Worth more Broken

When one has become broken so much, one can find worth in that kind of beauty

Rain fell that night in the Pride ring, the sound soothed many to sleep, even those of royal status. Nova Celestine, consort to a now divorced prince Stolas. The two weren't ready to become intimate with one another yet, but found solace in other things, having long talks with each other deep into the night about books, the night sky, their dreams and plans for the future. The owl prince loved this young woman's company when Blitz couldn't come by for whatever reason.

This evening the two were talking and Nova had been lulled to sleep by the rain, Stolas let her stay in his room as she looked to comfortable to move, he set her under the covered before joining her in the warmth of the blankets himself and listened to the rain outside. It was well after midnight when Stolas was awakened by the sound of someone tossing and turning along with what sounded like murmuring. All four of his eyes became opened, he turned over to see Nova nearly thrashing about and talking in her sleep.

“D-don't-not again...” Nova spoke in her sleep. Stolas looked worried as he woke up more.

“Nova?” Stolas asked softly, he didn't dare reach out to her just yet, he could see her gripping the sheet as if her life depended on it, and he could see tears at the corner of her shut eyes.

“P-please, don't throw me out again, I-I can't-” Nova sounded like she was going to cry. Stolas could hardly stand to see her like this, he gently place a hand on her shoulder and shook her lightly.

“Nova, wake up!” he softly yelled. Nova's eye shot awake, her breathing was heavy, her violet eyes locked on to his own red eyes, she was panting as if she had run the length of the palace itself. Tears escaped her eyes.

“S-Stolas?” Nova panted as she looked at him. Both of them propped themselves up. Stolas reached out and gently touched her arm and looked at her with worry.

“It's me, you were tossing and turning, and I could hear you talking in your sleep. Were you having another nightmare?” Stolas asked her. Nova would sometimes be haunted by nightmares, she ran her fingers through her hair, still breathing heavily.

“I was? Again? Not another one I-” Nova could feel herself about to have a panic attack, her breath was growing quicker and she began to zone out. Suddenly she felt a warm hand on her face as well as her arm. She could see Stolas looking at her, he seemed so worried for her.

“Shhh, do you feel my hands on you, on your face? Every bit of it is real, I'm here.” Stolas told her in a soft yet kind voice. Nova felt his left hand on her shoulder and his right on her face. She could feel the warmth of his touch throughout her body, her breathing slowed but she still shuttered.

“Breathe Nova, it was just a dream and-are you cold? You're shivering like a leaf.” Stolas added as he could feel her trembling, her eyes widened, she wanted to pull away feeling embarrassed for him to see her like this as others may have.

“I-I-I didn't, I'm sorr-” she tried to speak, but instead of anger, he placed both hand on her shoulders and turned her face to his.

“Don't be, come closer.” Stolas said to her. He pulled her towards him, his arms wrapping around her back and waist. She in turn did the same with him, her arms quickly wrapped around him, she held him close dare not letting go, her breathing slowed and her thoughts calmed, her shivering was slowly fading as well. Stolas looked down at her, still worried.

“Now, can you feel my arms around you? Just as I can with you? You are safe and warm in my arms Nova, and I don't plan on letting you go. Slow your breathing more if you can, I'm not letting go.” Stolas told her in his kind voice. Nova felt herself calming down, trying to ground herself to the words he just spoke. She lay her head on his chest, she couldn't look at him yet.

“I feel so foolish, it's never been this bad, I'm sorry for being such a burden to you.....” Nova said before she buried her face onto his chest feathers. Stolas held her close yet still being his gentle self.

“There is no reason for you this kind of shame, you may have felt that way with others, but, you could never be a burden to me, you never have since arriving at my palace.” Stolas told her. It was the first time in what seemed like an eternity she was told she wasn't a burden to someone. Nova felt tears building up and letting a few escape.

“That's all I've ever felt like.....before I came here....” Nova broke down sobbing onto his chest. Stolas stroked her head, feeling the softness of her feathers and discreetly kissed the top of her head, She didn't feel which was fine.

“Shhh, shhhhh, you're okay, as long as you're here you will never be a burden.” Stolas told her. Nova buried her face in his chest, he could feel her tears but didn't know if it was from his words or the nightmare he awakened her from.

“Do you want tot tell me about your dream? It may help you.” said Stolas.

“N-no I...” Nova couldn't find the words. Stolas looked down at her with sadness.

