Two Hearts That Beat As One

Sarabi had entered the den only moments after Mufasa as she'd been strolling along intending to join him in the den. The lioness lingered within the mouth of the den, the remaining natural light that was dimming towards the end of the day lighting her almost angelically as it shaped her fully form with a warm glow. She took a moment to fondly admire the lion who'd wasted no time entering the den once again as he had many times before, making himself at home all over again. It was a welcome sight, his massive form so familiar to her as well as to have his scent renewed within the stone walls. While Pride Rock was well missed she'd give it up for Mufasa and her family any day.

With a decided exhale anxiety and discontent from his time away seemed to visibly leave her and she made to finally leave the entryway of the den and join him at his side. She allowed a warm and gentle laugh in turn to his own and his light joke, ducking her head and allowing the top of it to bump softly into the side of his neck. The affectionate touch was lingering only for her to fall to his side and bestow him with a fond smile. With her body so near him she extended her paws to one of his, one wrapping around the underside of his paw and the other encasing it by resting on top. Almost as if cradling it, she'd then give her weary king a gentle lick to his cheek.

"Well don't go walking these borders again anytime soon." Sarabi advised him. "I won't have this war take you from me for any longer than it has to." she added. There was an amused smile on her face as she lightly teased the notion, but there was admittedly a part of her that did mean it. As if to further her resolve the lioness tilted her head to get a better look at his face, cocking her brow at him before she continued.

"Queen's orders." she told him with a mischievous grin. The lioness, usually so regal and friendly usually saved her moments of cheek and attitude for her family. Most of all, Mufasa, who was the one who'd always received it so well.

His answers seemed to please her well enough, a tender smile taking to her maw that settled with such a calmness that it rumbled within her chest pleasantly. Sarabi was content with his response, even if she knew what he said might have to change one day for their circumstances. She didn't know what the future held, but she did know that presently she had him all to herself, and she wasn't going to waste it away by fretting every second about the frightening aspects that the next sunrise could bring them. They both knew they were at the head of a war.

His head pressed against the side of her neck seemed to do its job in successfully pulling her from her thoughts. Once retrieved fully she chuckled, tilted her head fondly so she could feel the warmth of her fur on her chin as she tightly wound her paws around their gentle caress to bring them closer. She felt warm, not the same as she did beneath the sun once it rose well past the horizon in the Savannah, not even like the sun here when she was on the streets of Arendelle making friendly with its people. Sarabi was warm like she always was in Mufasa's presence, the warm that told her she was safe and entirely loved. She basked in his affections as they lingered in silence before her gaze fluttered slightly as he finally spoke up, mentioning the borders. Sarabi hummed in response, letting it resonate in her throat as she considered it.

No one said war was going to be easy, and Sarabi definitely hadn't been under the impression that it would be. The first plunge, however, was proving to be a difficult toss within her mind. Mufasa was right, every moment of silence on the borders meant that they could prepare better. But it meant the same for Scar and the wicked fairy he'd aligned himself with. Still, her beloved brought up a more favorable subject in what had happened during his time away and she shrugged her woes off temporarily.

"About as peaceful as they were back home." she laughed with a wistful sigh.

"A dragon prince came in your absence. He had wanted to make contact with the armies and make peace, lucky for him he found us first. Hiccup, he says he has more dragons and people at his home that he wants to protect. Fergus knows the boy." she explained. It was a loose rundown more or less, Sarabi didn't feel the need to get too into detail and this was no political meeting or war room. Still, her gaze looked distracted as she looked elsewhere in the den with a downcast stare. A furrow in the center of her rounded brow that was more concerned that bothered, the lioness was silence for a long time and her paws grip tightened around Mufasa's as she cradled them still.

"I don't know what to do," Sarabi confessed, "how to command these people to attack." she added in a softer voice than she'd spoken before. It was considerably more vulnerable than any display she'd bare in front of any of the Suns, but Mufasa wasn't just anybody to her. He was someone who'd seen all sides of her she had to offer, someone she actively would allow her vulnerabilities to show in their tender exclusive moments alone. Scar had done despicable things that astounded her, but the action of launching an assault and actively taking the offensive role left Sarabi at a loss for words. Defensive actions were one thing, but every moment they spend fortifying themselves meant the Thorns could be planning their own attack, to strike. Was it better to wait and respond, deflect if they could, or take the opportunity to strike first?

Sarabi gave a short nod in agreement as Mufasa expressed interest in speaking with this Dragon prince. It would be good for him to formally meet both the Enchanted Sun’s leaders. She chuckled at his hesitance to say his name, Sarabi found it peculiar as well although she hadn’t expressed it to the boy upon meeting him. Truthfully there were more pressing matters at the time given the brashness of his arrival. That, and she was much too polite to comment on it anyways, it wasn’t like it was the most peculiar thing she’d seen or heard since the worlds welded. His dragon companion alone warranted more interest.

“He seems young. But he made the decision to join us.” she added, thinking back to how he’d changed between arrival and to pledging himself. A small word of insight to what Mufasa might expect upon meeting their new recruit sometime soon. He might be someone who’d seek guidance, in any case he’d at least come to the right place.

It was a comfort to know Mufasa had the same concerns that she did. And answers. At least, the best possible ones she could hope for currently. But it was nice to know she wasn’t alone, and by extension neither was he. The pair while together, she felt, were unshakable. Although learning Scar’s true nature had not been easy in any way, she often felt sympathy for the betrayal and its impact it had upon their family. On Mufasa. She exhaled, glancing up at him before bumping her nose against the side of his chin and leaning back. A wordless gesture of support, he’d likely understand its implication and meaning however subtle and gentle it had been.

“You’re right.” she sighed, dipping her face down as she fixed her gaze upon her paws entwined around his. She still looked troubled, a visible strain upon the center of her brow as she frowned downward, but she wouldn’t keep him in the dark for long.

“I hate to go in blindly,” she agreed, “but maybe we should look into ways to gather information. Know more about this Maleficent, and how she works. See if we can find a way to know when something is coming before it does.” she sighed. The practical side of her gave way to the maternal side, often an internal war she struggled with these days.

“If I’m asking someone to spy… I’m asking a lot of them.” she explained with a defeated sort of smile. She toyed with the idea silently, but was often halted by the idea of any potential spies being caught.The danger and punishments felt like a lot, something she didn’t want to breach until they knew more about how to approach that line of action. Still, she smiled, raising her gaze to meet Mufasa’s despite the dismal dive she had unintentionally taken.

“Well, you never did say being Queen would be easy.” she laughed, half-hearted.