? Surely we can do that..." Though her voice faded. She glanced back at Sylas and already knew that the 'we' she spoke of, would mean the Dresmondi and not that of Arynn Frey. They offered sanctuary on their land. Not the assistance to pull people out of Dresmond.

Kezia turned her face back towards Jaskier. "Maybe we can get a small group together to go into Dresmond. We can try and get as many out as possible and once we are back on Arynn Frey grounds, we will have their protection."

Sylas looked down at Raiden with a fond smile, moving his foot to meet Riaden and return the affection without bending down and interrupting their conversation.

Jaskier noticed too of course and it was at this action they made him truly, deeply realize how close they had gotten to the prince. They had been that way with Kezia and Raiden for years but it was in this moment that he realized there would be no coming between these two. Nor would he dare try. He loved Kezia too much to try to take away any ounce of happiness from her.

“I’m not certain to the extent of how much of a hold they have on the dresmondi but I’d be willing to try. Anything to help. I’m game. Let’s make a plan.”