“Was it that bad?” asked Stolas. Nova nodded, the silence spoke to him just enough. Stolas sighed, he couldn't help but feel this young woman's pain. Whatever her dream was shook her up really bad. The prince gently stroked her hair/feathers.

“It must have been terrible if it shook you like this. But it was just that, a dream.” Stolas told her. Nova still didn't look up at him. Then an idea came into his head, his hand lighting up with magic and using a sky portal spell, he opened a to a view of the night sky.

“Nova, look up.” said Stolas. Nova peaked out from his chest, she could see above her a portal that had opened up to a breath-taking purple nebula, shades of violet and indigo around few space clouds along with space dust, she could also hints of blues, and thousands of jewel like stars in the sky. Stolas could see her eyes light up as she stared up at the skies.

“It's.....it's beautiful.” breathed Nova, Stolas smiled as he joined her in looking at the sky's.

“I sometimes would do this with Via when she was little and she had nightmares, I would show her the night sky like this, and it always worked.” said Stolas. He kept the portal open a few more minutes before he closed the view of the skies. Nova laid upon Stolas's chest, he looked at her still having his worries about her.

“You know, you can always come to me, I don't know if you had anyone to go to before coming here, but I'd like to be one of the ones you can come to, myself, Via, Arnora even Blitz if you wish, we're all ones you can come to.” Stolas told her. Nova had never heard such kind words before.

“It's been some time since I've had that kind of support.” said Nova, she laced a free hand with Stolas's and just lay with him in silence for a few moments, before her thoughts broke the quiet along with the rain.

“I sometimes wonder...” said Nova.

“Wonder what?” Stolas asked her. She curled up closer to him.

“Do I deserve what's happening now? Being like this with you, and....you showing me kindness, being around me, when I was pushed away by so many? You were the only one who....” Nova felt tears build up again and escaping as she sobbed. “Oh darling.” said Stolas as he pressed her to his chest again. She had suffered such pain, hardly knowing kindness, he knew that all too well.

“I know it's painful, but truth be told, I've enjoyed your company more than anything, having long talks about things we enjoy deep into the night, you sharing my interests in the skies, being like we are now is also a comfort to both of us, I guess I see a little of myself in you, someone who just wanted a form of love, to feel wanted and loved in that way, you've never felt that before in your life have you? Just as I have, until Octavia was born.” Stolas told her.

How right was he? Her parents hardly payed attention to her, no lovers, boyfriends or girlfriends, let alone friends that weren't fake. She felt Stolas was her first true friend who felt just like she did, being around others and yet still felt alone, a cruel wife, yet he put up with all for his daughter, his reason to keep going.

“But the two of us like we are now, your hands and embrace are so warm, a warmth I've never felt before in my entire life, and your voice when I hear you sing, it makes my heart beat again. You've awakened something in me I have not felt in what seems like eons.” he added as she hugged her. Nova returned his embrace, her arms around him.

“I care deeply about you, so deeply, as deep as the ever expansive cosmos, and dare I say...I love you....” added Stolas. Nova's eyes shot open when she heard him, she glanced up briefly and turned away from him.

“No-no one has-has ever told me- I'm not worthy of you...” Nova spoke. Stolas brought her face up to his, his hand resting on her face, she took in the warmth of what she felt, his eyes locked onto her own.

“Nova, darling, you are worthy of me, and of so much more, care and love are among them, it's what you've been denied for so long. But sometimes I wonder if I am worthy of you, as kind and warm as you are, after all you've been through.” said Stolas as he brushed a stray feather from her eyes. She laid her head on his shoulder.

“I.....I think you are, I know how cruel Stella has been to you and....I wanted to help you, build you back up, you were broken like me in a way and-” before she could finish, Stolas brought her up to him and kissed her beak, she was a bit surprised by the kiss, she could see a warm smile from him.

“I think we are worthy of each other, in a number of ways, no one has ever wanted to help me build myself back up before, let alone tell me that.” said Stolas. He couldn't help but take in the scent of her hair, he held her close finding comfort in her words that she wanted to help him.

“Thank you, my.....my starlight.” said Stolas, as Nova feel asleep in his arms, he looked down at her one last time before he too felt his eyes close listening to the sound of the rain outside.

Author's Note

They're starting to become much closer.

Nova belongs to me

Stolas belongs to Vivziepop